Dear Principals and Administrators,
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is a federally funded grant made available through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA). Its purpose is to provide support for target hardening & other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at a high risk of a terrorist attack. The NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) is the State Administrative Agency (SAA), which submits the final application package to FEMA on behalf of all NYS nonprofit applicants who submitted their applications to DHSES.
The grant is not yet opened but we anticipate the Request for Applications with NYS-specific information to be posted in early March. Grant applications will likely be due in mid to late April. We strongly advise you to start preparing for the grant so that you can send in your application as soon as it becomes available.
If you are planning to apply for the grant, here is what to do:
1) Get Prequalified: NYS will not accept applications for grants unless the applicant is prequalified in the Grants Gateway. To begin the prequalification process, click here.
2) Get an assessment: Have a risk assessment done by a qualified person/company. The JCRC offers free security assessments to Jewish organizations located in New York City, Long Island and Westchester. To apply for a professional online assessment, click here.
3) Register in E-Grants- All NSGP applications must be submitted via the DHSES E-Grants System. For more information, or to register for access, click here.
4) Get help: The NSGP is a competitive grant which means that not everyone that applies will be awarded the grant. Prior experience has shown us that organizations retaining a grant writer considerably increases the chance of success. See below for funding opportunities.
New Items!
- Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): Nonprofit organizations must have a current and valid UEI number. DUNS numbers are no longer valid. For more information, click here. While organizations may apply to the FY2023 NSGP if they have not yet received a UEI, it still must be obtained and verified by DHSES prior to receiving an award. If awarded a grant, the nonprofit must have obtained and provided a UEI to the SAA by the time awards are made in order to receive one (i.e., in the Fall).
- Grant Writer Assistance Program: The Community Security Initiative (CSI), a project of the JCRC, offers a $2,500 grant to pay towards a grant writer for organizations that have never received a federal or state security grant. For more information, click here.
Some other points:
- Eligibility: All at-risk nonprofits (501(c)(3)) are eligible to apply.
- Amount: It is expected that maximum awards will be between $100,000-$150,000.
The Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) has an FAQ and other helpful resources on their website here.
You can refer to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) – Getting Started Guide for a list of required steps that can be completed in advance of the application period.
As always, feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
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Yeshiva Services champions and guides yeshivos and day schools, advocates for resources at all levels of government, educates and guides yeshiva leadership, and defends yeshivos and their unique character under the guidance of Gedolei Yisroel, ensuring the continued growth of Klal Yisroel.