By Shannon M. Day, Senior Grants Development Consultant
In the wake of 9/11, the vulnerability of America's infrastructure became clear. Often symbolic targets or serving at-risk populations, nonprofit organizations lacked the resources to implement proper security measures. Recognizing this need, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) began lobbying Congress for support in 2001. Their years of work paid off in 2004 with the establishment of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).
Administered by DHS and FEMA, the NSGP initially focused on physical security enhancements for nonprofits considered high-risk for terrorist attacks. This included funding for security assessments, training, equipment, and infrastructure improvements aimed at "target hardening" facilities.
Over time, the NSGP has grown to encompass a broader range of threats and institutions. The eligibility criteria have broadened to include houses of worship, educational facilities, and organizations vulnerable to hate crimes, reflecting the evolving security landscape and the diverse needs of the nonprofit sector.
The program remains an essential resource for nonprofits today. Thanks to ongoing advocacy by JFNA and other organizations, the NSGP continues to see increased funding, greater accessibility, and improved effectiveness. Finally, the 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act underscored this commitment by extending funding through 2028 and simplifying application processes.
Despite adapting to new security threats, the NSGP's core mission remains unchanged: protecting essential community organizations and fostering safe spaces for all.
With the delays in the passage of the federal budget, applicants may have a short window to apply for NSGP in 2024. The more your organization can do to prepare now, the more ready you will be when your state opens its application window. Below, we have provided information from the 2023 program. Few changes are anticipated in 2024.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program Overview:
- Total funding available in 2023: $305,000,000
- Individual amounts: Up to $150,000 per location with an upper limit per organization of $450,000 for up to three (3) unique physical locations/addresses
- Cost share/match: Not required
- Project period: Up to 36 months
- Application Deadline: Varies by state. Check with your State Administrative Agency (SAA) for details
- Eligible Applicants: 501(c)(3) organizations determined to be at high risk of a terrorist attack
Note that NSGP is a passthrough grant. While it is federally funded, your organization will apply through your state. Some individual processes may vary, but these three components are required:
- Mission Statement: This is a formal summary of the aims and values of your organization and should include three components: the organization's purpose, values, and goals. The mission statement should be provided on your organization's official letterhead.
- Site Assessment: A vulnerability or risk assessment is a documented review of your facility that identifies gaps in security. Addressing gaps identified in the vulnerability assessment keeps a facility and its occupants, visitors, and members safer. This document is the foundation of an NSGP application.
- Investment Justification (IJ): The IJ is the only scored component. After submission, your SAA will review, score, and rank every complete application it has received from eligible nonprofit organizations. The results of this scoring process will be forwarded to FEMA, which will inform the federal review of the Investment Justifications. FEMA will then determine nonprofit organizations that are recommended for funding and provide this list to the Secretary of Homeland Security for final approval. In your Investment Justification (IJ), your nonprofit organization should summarize the most critically important, impactful, and salient information, and your funding requests should reflect the recommendations from your site assessment.
Various nonprofits throughout the United States and its territories have received funding through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, showing that this is an accessible yet highly competitive program. In 2022, awards were made to 52% of applicants. While this is higher than the overall national average of about 25-30% for federal grant awards and shows an increase from 46% of projects awarded in 2021, it still means that 48% of projects were not funded. The more you can prepare your organization now, the more competitive your proposal will be.