Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is a grant program administered by FEMA under the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that provides funding for target hardening and physical security enhancements to non-profit organizations at high risk of terrorist attack.{{cite web |last1=Reese |first1=Shawn |title=Department of Homeland Security Preparedness Grants: A Summary and Issues |url=https://sgp.fas.org/crs/homesec/R44669.pdf |publisher=Congressional Research Service |access-date=28 March 2024 |date=2016-10-28}} The NSGP is one of eight DHS grant programs that assists states and localities prepare for terrorist attacks. The NSGP is funded through two subgrants: the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP), allocated to non-profit organizations, and the Urban Area

Security Initiative (UASI), allocated specifically to non-profit organizations within high-risk and high-threat cities.{{cite web |title=Nonprofit Security Grant Program: Summary and Potential Issues for Congress |url=https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11861/2 |publisher=Congressional Research Service |access-date=28 March 2024 |date=2022-02-18}}{{cite news |last1=Deutch |first1=Gabby |title=Schumer calls for $1 billion in federal nonprofit security funding |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2023/11/chuck-schumer-national-security-grant-program-antisemitism/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Insider |date=2023-11-06}}

To qualify for funding, organizations pass through review boards at the state level, then undergo a review at the national level that determines the actual amount of aid.{{cite news |last1=Udasin |first1=Sharon |title=Bomb Plot Spurs Demand For More Security Funds |url=https://www.jta.org/2009/05/29/ny/bomb-plot-spurs-demand-for-more-security-funds |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=New York Jewish Week |date=2009-05-29}} Groups use the funding for measures such as blast-proof windows, reinforced doors, locks, gates, video surveillance, security training, awareness campaigns, and response planning.

Since 1996, the U.S. Congress has provided grant funding to states and localities to prepare for terrorist attacks and improve domestic security. The idea for the NSGP was first proposed by the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) on December 11, 2001.

The NSGP was created by legislation enacted in 2004 and began distributing its first grants in 2005{{cite news |last1=Beutel |first1=Alejandro |title=Assessing the Non-Profit Security Grant Program After Colleyville |url=https://newlinesinstitute.org/nonstate-actors/civil-society/assessing-the-non-profit-security-grant-program-after-colleyville/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=New Lines Institute |date=2022-02-15}} as a security initiative under the umbrella of the larger two-year-old Urban Areas Security Initiative.

For its first year, Congress funded the program at slightly less than $25 million annually. Legislators and advocacy groups have called for an increase in funding to cover all eligible applicants, especially after terror plots such as the 2009 Bronx terrorism plot, the Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis,{{cite news |last1=Nahmias |first1=Omri |title=US Nonprofit Security Grant Program gets raise in Federal Omnibus Package |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-725396 |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jerusalem Post |date=2022-12-20}} and the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.{{cite news |last1=Moseley |first1=Brandon |title=Katie Britt and colleagues call for increased funding for Nonprofit Security Grant Program |url=https://altoday.com/archives/54560-katie-britt-and-colleagues-call-for-increased-funding-for-nonprofit-security-grant-program |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Alabama Today |date=2023-10-12}}

Funding increased significantly in the 2020s to meet increasing demand as antisemitism increased in the United States. Despite funding increases, the program fulfilled just over half of total grant applications, with total grant requests reaching $447 million.{{cite news |last1=Rod |first1=Marc |title=NSGP funding increase called a positive step, but also disappointing shortfall |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2022/12/nonprofit-security-grant-program-funding-religious-institutions-nonprofits-security/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Insider |date=2022-12-21}}

Since 2019, legislators and groups such as the Orthodox Union and Jewish Federations of North America called for $360 million in annual funding.{{cite news |last1=Kampeas |first1=Ron |title=Biden proposes boosting nonprofit security funding per Jewish groups’ request |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-proposes-boosting-nonprofit-security-funding-per-jewish-groups-request/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Times of Israel |agency=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=2022-03-30}} The New Lines Institute also recommended funding the program at this level in a 2022 analysis.

Amid a surge of antisemitism during the Gaza war, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for the program's annual funding to be tripled to $1 billion for 2024. The funding would increase staff at FEMA to accelerate the rate at which grants were administered and to satisfy the 58% of applications, representing $679 million in funding, that were not approved.

