FEMA - Houses of Worship Eligible for Financial Assistance

06/15/2020

Greeting Partners,  

In the midst of a disaster it can be difficult to keep track of everything and find the information and documentation needed when your facility is damaged.  One simple thing you can do now is create an account on Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grants Portal for your House of Worship. This website will allow you to upload critical documents for your facility as well as place you in a notification system for when federal declarations are made to your area.

FEMA, working with State, Local and Tribal leaders, is hosting important "how-to" Webinars to support local leaders navigate this system.  We encourage you to review the following opportunities.

FEMA will be offering a series of webinars titled: Grants Portal Applicant Basics where you will learn how to register and set up a new Grants Portal account, submit a request for Public Assistance (RPA) and how upload documents and create tiles. Below, you will find dates, times and the link to visit for the course offerings and further below you will find further information related to Grants Portal: 

• June 15 at 2:00 p.m.: https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1615279340, Meeting ID: 161 527 9340 Password: 564786

• June 16 at 7:00 p.m.: https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1614137342, Meeting ID: 161 413 7342 Password: 564786

• June 17 at 2:00 p.m.: https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1615279340, Meeting ID: 161 527 9340 Password: 564786

• June 19 at 2:00 p.m.: https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1615279340, Meeting ID: 161 527 9340 Password: 564786 

FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) Program provides supplemental assistance to States, Tribes, and local governmental entities, as well as eligible private nonprofit (PNP) organizations including Houses of Worship. Public Assistance is FEMA’s largest grant program providing funds to reimburse communities responding to and recovering from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President. The program provides funding for emergency assistance to save lives and protect property and assists with funding for permanently restoring community infrastructure affected by a federally declared incident. 

You or your denomination can create your account today in Grants Portal for Public Assistance. Profiles can be created once you collect the following information: 

• Recipient (Owner or leaseholder with responsibility for making repairs)

• Non-profit IRS status (with or without 501C3)

• EIN Number

• DUNS (optional)

• POC Name, Title, Phone #; Email

• Complete Physical Location

• Counties with facilities 

Gather the information detailed above and reach out to the Public Assistance Office at your State or Territory Emergency Management Agency about creating your account in Grants Portal today! Once you have an account you can upload and store documentation in the system at any time before a disaster is declared. When an event occurs and you make an approved Request for Public Assistance, you will receive an Event Profile in in Grants Portal and can upload information that pertains to that event. 

For more information on in Grants Portal and how FEMA addresses PA applications from PNPs, including Houses of Worship you can go to IS-1002: FEMA Grants Portal – Transparency at Every Step and IS-1026: Eligibility of Private Nonprofit Organizations respectively.

For additional information, please see FEMA's Applicant Quick Guide to Grants Portal Account Creation and Request for Public Assistance for more information - https://grantee.fema.gov/Content/files/Applicant%20Quick%20Guide%20Grants%20Portal%20Account%20and%20RPA%20(Mar%2028%202020).pdf

Thank you for everything you do as faith and community organization leaders in supporting your local communities everyday.  You are a critical partner in our efforts to build a more resilient nation and a key resource in serving those in need during times of disaster.

Sincerely, 

The DHS Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives