Federal and State Nonprofit Security Grant Programs

The Federation’s Community Security Program works year-round with Jewish organizations to help secure major funding from federal and state Nonprofit Security Grant Programs.  Our team of professionals offers the following support:

  • Ongoing, confidential counsel to advance your consideration and pursuit of grants
  • Site assessments to identify, prioritize, and budget security improvements
  • Guidance on preparing and submitting competitive grant applications

This page will be continually updated with the most current information about upcoming grant opportunities, news about previous grant awards, and Frequently Asked Questions about these grant programs.  

Current Grant Opportunity

The FY2023 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) launched on February 27, 2023. The application deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, April 14.

The NSGP is funded by FEMA but administered by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The NSGP awards grants of up to $150,000 toward physical security improvements, training and planning, and hiring security guards.

If you are considering applying, we strongly encourage you to take these three steps, if you have not done so yet:

  1. Review our NSGP Resources section to familiarize yourself with this upcoming grant opportunity.
  2. Schedule an initial 30-minute call with our team to ask questions about the grant and application process.
  3. Request a security assessment of your site no later than March 14 by emailing our Director of Community Security.

Reimbursable Security Improvements

NSGP Links and Resources

In a March 3 memo, Cal OES set an application deadline of April 14, 2023 at 5:00 pm and announced they will hold NSGP application webinars on March 9, 14, 15, and 16 on how to complete the application. If you miss the webinar, reviewing the slide deck is a good substitute. (They will post it on the Cal OES Grants Management webpage on or about March 9; here is a link to last year’s webinar. Since we do not expect significant changes this year, you can use this presentation to guide your preparation.)

Below are links to the two major components of the NSGP application:

  1. Vulnerability Assessment (VA) Worksheet – The VA Worksheet must be completed using this template. We can conduct an on-site security assessment together and help populate fields marked with a blue Star of David. You can begin to complete all other fields. The VA Worksheet functions to identify, prioritize and substantiate the security improvements proposed as part of your grant request.
  2. Investment Justification (IJ) – The “IJ” is a fillable PDF that you will complete based on your VA Worksheet. This functions as your application and is the only document that gets scored.
    (Directions: download and save a copy to your computer; open saved copy to complete form.)

Future Grant Opportunities

The California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP) is funded through the state and also administered by Cal OES. This grant opportunity is typically offered in the fall and has awarded grants of up to $200,000 in past years. The FY2023 CSNSGP needs to be part of the state budget that will be approved in June. Please review our FAQ section below for more information about the CSNSGP and check back for updates on the FY2023 CSNSGP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the differences between the NSGP and the CSNSGP?

The NSGP is a national grant program funded by FEMA. Last year, the NSGP funding pool was $250 million nationally, of which $125 million was for urban areas. The maximum grant award was $150,000. Cal OES reviews and scores NSGP applications of nonprofits in California, but FEMA makes final funding determinations out of a pool of applicants nationwide.

The CSNSGP is a separate grant program funded through the state budget. For each of the last two years, the CSNSGP funding pool was $47.5 million. The maximum grant award was $200,000. Cal OES reviews and scores CSNSGP applications and makes final funding determinations.

What are the similarities between the NSGP and the CSNSGP?

CSNSGP is essentially modeled from the NSGP. Each requires the same template for a Vulnerability Assessment and asks the same questions in their respective grant applications. Both programs are administered by Cal OES.

What is the likelihood of being funded?

In 2022, over 50% of all NSGP applications were funded nationally. In 2021, over 82% of all CSNSGP applications were funded. Our team at the Federation partners with organizations early in the process to exceed these rates of success.

Which grant program should we apply to?

We recommend applying to the next available funding opportunity.

Can we apply to both grant programs?

Yes. If your NSGP application is not funded, you can apply to the CSNSGP later this year. If your NSGP application is funded, you can still apply to the CSNSGP later this year for new projects.

We were recently funded by an NSGP or CSNSGP grant. Can we apply again?

If you have security improvements that were not funded by your last grant, you can submit a new application.

Federal and State Grant Programs at a Glance
Have Questions?

Email us

Schedule a 30 minute meeting

Report a Threat, Incident, or Suspicious Activity

To report an incident to the Secure Community Network (SCN), please complete this form to submit a report to the Federation and to Secure Community Network (SCN).