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Homeland Security Nonprofit Security Grant

The Nonprofit Security Grant (NPSG) provides $200,000 in grant funding to nonprofit organizations anywhere in the United States who are at risk of terrorist or hate-crime attack. 

A nonprofit organization can apply for up to three $200,000 grants if the organization has 3 different building addresses. Grant funding can be used for security equipment purchase and installation, security training for staff and constituents and for security guard costs. This grant becomes available in the spring with an application window of 3-5 weeks, on average. Organizations that have not received a previous award receive bonus points.

Note: All Connecticut applicants must be submitted through the DEMHS Electronic Grants Management System. You must have an account to be able to apply for the funding.  Evergreen Grant Writing can help you set up your account.

Grant Listing
DEMHS System

Connecticut Applications
Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program

Connecticut Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection

Due Date: 11:59, December 12th, 2025

Agency Award Amount: $200,000 for up to 3 sites.

Funding can be used for interior and exterior security equipment, training, hiring security personnel and certain construction projects.

Required Documents:

  • Investment Justification Form

  • Security Self-Assessment

    • A security self-assessment checklist is linked within the DEMHS Electronic Grants Management System application. (x)

  • Organization's Mission Statement

    • A copy of your organization's mission statement on letterhead

  • Vulnerability Assessment

    • A written vulnerability assessment conducted within the past three years. This can be conducted by local law enforcement, a security contractor, or by completing the CISA Houses of Worship Self-Assessment

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Steps Required for the Homeland Security Grant

Vulnerability Risk Assessment

A Vulnerability Risk Assessment can be carried out by a police department official or by a private security firm.  The police department reviews are free but not necessarily as complete or customized as those done by a private firm.  The private security firm’s fee is often worth the cost as the Vulnerability Risk Assessment is an important part of this competitive grant submission.

Security Grant Committee

Assemble a Security Grant Committee of 3 to 5 individuals with key management or financial roles at the agency.  These Security Grant Committee members should ideally have project management experience, financial oversight experience and a history of working with contractors and security personnel. 

NYS Grant Gateways Registration

New York nonprofits must be registered and prequalified on the NY Grant Gateways platform. This is a time-consuming process and requires the gathering of official agency documents to submit as well as the answering of questions about agency policies. More details here. When this process is completed, the nonprofit is "Prequalified" and can apply for the Nonprofit Security Grant. 

If you are a nonprofit agency outside of New York State, this registration is not required, though your state may or may not have its own registration requirements. 

Item List

The Security Grant Committee of your agency, in consultation with the board needs to select a list of items to apply for that totals $150,000.  These budget costs are estimates and actual bids will be needed AFTER you are approved for the funding.  The budget item costs need to be reasonable estimates to be included in the application. 

Writing Grant Application

The grant application needs to be written and follow the recommendations provided in the Vulnerability Risk Assessment.  This grant application is a narrative answering various questions about the agency, its mission and activities and what about the agency puts it at risk of a terrorist or hate crimes attack. 

Police Reports

Any incidents of attack or threat at the nonprofit need to be documented and a police report should be filed. The records should be kept in order to be included with the grant application. 

Once the grant application is written and submitted, award decisions will usually made with 2 months.  This is a competitive grant, and the application is scored.  Applicants who have never received an award are granted bonus points in the scoring of the application.