In 2024, DHS allocated $454.5 million to organizations under NSGP, the largest ever allocated toward the program, and an increase of $150 million over 2023.{{cite news |last1=Hajdenberg |first1=Jackie |title=US government spends record $454 million to secure religious institutions amid rising antisemitism |url=https://www.jta.org/2024/08/27/united-states/us-government-spends-record-454-million-to-secure-religious-institutions-amid-rising-antisemitism |access-date=7 December 2024 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=2024-08-27}} This amount fulfilled 43% of the 7,584 total applications representing $973 million in total funding requests. Thirty-seven percent of grant recipients were Jewish institutions.{{cite news |last1=Rod |first1=Marc |title=Under half of nonprofit security grant applications funded in 2024, despite additional funding |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2024/08/under-half-of-nonprofit-security-grant-applications-funded-in-2024-despite-additional-funding/ |access-date=7 December 2024 |work=Jewish Insider |date=2024-08-30}}

After the 2025 Capital Jewish Museum shooting, mainstream American Jewish organizations and members of the U.S. Congress called for an increase in NSGP appropriations.{{cite news |last1=Salant |first1=Jonathan |title=Boost federal nonprofit security grants to $500m, Gottheimer tells JNS |url=https://www.jns.org/boost-federal-nonprofit-security-grants-to-500m-gottheimer-tells-jns/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=Jewish News Syndicate |date=2025-05-23}}{{cite news |last1=Salant |first1=Jonathan |title=‘Another wake-up call,’ US Jewish leaders say after gunman kills two Israeli embassy staffers in DC |url=https://www.jns.org/another-wakeup-call-us-jewish-leaders-say-after-gunman-kills-two-israeli-embassy-staffers-in-dc/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=Jewish News Syndicate |date=2025-05-22}}

Between 2011 and 2021, faith-based awardees received approximately 97% of all NSGP funds, and secular awardees have received approximately 3% of all funds. Secular awardees include medical institutions and higher education institutions.

Jewish groups and institutions have received most of the program's funding since its establishment in 2005 due to higher levels of Jewish participation in applications and because they were deemed at higher risk of potential terrorist attack based on threat and risk information, according to DHS information and the New Lines Institute.{{cite news |title=Jewish groups receive Homeland Security grants |url=https://www.jta.org/2007/09/30/default/jewish-groups-receive-homeland-security-grants |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=2007-09-30}}{{cite news |last1=Kampeas |first1=Ron |title=Obama inks measure with security funds for nonprofits |url=https://www.jta.org/2009/10/29/united-states/obama-inks-measure-with-security-funds-for-nonprofits |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=2009-10-29}}{{cite news |last1=Kampeas |first1=Ron |title=Homeland Security releases funds to nonprofits, mostly Jewish |url=https://www.jta.org/2010/07/16/united-states/homeland-security-releases-funds-to-nonprofits-mostly-jewish |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=2010-07-16}} Jewish institutions received 60% of funding in 2009,{{cite news |last1=Fingerhut |first1=Eric |title=Jewish groups get majority of security grants |url=https://www.jta.org/2009/06/17/politics/jewish-groups-get-majority-of-security-grants |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=2009-06-17}} 73% between 2007 and 2010, 81% in 2011,{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Mari |title=Fears of Government Surveillance Complicate Muslim Groups’ Access to Federal Security Funding |url=https://jewishcurrents.org/fears-of-government-surveillance-complicate-muslim-groups-access-to-federal-security-funding |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Currents |date=2021-03-30}} 97% in 2012, and almost 90% in 2013.{{cite news |last1=Stoil |first1=Rebecca |title=US Jewish organizations get $9m. for ‘homeland security’ |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-jewish-organizations-get-9m-for-homeland-security/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Times of Israel |date=2013-08-30}} By 2014, $110 million of the $138 million distributed through the program had gone to Jewish institutions seeking funding.{{cite news |title=Congress budgets $13 million for nonprofits security |url=https://www.jta.org/2014/01/17/united-states/congress-budgets-13-million-for-nonprofits-security |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=2014-01-17}}

In an attempt to broaden access to the program, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) have held trainings to help other faith groups improve their grant applications, including hosting a joint webinar with the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO). JFNA and the Orthodox Union joined with the USCMO, the Sikh Council for Interfaith Relations, and several Christian denominations to call for increased funding to the program. The joint lobbying effort resulted in Congress appropriating twice the previous year's funding for 2021.

After the Colleyville synagogue hostage crisis in 2022, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker credited NSGP for boosting his synagogue's security measures, such as upgrading its camera system.{{cite news |title=Rabbi Held Hostage At Colleyville Synagogue Urges Congress To Increase Funding For Improved Security At Houses Of Worship |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/rabbi-hostage-colleyville-texas-synagogue-congress-funding-security-houses-worship/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=CBS News |date=2022-02-08}}

The program has become a popular topic among antisemitic and conspiracy-oriented bloggers, who point to information on award sizes to argue that Jewish interests have undue effect upon the American government.

Several U.S. states have their own nonprofit security grant programs, including California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts.

