July 2026 Funding Trends Report

July Trend at a Glance

July shifted the grant calendar from early-summer application preparation into a dense late-summer execution period. DOJ and COPS released a new wave of law-enforcement opportunities, FEMA homeland-security programs closed at the federal level and moved into state implementation, and fire-grant applicants entered the review and documentation stage. August and September now carry several high-value deadlines, making rapid eligibility review, document readiness, and email monitoring especially important.

July 2026 Executive Trend Summary

• DOJ/COPS activity expanded in July. New Community Policing Development opportunities, Project Safe Neighborhoods, the BIDEN Program Round 2, houses-of-worship security funding, and several OVW opportunities now create a concentrated August-September workload.

• Homeland-security funding moved from federal application deadlines into state and local implementation. FY2026 HSGP and NSGP federal applications closed July 24, but local agencies and nonprofits should continue watching state administrative agencies for subaward decisions, follow-up requests, and pass-through timelines.

• FEMA fire programs have entered a documentation-heavy review stage. Some FY2025 AFG, SAFER, and FP&S applicants are receiving requests for additional information or documentation; applicants should monitor the email accounts associated with FEMA GO and respond promptly.

• Late-summer public-safety funding is increasingly targeted: violent crime, crisis response, law-enforcement modernization, immigration-related enforcement, houses-of-worship security, and officer/community safety are prominent themes.

• State and regional opportunities remain active and often move quickly. Smaller equipment, traffic-safety, EMS, fire-training, cybersecurity, nonprofit-security, and community-safety grants may have shorter windows than major federal programs, reinforcing the value of maintaining ready-to-submit project files.

• OMB proposed changes to federal guidelines-the proposal closed for public comment on July 13^th. With the U.S. Senate passing a Continuing Resolution to extend government funding through December 11, the OMB proposed rule on Uniform Guidance, governing how federal grants are administered, is delayed.

FEMA Fire Grant Review and Award Watch
The FY2025 AFG, SAFER, and Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) application cycle is moving deeper into technical review and pre-award processing. GrantFinder is seeing indications that FEMA is reaching out to some applicants for additional documentation or clarification. These requests are time-sensitive and are sent to the primary point of contact listed in FEMA GO.

Watch your email and FEMA GO
Applicants should check the inbox and spam/junk folders for all email addresses tied to the application. A request for additional documentation is not an award notice, but it can be an important part of FEMA’s review. Respond completely and within the stated timeframe, and keep copies of everything submitted.

• Have current vendor quotes, equipment specifications, staffing rosters, financial documents, procurement policies, and match documentation readily available.
• Do not assume a request for clarification means the application will be funded; treat it as a review requirement and answer only what FEMA requests.
• Based on the current review pace, award releases are expected to begin in late August and continue into early October. Applicants should continue monitoring FEMA communications throughout that period.

Homeland Security and Nonprofit Security Programs
FY2026 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) activity was a major July milestone. The federal application deadline was July 24, 2026, with approximately $1.064 billion in program funding listed for HSGP. HSGP includes the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), and Operation Stonegarden (OPSG). Because State Administrative Agencies are the direct federal applicants, local jurisdictions should focus on state pass-through award schedules, investment-justification follow-up, and project readiness.

Trend implication
The federal deadline is not the end of the opportunity cycle. August and September will be important months for state administrative review, local subaward decisions, requests for clarification, and preparation for implementation if projects are selected.

DOJ and COPS: July Openings Reshape the Late-Summer Calendar
The U.S. Department of Justice continued releasing new public-safety opportunities throughout July. The COPS Office announced approximately $25 million in additional NOFOs on July 21, on top of nearly $700 million in COPS opportunities released in June. This has extended the law-enforcement grant cycle well into late August and early September.

BIDEN Program - Round 2
The second round of the FY2026 Bridging Immigration-Related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (“BIDEN”) Program opened July 28. The program supports eligible jurisdictions for law-enforcement activities related to criminal aliens, drug and human trafficking, investigations, prosecutions, temporary detention, transportation, technology, equipment, and related enforcement capacity. Round 2 has a Grants.gov deadline of August 26 and a JustGrants deadline of August 28, 2026.

Apply in this round if the project is ready
The BIDEN Program is structured in multiple rounds and funding is limited. Agencies that are eligible and prepared should not wait unnecessarily for a later round. Round 2 is open now, and future availability depends on remaining funds and subsequent DOJ releases.

Priority Applications Due in August and September 2026

See Lexipol and GrantFinder Teams at FRI 2026
Lexipol and GrantFinder staff will be at Fire-Rescue International (FRI) 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri, August 12-14. If you are attending, stop by the booth to say hello, meet the team, and talk about upcoming fire and emergency-service funding opportunities. FRI brings together fire and EMS leaders, vendors, and industry partners from across the country, making it a great opportunity to connect in person and discuss project needs before the next major grant cycle.

FRI 2026
August 12-14, 2026 | Kansas City, Missouri. Stop by the LexipolandGrantFinder booth and say hello!

August-September Grant Strategy
• Prioritize applications by deadline and readiness, not simply by award size.
• Confirm that SAM.gov, Grants.gov, JustGrants, FEMA GO, and state portal access is active before the final week of a deadline.
• Keep decision-makers available for certifications, resolutions, MOUs, and required approvals.
• For FEMA fire applications already submitted, monitor communications rather than making unsolicited application changes.
• For state pass-through programs, check the State Administrative Agency calendar because local deadlines may not mirror federal dates.
• Prepare now for fall and winter cycles by refreshing equipment inventories, staffing data, call volume, incident trends, quotes, and capital plans.

Useful Grant Education  

• Gov1: South Florida’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force awarded $500K in federal funding

• FireRescue1: From luxury to necessity

• Police1: How Real-Time Drug Purity Analysis Is Transforming Narcotics Investigations

• NLC: CitiesSpeak Podcast Explains How the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Creates New Opportunities for Local Governments - National League of Cities

DOJ Funding Links

• Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) | Funding Opportunities

• Grants | COPS OFFICE

• Opportunities & Awards | Current Funding Opportunities | Office of Justice Programs

Foundation Grants Currently Open

• Park and Trail Partnership Grants - Parks & Trails New York

• Lois Lenski Covey Foundation - Bookmobile Grants

• Bell Helicopter Corporate Giving Program TX

• Community Foundation of Noble County - Celebrate Community Fund IN

• Jewett City Savings Bank - Charitable Foundation CT

• Central Minnesota Community Foundation - Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation’s Community Partners Grants

• The Denver Foundation - Colorado AAPI Circle Fund

• Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin - Robert G. Campbell Community Fund

• Charlottesville Area Community Foundation - Twice is Nice Fund VA