Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a federally funded initiative administered at the state level by designated State Administrative Agencies, such as the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security through its Office of Homeland Security. The program is designed to enhance the security and resilience of nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist or extremist attacks. By routing funds through state agencies, the program ensures localized coordination, prioritization, and distribution of resources to eligible nonprofit entities across each state. The primary purpose of the program is to strengthen the ability of nonprofit organizations to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. Funding supports physical and cybersecurity enhancements as well as preparedness activities that align with national security priorities. These priorities include protecting soft targets and crowded places, improving cybersecurity resilience, enhancing coordination with law enforcement, and addressing evolving threat environments that disproportionately impact nonprofit organizations. Eligible activities under the program fall into four main categories: planning, equipment, training, and exercises. Nonprofits may request funding for security-related improvements such as surveillance systems, access control mechanisms, perimeter protection, lighting, cybersecurity upgrades, and emergency preparedness planning. Training initiatives may include active shooter response, staff security awareness, and coordinated exercises with local emergency responders. Costs must directly address identified vulnerabilities and cannot include general operational expenses or unrelated organizational costs. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or equivalent entities such as houses of worship that meet similar criteria. Applicants must demonstrate that they are at high risk of terrorist or extremist attack and must submit documentation including a vulnerability or risk assessment and a mission statement. Nonprofits cannot apply directly to the federal government and must instead submit applications through their respective State Administrative Agency, which is responsible for reviewing, ranking, and forwarding applications for federal consideration. The application process requires submission of an Investment Justification detailing the proposed project, including the specific risks being addressed and the expected impact of the investment. Each physical site must have a separate application and supporting documentation. Applications undergo a two-phase review process, first at the state level and then at the federal level, where they are evaluated based on risk, feasibility, alignment with vulnerabilities, and overall effectiveness. Additional scoring considerations include organizational type and prior funding history. The application cycle for this program typically opens in late June and closes in late July, with states often establishing earlier internal deadlines to allow time for review and submission to the federal agency. Awards are generally announced by the end of September, and funded projects must be completed within a three-year period of performance. The program operates on an annual cycle, with future funding opportunities expected to follow similar timelines each year. For application submission and inquiries, nonprofit organizations must coordinate directly with their State Administrative Agency. In Tennessee, applications are submitted via a centralized grant email managed by the Office of Homeland Security to facilitate efficient processing. Additional resources, templates, and guidance documents are made available to assist applicants in preparing complete and competitive submissions.

Ensure projects directly align with documented vulnerabilities and clearly demonstrate risk reduction impact prioritize strong justification and feasibility