Grant Programs Directorate Overview 

Fact SheetFact Sheet 

Formally created on April 1, 2007 in accordance with the Post-Katrina Emergency Management 
Reform Act (PKEMRA), the Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) was formed from three legacy 
organizations: (1) FEMA Grants Management Branch, (2) DHS Office of Grants and Training – 
Office of Grant Operations, and (3) DHS Office of Grants and Training – Preparedness Programs 
Division. 

 

GPD is the one-stop-shop for grants management at FEMA. Since its inception, GPD has 
integrated the functions of its legacy organizations to create a single entity responsible for business 
management of all FEMA grant programs and for the programmatic management of the full suite of 
preparedness grant programs. 

 

GPD recently set forth its first Strategic Plan; it identified the following strategic goals and objectives 
of GPD, which are aligned with FEMA’s Strategic Goals: 

 

Goal #1 – Emphasize employee development and human capital planning to ensure a 
continuous pipeline of knowledgeable staff to support the Grants Management lifecycle 

 

Goal #2 – Team with internal and external stakeholders to build partnerships and increase 
communication 

 

Goal #3 – Provide accurate and timely information and services that positively guide and 
influence grantees’ use of federal funding 

 

Goal #4 – Build a robust and standardized data analysis capability to quantify benefits and 
demonstrate the importance of grants management to Homeland Security priorities 

 

Goal #5 – Streamline, standardize and document key processes to promote collaboration and 
consistency across regions and programs 

 

GPD’s focus is on improving grants management and related efforts to ensure meaningful and 
measurable results. GPD relies on the strength of its partnerships to accomplish its mission, and 
strives to strengthen its collaborative relationships through enhanced communication and improving 
strategic partnerships. By providing outstanding customer service to all grantees as well as internal 
and external partners; engaging state, local and tribal stakeholders through consistent outreach and 
discussion; and ensuring transparency in the grant process, GPD enhances the nation’s level of 
preparedness and the public’s ability to prevent, protect and mitigate against, respond to and 
recover from all hazards. 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work 
together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, 
recover from, and mitigate all hazards.