After the Poway synagogue shooting, the California State Legislature passed AB 1548 to establish the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program in 2019, awarding up to $200,000 per year to religious, political, and mission-based institutions. The state allocated $12 million to the program, administered by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, in 2019. Security grants had previously been a line item in the state budget since 2015.{{cite news |last1=Keene |first1=Louis |title=Jewish nonprofits look to feds, states to help pay for security. But there’s not enough grant money to go around. |url=https://forward.com/news/482027/california-nonprofit-security-grants-announced/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=The Forward |date=2022-02-04}}{{cite news |last1=Stutman |first1=Gabe |title=Governor signs law to protect vulnerable targets of hate |url=https://jweekly.com/2019/10/11/governor-signs-law-to-protect-vulnerable-targets-of-hate/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=The Jewish News of Northern California |date=2019-10-11}}

In February 2021, Governor Ned Lamont announced $3.8 million in grants for 97 nonprofits, with a maximum of $50,000 per site, as part of the state's newly established Nonprofit Security Grant Program.{{cite news |title=New grant program awards $3.8 million to improve security protections at nonprofits |url=https://www.wtnh.com/news/connecticut/new-grant-program-awards-3-8-million-to-improve-security-protections-at-nonprofits/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=WTNH |date=2021-07-28}} In 2024, the program announced up to $5 million in annual grants.{{cite news |title=Applications open for Connecticut's nonprofit security grant program |url=https://www.fox61.com/article/news/local/applications-open-connecticut-nonprofit-security-grant-program/520-0416e935-a3a6-4c69-a198-db56bb5b4a43 |access-date=28 March 2024 |date=2024-01-04}}

Citing tensions due to the Gaza war, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 7-C in November 2023 to allocate $25 million in Security Grants to Jewish days schools and pre-schools. An additional $20 million will be given to the Florida Division of Emergency Management to establish a nonprofit security grant program for organizations at high risk of violent attacks or hate crimes.{{cite news |last1=Gollon |first1=Chris |title=Florida Legislature Approves Security Funding for Jewish Schools |url=https://www.newsdaytonabeach.com/stories/florida-legislature-approves-funding-to-protect-jewish-schools,63463 |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=WNDB |date=2023-11-14}}

Since 2021, New York has awarded $131.5 million in security grants to non-profits, religious groups, and community organizations. In 2025, the state planned to direct $63.9 million in state funding to 636 organizations, in addition to $44.8 million in federal funding under the NSGP.{{cite news |last1=Tress |first1=Luke |title=New York awards record $63.9M in security funding for organizations at risk of hate crimes |url=https://www.jta.org/2024/12/03/ny/new-york-awards-record-63-9m-in-security-funding-for-organizations-at-risk-of-hate-crimes |access-date=7 December 2024 |work=New York Jewish Week |date=2024-12-03}}

After the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in 2018, Pennsylvania passed Act 83 of 2019 to establish the state's Nonprofit Security Grant Fund. Initially, $5 million in grant funding was available. After an increase in antisemitism during the Israel-Gaza war in 2023, the state legislature increased the available funding to $10 million.{{cite news |last1=Sweitzer |first1=Justin |title=PA House passes $5M expansion of nonprofit security grant program |url=https://www.cityandstatepa.com/policy/2023/11/pa-house-passes-5m-expansion-nonprofit-security-grant-program/391738/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=City & State |date=2023-11-02}} In the 5 years since its inception, the fund distributed $25 million to synagogues, mosques, and other nonprofit organizations.{{cite news |last1=Saffren |first1=Jarrad |title=Shapiro Wants to Increase Funding for Grant Program That Helps Synagogues |url=https://www.jewishexponent.com/shapiro-wants-to-increase-funding-for-grant-program-that-helps-synagogues/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Jewish Exponent |date=2024-02-28}}

Since 2015, the United Kingdom has allocated £122 million through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant to enhance security efforts such as security guards, CCTV, and alarm systems, at Jewish schools and synagogues, including £15 million in funding for 2023–24.{{cite news |title=UK boosts funding to protect Jewish communities from antisemitic attacks |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-boosts-funding-protect-jewish-communities-antisemitic-attacks-2023-03-30/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=Reuters |date=2023-03-30}}

The UK government also allocated £24.5 million in 2022 for the Places of Worship Protective Security Funding Scheme for mosques and associated faith community centers.{{cite news |title=UK govt opens £24.5m fund for mosque protection against hate crimes |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/uk-opens-ps245m-fund-mosque-security-against-hate-crimes |access-date=28 March 2024 |work=The New Arab |date=2022-05-21}}

• Secure Community Network, Jewish security organization in North America
• List of attacks on Jewish institutions

{{reflist}}

Category:United States Department of Homeland Security

Category:Opposition to antisemitism in the United States