Last week, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), alongside Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) and Mike Lawler (NY-17) led a bipartisan letter calling for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to quickly release information to Congress to help nonprofits applying for Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funding.
FEMA is currently withholding the list of nonprofits that will be receiving NSGP funding this year within each district from Members of Congress. This comes following a longstanding period of time, where this information was willingly shared with ease. The lack of transparency succeeds a months-long delay in releasing awards, which is vital for nonprofits that seek out funding for next year as the deadline approaches. Without the knowledge of whether or not they were awarded funds, it makes it difficult for these nonprofit organizations to plan ahead for the upcoming year.
The bipartisan letter calls on the Trump Administration to immediately provide congressional offices with the full list of June grant awardees. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program provides critical funding to nonprofits at a high risk of terrorist attacks. The funding, which mainly helps faith-based institutions and houses of worship, allows institutions to bolster its security and provide access to training from the growing threat of violence.
“We thank Representative Gottheimer and the bipartisan group of lawmakers for their steadfast support of the NSGP, and especially for their commitment to protecting Jewish and other faith-based communities amid an unprecedented threat environment,” said Michael Masters, National Director and CEO of the Secure Community Network. “While the release of the FY2025 funding notice is a welcome development, the condensed application timeline presents real challenges. Timely and transparent communication is key to helping communities navigate the process effectively and maintain a proactive security posture.”
Rep. Gottheimer’s role in the letter looks to push for more transparency, which ultimately aids nonprofit organizations in planning out the future ways in which they can operate.