Grant Details

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) provides funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack. The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, as well as state and local government agencies.

The NGSP, via State Administrative Agencies (SAA), provides funds to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack to meet the following three objectives throughout the period of performance:

1. Enhance equipment and conduct security-related activities to improve the security posture of nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist or other extremist attack.
2. Address and close capability gaps that are identified in individual nonprofit organization Vulnerability Assessments via funding spent on Planning, Equipment, and Training and Exercises that aim to enhance the protection of soft targets and crowded places.
3. Strengthen relationships across non-profit organization, state, local, and territorial homeland security agencies for a whole community approach to preparedness.

Given the evolving threat landscape, it is incumbent upon DHS/FEMA to continuously evaluate the national risk profile and set priorities that help ensure appropriate allocation of scarce security dollars. In assessing the national risk profile, the following National Priority Areas (NPAs) shape current and future guidance:

• Enhancing the protection of soft targets/crowded places.
• Supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and Fusion Centers
• Enhancing Cybersecurity
• Enhancing Election Security
• Supporting Border Crisis Response and Enforcement

Likewise, there are several enduring security needs that crosscut the homeland security enterprise. The following are second-tier priorities that help recipients implement a comprehensive approach to securing communities:

• Effective planning;
• Training and awareness campaigns; and
• Exercises

Allowable NSGP costs include: 

• Planning
• Operational coordination 
• Public information and warning 
• Intelligence and Information Sharing 
• Interdiction and disruption 
• Screening, search, and detection
• Access control and identity verification 
• Physical protective measures 
• Risk management for protection programs and activities 
• Cybersecurity  
• Long-term vulnerability reduction 
• Situational assessment 
• Infrastructure systems
• Training and awareness
• Community resilience
• Risk and disaster resilience assessment
• Threats and hazards identification

Allowable equipment costs and corresponding AEL numbers can be found on page 43 of the 2025 program guidance.