AIM Grant
AIMing for better wildfire outcomes before, during, and after a fire.
COCO is committed to providing resources to support wildfire resilience work across the country. Since the inception of the Action, Implementation, and Mitigation (AIM) program, we have funded 137 organizations completing mitigation work across the United States. Some highlights include: over 40,000 acres treated through forest restoration, fuels treatments and prescribed fire, 111 jobs created/supported, over 12,000 volunteers completing almost 117,000 hours of work related to fire adaptation, and over 4,000 homes have been hardened and/or had defensible space work completed. In the last year alone, our awardees have supported at least 72 different communities across the United States.
Due to continued uncertainty regarding funding under our agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, we are postponing our fall funding round until further notice. We will share updates as soon as additional information becomes available. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.
To learn more about the AIM program please visit the AIM Program Maps and Data Hub.
COCO (a Colorado-based nonprofit) started the Action, Implementation and Mitigation (AIM) Program to accelerate fire adaptation concepts and reduce the risk from wildfire across the U.S. by increasing capacity and on-the-ground work. Since its inception in 2018, we have supported over 137 organizations. COCO hopes to increase community resilience, restore fire-adapted ecosystems and create safer conditions for residents and firefighters. This funding opportunity is open to organizations working to advance wildfire risk reduction.
The AIM grant is available for a wide variety of capacity-building activities, including personnel, planning efforts, and wildfire risk reduction work on non-federal lands.
COCO funds organizations across the country with a focus on programs and projects that increase communities’ ability to overcome barriers to successful community wildfire mitigation, multiply the efforts, achieve quantifiable outcomes, support equitable and inclusive community wildfire mitigation programs across the fence, and support place-based solutions. The AIM program specifically seeks to fund “tipping point” projects, where the funding will increase the momentum of mitigation efforts, and improve an organization’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Applicants must demonstrate how their proposal fits into the larger community wildfire strategy, including coordination with federal partners on nearby public lands. Applicants must contribute a 1:1 match (cash or in-kind match is eligible). Award funding ranges from $10,000 – $50,000 and grants are contracted for a period of one year.
Is your organization currently conducting or planning pre-fire mitigation activities aimed at protecting their communities, watersheds, and ecosystems? Is your community at high risk of wildfire and in close proximity to public lands? You may be a good fit for the AIM grant.
A variety of organizations are eligible to apply:
- Regional and local collaborative efforts*
- Fire Safe Councils and/or Wildfire Councils*
- Nonprofit groups that undertake hazardous fuel reduction treatment projects in partnership with local, state or private entities
- Fire Departments
- Conservation Districts
- Tribes and Tribal Authorities
- City or County Government
- University or Colleges
*If not officially incorporated, these groups must have a 501c3 or local government fiscal sponsor that fits into one of the above categories.
Homeowner and Property Owner Associations (HOA/POA), Metro Districts, and other similar homeowner groups are not eligible to apply. Eligibility for past AIM awardees varies, and will be outlined in the Request for Concept Papers.
Full eligibility requirements and expectations will be posted in the Request for Concept Papers – please review carefully once this is posted.
Funding request schedule is dependent upon availability of federal funds and schedule may vary. The application is a two-stage process, beginning with the submittal of a Concept Paper, followed by the final application. Only organizations with selected concept papers from stage one will submit a final application.
Resources to aid in the completion of your application:
COMING SOON – Request for Concept Papers
COMING SOON – Concept Paper template
COMING SOON – Full Application Questions & Evaluation Criteria
COMING SOON – Frequently Asked Questions
An informational webinar is scheduled within the same week that the Request for Concept Papers (RFC) is released. These webinars are designed to give you a brief overview of AIM grant funding, the application process, and what to expect if funded.
These are interactive webinars, allowing you to bring your questions to the AIM program director and additional team members. Webinars require registration and will be listed here when available.
FULL TIMELINE COMING SOON – Timeline is subject to change pending funding availability and total number of applications received. The Fall 2025 application cycle received 80+ Concept Paper submissions and 34 were invited to submit full applications, with 14 receiving funding.
Request for Concept Papers Release | September 29, 2025 FALL 2025 REQUEST FOR CONCEPT PAPERS |
| Informational, Question & Answer Webinar | October 7, 2025 |
| Concept Paper DUE | October 24, 2025 | 5:00 PM MT |
| Select and non-select notifications to the final application | November 2025 |
The AIM Program is co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
