FEMA's nearly $180 million in mitigation grants includes $1.5 million for earthquake work by nonprofits and universities
The agency announced the grants on Sept. 18. Most of the money goes to governments, for 115 projects Congress chose and for floodplain management. A $1.5 million earthquake program was the one part nonprofits could compete for, and its applications closed Aug. 14.
Washington. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced nearly $180 million in grants on Sept. 18 to reduce the damage from future earthquakes, floods and wildfires. Almost all of it goes to states, territories, tribes and local governments. The one part nonprofits could apply for is $1.5 million for earthquake work serving several states or the whole country, and applications for it closed on Aug. 14.
The largest share, more than $160 million, goes through the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program to 115 projects in 39 states and one Tribal Nation that Congress named in the homeland security spending law for fiscal 2026. Most of them reduce flood risk. Another $15 million goes to states and territories for floodplain management.
FEMA tied the round to the America First Resilience Strategy the White House released in June. The strategy calls nonprofits that seek to reduce human suffering "force multipliers for life safety and community recovery missions," and says governments "should limit engagement and coordination to non-profits that demonstrate lawful and fiscally sound conduct."
What nonprofits could apply for
The Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance program was open only to nonprofits and institutions of higher education able to run seismic risk reduction work across state lines. Its funding notice, posted July 13, planned six awards of $100,000 to $300,000 from $1,503,100, with no cost share.
For regional work, FEMA will pick one recipient based in each of two regions: an Eastern one of 11 states and territories, from Alabama to the Virgin Islands, and a Western one of 11 from Alaska to Washington. National work includes the annual ShakeOut preparedness drills, QuakeSmart outreach to businesses and a yearly meeting of the National Earthquake Program Managers. The money may pay for training, exercises, building code updates and seismic safety inspections, but not for construction, retrofits, equipment or research.
The notice expected selections and awards by Sept. 30, for work from Oct. 1 through March 31, 2028. A second earthquake program sends more than $2.3 million, without competition, to 22 states and territories, which may pass part of it to nonprofits and universities that work across state lines.
Conditions attached
The notice requires resumes and short biographies for any subrecipient, including the names and addresses of its leaders and board members. It says subrecipients should not include foreign nationals or noncitizens, and that any who do must have them properly vetted and follow federal procedures, including one it calls "staff American, stay in America."
FEMA must approve every payment request before money is drawn. With each request, a recipient that passes money on must say whether the subrecipient's work or mission involves supporting aliens and whether it has any diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
About this story
501c3.help wrote this story from the sources listed with it, not from material an organization sent. Our editors approved it on Sept. 29, 2026. Stories in The Nonprofit Herald are free, and nothing is asked in return. Editorial rules.
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