Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The State of Arizona Nonprofit Security Grant Program (AZ-NSGP) is administered by the Arizona Department of Homeland Security (AZDOHS) to provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that face elevated risks related to terrorism, hate crimes, or attacks tied to the organization's ideology, beliefs, or mission. The program was established pursuant to Arizona state law and is funded as a state-level initiative intended to supplement gaps in the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program. AZDOHS is authorized to award up to $1,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2028. The program is designed to support target hardening and security enhancement activities that improve the safety and resilience of nonprofit facilities, staff, members, and visitors. The initiative prioritizes organizations that either were unsuccessful in recent federal NSGP cycles or were unable to apply federally because they lacked the financial capacity to pay project costs upfront and wait for reimbursement. Eligible applicants must qualify as nonprofit organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and meet federal FEMA NSGP eligibility requirements for the applicable year. Religious institutions that are automatically recognized as tax exempt under federal law may also qualify if they satisfy applicable 501(c)(3) standards. Applicants must demonstrate that they are at greatest risk of a terrorist attack or at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their mission, ideology, or beliefs. The application must also establish that a credible threat or risk either currently exists or occurred within the prior two years. Organizations may apply for one site per application and may submit applications for up to three separate sites, but the total combined funding request across all sites may not exceed $100,000. Each site requires its own unique vulnerability assessment, even when proposed projects are substantially similar. Allowable costs include planning activities, equipment purchases, training, and contract security personnel. Planning activities may include development of security plans, evacuation procedures, emergency contingency plans, and related preparedness materials. Equipment costs may include reinforced doors, gates, lighting, alarm systems, access control systems, surveillance cameras, blast-resistant film, shatter-resistant glass, public address systems, lockdown systems, and inspection or screening systems. Training activities may include active shooter training, stop-the-bleed instruction, shelter-in-place exercises, and other security preparedness exercises for staff and visitors. Contract security personnel costs are permitted when they address new or expanded security needs identified through risk analysis, but grant funds cannot replace existing security staffing expenses. The program prohibits pre-award costs, including vulnerability assessment expenses incurred before award execution. Grant funds also may not supplant existing security expenditures and must instead support additional security improvements beyond current organizational spending. The application package requires a completed AZ-NSGP Excel application form and a vulnerability assessment specific to each proposed site. Applicants may use a Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency self-assessment, an assessment conducted by the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center, a local law enforcement assessment, or an assessment completed by an independent vendor. If a vendor conducts the assessment, that vendor and its affiliates are prohibited from later supplying grant-funded equipment or services. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to hs@azdohs.gov. AZDOHS specifically instructs applicants to complete the form in Microsoft Excel format and warns that Apple-based spreadsheet software or Google Sheets may distort or delete content during export. Applications must follow a prescribed file naming convention and include all required supporting documentation at submission. Applications are reviewed for eligibility, completeness, vulnerability alignment, need, feasibility, and project impact. Scoring categories include applicant background, risk level, facility hardening, milestones, and anticipated impact. Additional bonus points are awarded to applicants that have not previously received state or federal NSGP funding. Religious and ideology-based organizations receive additional scoring preference, followed by medical and educational institutions. Priority is also given to organizations that could not participate in the federal reimbursement-based program because of limited financial resources. Final reviews are conducted by an Informal Review Panel with expertise in nonprofit security risks representing both rural and urban communities. Final award decisions are made by the Director of AZDOHS. The FY2026/2027 application cycle opened in May 2026, and the application deadline is June 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. MST. Funding announcements are anticipated in September 2026. The projected period of performance is approximately eight months and is expected to run from September 2026 through May 31, 2027. Organizations receiving reimbursement-based awards must submit final reimbursement requests by June 15, 2027. Organizations approved under the advance payment model may request incremental payments for anticipated project costs due within thirty days, but they must provide proof of vendor payment within forty-five business days after payment is made. Final advance payment requests are due by May 1, 2027. The program is recurring annually through at least fiscal year 2028 under current Arizona statutory authorization. Webinar information sessions for applicants are scheduled for May 7, 2026 and May 12, 2026.

Ensure all requested funding items directly align with vulnerabilities identified in the assessment because unsupported requests may reduce competitiveness. Emphasize demonstrated threat history within the prior two years and clearly explain project feasibility impact and implementation milestones. Applicants without prior NSGP awards and organizations unable to front reimbursement costs may receive additional priority scoring.