Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is administered at the state level by Montana Disaster and Emergency Services as part of a federally funded initiative originating from the Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program is designed to strengthen the safety and preparedness of nonprofit organizations that are considered at high risk of terrorist or extremist attacks. By channeling federal resources through state agencies, the program integrates nonprofit preparedness into broader homeland security strategies, ensuring coordination across local, state, and federal entities. The program emphasizes both physical and cybersecurity improvements and is part of a national effort to protect vulnerable community institutions. The primary purpose of the program is to enhance the ability of nonprofit organizations to prevent, respond to, and recover from security threats. This includes funding for equipment, planning, training, and exercises that directly address vulnerabilities identified within an organization’s facilities. The program outlines three core objectives: improving security posture through equipment and activities, addressing gaps identified in vulnerability assessments, and strengthening collaborative relationships between nonprofits and public safety agencies. These objectives collectively aim to reduce risks to soft targets and crowded places while building long term resilience. Funding under this program is allocated on a competitive basis, with applicants able to request up to two hundred thousand dollars per site and up to three sites per organization, resulting in a maximum potential award of six hundred thousand dollars per applicant. Each site must submit a separate application supported by its own vulnerability assessment and investment justification. Funds may be used for allowable costs such as security equipment, access control systems, surveillance, training exercises, and planning activities. Indirect costs are permitted but require a current approved indirect cost agreement. The period of performance for awarded projects runs from October first two thousand twenty six through June thirtieth two thousand twenty eight. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that are recognized as tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes a wide range of entities such as houses of worship, educational institutions, museums, community centers, and similar organizations that provide services to the public. However, applicants that currently have open and unclosed awards from prior cycles of the same program are not eligible to apply. Organizations that applied in the previous fiscal year but have not yet received an award decision remain eligible to apply again, provided they submit a new and complete application for the current cycle. The application process requires submission through the Euna Grants system and includes several mandatory components. Applicants must provide a mission statement outlining their purpose, values, and goals, a detailed vulnerability assessment identifying internal security weaknesses, and a completed investment justification template supplied by FEMA. The investment justification serves as the primary evaluation document and must clearly describe the organization’s risks, proposed mitigation activities, and associated costs. Applications are reviewed competitively, and only the investment justification is submitted forward to FEMA by the state agency for final consideration. The application window for the current cycle opened on July first two thousand twenty six and closes on July fifteenth two thousand twenty six. A technical assistance session was offered on July eighth to help applicants navigate the application system and documentation requirements, though no direct project guidance was provided due to the competitive nature of the program. Following submission, the state reviews applications and forwards selected proposals to FEMA. Award announcements are expected prior to the start of the performance period on October first two thousand twenty six. Recurrence of the program is annual, with similar timelines expected in future cycles.

Ensure all proposed projects directly address vulnerabilities identified in the assessment and focus on current threats rather than historical context; provide complete and concise responses in the Investment Justification