Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a federal funding initiative administered by the United States Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and implemented at the state level by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and North Carolina Emergency Management. The program is designed to enhance the physical security and preparedness capabilities of nonprofit organizations that are considered to be at high risk of terrorist or extremist attacks. It reflects a broader federal priority to integrate nonprofit preparedness into national homeland security strategies while strengthening local resilience and coordination with state and local emergency management systems. The primary purpose of the program is to support target hardening and related security enhancements. Eligible activities include the installation of surveillance systems such as closed circuit television cameras, access control systems, barriers, fencing, and other physical protections. Funding may also be used for contracted security personnel, training programs, emergency planning, and preparedness exercises. However, the program explicitly excludes general operational costs, routine personnel expenses, technology development initiatives, and projects that do not directly enhance protection or prevention capabilities. Certain technologies such as facial recognition software and license plate readers are also deemed ineligible. Funding is structured on a per site basis, allowing nonprofit organizations to apply for up to two hundred thousand dollars per location, with a maximum of three sites per organization for a total potential award of six hundred thousand dollars per state. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, requiring organizations to initially incur expenses and then request reimbursement. Up to fifty percent of the total award may be allocated toward contract security, and up to five percent may be used for management and administration costs. There is no explicit matching requirement, but strict adherence to budget accuracy and allowable cost categories is mandatory. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that meet the requirements of section 501 c 3 of the Internal Revenue Code and are exempt from taxation under section 501 a. Organizations must be physically located within North Carolina and must demonstrate a credible risk of terrorist or extremist threats through their application materials. Applicants must also fall within designated geographic funding streams, either within the Charlotte Urban Area Security Initiative region or outside of it for the state allocation. Each application must correspond to a specific site and include a unique vulnerability assessment and investment justification. The application process requires submission through the North Carolina Emergency Management Salesforce grants portal during a defined application window. Applicants must complete and upload a detailed Investment Justification form, which serves as the primary application document, along with supporting materials such as vulnerability assessments, mission statements, leadership information, and optional documentation like incident reports or vendor quotes. Strict formatting and naming conventions apply to submitted documents, and failure to comply results in automatic disqualification. The program also offers webinars and office hours to assist applicants during the submission period. Applications are reviewed first by the state administrative agency for completeness and eligibility, then scored according to criteria established by FEMA. Scoring includes prioritization based on organizational type, with higher multipliers applied to religious or ideology based organizations and additional points awarded to first time applicants. Final award decisions incorporate both state level rankings and federal review processes. Selected applicants may also undergo additional security review procedures before receiving funding. The application cycle for this program opens in early July and closes mid July, with no extensions permitted. All submissions must be completed by the stated deadline to be considered. While the program is offered annually, applicants are advised to submit distinct project proposals each year to avoid duplication conflicts. The performance period and award notification timeline are not explicitly defined in the source material but follow standard federal grant processing timelines after selection and approval.

Ensure strict compliance with naming conventions complete all required fields accurately match budgets between documents and submit early to avoid technical issues