2026–27 Grants for Volunteer Fire Brigade Organizations (Italy)

The Lombardy Region is offering non-repayable grants to eligible nonprofit organizations supporting volunteer detachments of Italy’s National Fire and Rescue Service within Lombardy.

The program focuses on purchasing vehicles and technical equipment and completing structural or building-system improvements necessary for volunteer fire brigade operations during the 2026–2027 period.

Funding coverage: 100% of eligible expenses

Maximum grant: €50,000 per beneficiary or project

Application opening: 31 July 2026 at 10:00

Application deadline: 2 October 2026 at 12:00

Application method: Online through the Bandi e Servizi platform

The program provides financial support to eligible nonprofit organizations whose statutory objectives include assisting a volunteer detachment of Italy’s National Fire and Rescue Service operating in Lombardy.

The measure is connected with Lombardy Regional Law No. 11/2017 and Regional Council Resolution XII/6548 of 20 July 2026.

Its broader purpose is to improve the operational conditions of volunteer fire-service personnel by funding equipment, infrastructure and other resources required to perform their responsibilities.

Improve the operational capacity of volunteer fire brigade detachments.

Support the purchase of vehicles and technical equipment.

Improve facilities used by volunteer firefighters.

Finance essential structural and building-system work.

Strengthen safety and operational readiness.

Enable eligible nonprofit organizations to support local emergency-response services.

The relevant regional legislation also refers to improving the preparedness of volunteer personnel through training, although the specific call primarily identifies equipment and structural or systems work as fundable activities.

The call has a total financial allocation of €2,000,000.

Each eligible beneficiary may receive up to €50,000.

Supports approved equipment purchases or structural and building-system work.

The 50% advance is expected to be paid by 30 November 2026, provided the beneficiary digitally signs the formal Acceptance Act.

The source confirms a second payment but does not specify its timing or percentage beyond indicating that the funding will be released in two instalments.

The following types of organizations may apply:

Nonprofit Organizations of Social Utility

Eligible organizations must support a volunteer detachment of the National Fire and Rescue Service operating within Lombardy.

Be properly registered in the relevant regional list.

Have its registered and operational offices in Lombardy.

Include support for a regional volunteer fire brigade detachment among its statutory purposes.

Have objectives consistent with Lombardy Regional Law No. 1 of 14 February 2008.

Have a democratic organizational structure.

Provide for the election and unpaid service of association officers.

Ensure that members provide their services voluntarily and without payment.

Establish rules governing the admission and exclusion of members.

Define the rights and responsibilities of members.

Include details of organizational assets and contributions in the financial report.

Obtain approval of the annual financial report through the organization’s assembly.

Include a clause governing the transfer of assets if the organization is dissolved.

Applicants must also be included in the regional list established under Regional Council Resolution X/6998 of 31 July 2017 and updated for 2026 through Decree No. 8324 of 23 June 2026.

Applications must support a qualifying volunteer fire brigade detachment through one or more of the following activities:

Acquisition of technical and instrumental resources.

Installation or improvement of essential building systems.

Work required to enable volunteer firefighters to perform their assigned duties.

All proposed purchases and improvements must be intended for the supported volunteer detachment.

The source identifies the following broad categories of eligible costs:

Vehicles intended for volunteer fire brigade use.

Electrical, mechanical or other building-system work.

Other approved work considered essential for the detachment’s operations.

Applicants must provide detailed supplier quotations showing value-added tax and individual cost items.

Applications must include the required electronic attachments.

Authorization for digital signature and online submission when the application is filed by an authorized representative.

A detailed breakdown for each proposed technical or instrumental item.

A detailed breakdown for each proposed structural or systems-related activity.

Authorization from the relevant Provincial Fire Brigade Command for the proposed vehicle or equipment purchase.

Authorization from the relevant Provincial Fire Brigade Command for proposed structural or building-system work.

Authorization from the property owner when structural or systems work will be undertaken in premises not owned by the applicant.

Applicants should review the official call to determine whether any additional documents are required.

Approved funding will be released in two stages.

The first instalment will equal 50% of the approved grant and is expected to be paid by 30 November 2026.

Before receiving the advance, the beneficiary must digitally sign the Acceptance Act confirming the approved equipment purchases or infrastructure work.

Information about the timing, documentation and exact percentage of the final payment was not provided in the source. Applicants should consult the complete call and implementation rules.

Applications will undergo an evaluation-based selection procedure.

Registration in the required regional list.

Consistency between the organization’s statutory purposes and the call.

Relevance to a volunteer fire brigade detachment.

Compliance with the online submission requirements.

Meeting the basic eligibility conditions does not automatically guarantee funding.

Volunteer fire brigade detachments pr