Fiscal Year 2026 National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Multi-State and National Earthquake Assistance

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Multi State and National Earthquake Assistance grant is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency under its Resilience Hazard Mitigation Directorate. The program operates as part of the broader National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program which coordinates federal efforts across FEMA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Geological Survey. This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations with demonstrated expertise in earthquake risk mitigation and to strengthen national and regional capacity for reducing the impacts of seismic events. The purpose of the program is to fund activities that enhance earthquake preparedness, mitigation, and resilience across multiple states or at the national level. FEMA recognizes that while earthquakes cannot be prevented, their consequences can be managed through coordinated planning, education, and policy improvements. Funded activities must align with NEHRP strategic goals and contribute to measurable improvements in seismic safety and awareness. Priority areas include professional development for the seismic community, public education campaigns, earthquake preparedness drills, building code improvements, mitigation planning, and support for national initiatives such as ShakeOut and QuakeSmart. Funding is provided through competitive grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education that demonstrate the capacity to deliver multi state or national level impact. The program allows a range of allowable activities including training, outreach, planning, and technical assistance but prohibits expenditures on construction, equipment procurement, retrofits, and international travel. Management and administration costs are permitted up to a capped percentage of the award. There is no cost share requirement, which lowers barriers to participation for eligible applicants. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations or institutions of higher education with demonstrated experience in seismic risk reduction and the ability to collaborate with federal and state level stakeholders. Subawards are permitted, including partnerships with tribal entities, provided compliance requirements are met. Applicants must demonstrate technical expertise, propose realistic and deliverable work plans, and show alignment with FEMA programmatic priorities. Only one application per entity is allowed. Applications must be submitted through the FEMA GO system and require completion of standard federal forms along with program specific materials. These include a detailed work plan narrative, a master schedule and deliverables table, a comprehensive budget using earned value management methodology, and an outcomes logic model. Applicants must maintain active registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. The application process is structured and requires careful preparation of technical, financial, and administrative documentation. Applications are evaluated through a two step process consisting of an eligibility review followed by a national panel review conducted by FEMA subject matter experts. Evaluation criteria include the applicant’s experience, the quality and feasibility of the work plan, alignment with program goals, and cost effectiveness. Additional considerations include the ability to deliver multi state or national impact and to achieve measurable improvements in earthquake risk reduction and awareness. The application window for this funding opportunity opens July 13, 2026 and closes August 14, 2026 at 5 PM Eastern Time. Funding decisions and awards are anticipated by September 30, 2026, with a performance period running from October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028. This program is offered as a single cycle opportunity for the fiscal year and does not explicitly state recurring issuance. Applicants can direct questions to FEMA program offices via the provided email contact, and additional support is available through FEMA Grants News and technical assistance divisions.

Ensure strong alignment with NEHRP goals and demonstrate measurable outcomes with realistic timelines and cost effective budgeting