The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will distribute $210 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as the second tranche of funding to protect faith-based institutions and nonprofits against targeted attacks.

The funding will be made available in a Notice of Funding Opportunity to be published later this month.

The $210 million in additional funds are a portion of the $390 million that were included in the fiscal year 2024 National Security Supplemental. The first tranche was made available in June 2024. In total for fiscal year 2024, the Administration has secured $664 million for the NSGP, more than double last year’s $305 million appropriation.

The additional Nonprofit Security Grant Program funds “will enable nonprofit institutions, including faith-based organizations that are increasingly targeted, to equip themselves with the personnel, technology, and other resources needed to enhance their security and continue to safely contribute to their communities. We urge eligible institutions to apply for these potentially life-saving funds. We are grateful to Congress for making them available,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas via a statement.

The rise in hate crimes and other forms of targeted violence has increased sharply since the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attacks against Israel, according to data from DHS. During 2024, more than 3,200 faith-based and other nonprofits were awarded more than $454 million in NSGP funding to purchase security cameras, additional warning and alert systems, gates and lighting, access control systems, and training programs for staff.

The DHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships distributes security resources to over 70,000 faith partners to share resources to enhance safety in local communities, including faith-based communities.

Mayorkas tasked the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council with providing recommendations on improving DHS grants and resources and implementing those recommendations into the NSGP through the Protecting Places of Worship initiative, an effort co-led by DHS, the Department of Justice and the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

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Source From Non Profit Times