What Is the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)? A Complete Guide for 2026
Published by Nonprofit Security Advisors | May 2026
If your church, school, or nonprofit organization has security vulnerabilities — outdated cameras, unmonitored entrances, poor perimeter lighting — there's a good chance the federal government will pay to fix them. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program, commonly known as the NSGP, is one of the most significant and underutilized funding sources available to 501(c)(3) organizations in the United States.
Yet most nonprofits have never heard of it.
This guide covers everything you need to know about NSGP in 2026 — what it is, who qualifies, how much money is available, what the funds can be used for, and how to position your organization for a successful application.
If you'd rather talk through your specific situation, schedule a free consultation with our team and we'll walk you through whether your organization is a strong candidate.
What Is the NSGP?
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a federal grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It was created to help nonprofit organizations strengthen their physical security against the threat of terrorist and extremist attacks.
The program exists because nonprofits — particularly houses of worship, schools, and community organizations — are increasingly targets of ideologically motivated violence. Yet unlike government buildings or corporate facilities, most nonprofits lack the resources to invest in meaningful security infrastructure on their own.
NSGP closes that gap with direct federal funding.
The program 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.
Since its inception, NSGP has grown significantly in scale. Total funding for fiscal year 2025 was $274.5 million, split between the Urban Area and State components of the program. For 2026, Congress agreed on a budget of $300 million — a modest increase over recent years.
How NSGP Is Structured: NSGP-UA vs. NSGP-S
The NSGP consists of two sub-programs: NSGP-S, for nonprofit organizations located outside of specific federally designated Urban Areas, and NSGP-UA, a sub-component of the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) for nonprofits located within designated urban areas.
In plain terms: where your facility is located determines which program you apply through, but both programs have the same eligibility requirements and offer the same maximum funding amounts. Your state's administrative agency determines which bucket you fall into.
Important: Nonprofits do not apply directly to FEMA. Instead, they submit their applications through their state's designated administrative agency, which reviews, scores, and forwards recommended projects to FEMA for final selection and award.
This means every state has its own application portal, its own deadlines, and its own scoring criteria — all within the broader FEMA framework. It's one of the reasons the process can feel so complex for first-time applicants.
Who Is Eligible for NSGP?
Eligibility is broader than most people assume. The NSGP provides funding to organizations described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, at high risk of terrorist attacks.
That includes:
Houses of worship — churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other faith communities
Private and faith-based schools
Community centers and social service organizations
Medical and health nonprofits
Cultural institutions and museums
Civil rights and advocacy organizations
Your organization does not need to have experienced a previous attack or threat to qualify. The program is designed for organizations that are at risk — and the vulnerability assessment process (more on that below) is how that risk gets documented.
You also don't need to be located in a major city. The NSGP-S component specifically serves suburban and rural nonprofits that fall outside urban area designations.
The one firm requirement: nonprofits may apply for up to $200,000 per site, for no more than three buildings, for a maximum of $600,000 per nonprofit. Only one building per Investment Justification, and each building must have its own physical address and be occupied at the time of application.
How Much Funding Can You Receive?
The maximum available through the federal NSGP is $200,000 per building and $600,000 per organization (across up to three sites). This is per grant cycle — meaning organizations that receive awards can potentially reapply in future years for additional sites or security upgrades.
Many states also run their own complementary security grant programs that can provide additional funding on top of the federal award. Many states have created their own nonprofit security grant programs, often designed to complement or extend NSGP by reaching organizations that are not funded at the federal level or that need additional assistance.
For organizations with multiple facilities — a church campus with a school, a community center with satellite offices, a regional nonprofit with multiple chapters — the total available funding can be substantial.
Our clients routinely receive awards in the $75,000 to $200,000 range per application. The average client return on investment across our portfolio exceeds 1,000%.
What Can NSGP Funds Be Used For?
This is where the program becomes especially compelling. NSGP funds can be used for a wide range of physical security improvements, all drawn from FEMA's Authorized Equipment List. Common eligible expenses include:
Surveillance cameras and monitoring systems — interior and exterior CCTV, PTZ cameras, cloud-based monitoring platforms
Access control systems — keypads, card readers, fob systems, buzzers, intercom systems
Perimeter security — fencing, bollards, jersey barriers, vehicle barriers
Lighting — exterior perimeter lighting, motion-activated security lighting
Door and window hardening — reinforced doors, security film on glass, locking hardware upgrades
Intrusion detection — alarm systems, motion sensors, glass-break sensors
Emergency communications — mass notification systems, two-way radios, PA systems
Cybersecurity — software, hardware, and training related to cybersecurity threats
Security training and exercises — active shooter training, staff security awareness, evacuation drills
Contracted security personnel — with certain restrictions (guards must be sustained without grant funds after the performance period)
Planning — security plans, emergency operations plans
One note: NSGP funds may not be used to purchase equipment for contracted security. The recipient must be able to sustain this capability in future years without NSGP funding.
All purchases must align with the FEMA Authorized Equipment List, and your Investment Justification must clearly connect each requested item to a specific vulnerability identified in your security assessment.
What Is a Vulnerability Assessment — and Do You Need One?
Yes. A vulnerability assessment is required for every NSGP application. It is the foundation of your Investment Justification and arguably the most important document in your application package.
A vulnerability assessment is a formal, documented evaluation of your facility that identifies current security gaps, assesses threat levels, and recommends specific improvements. It should cover physical security (doors, windows, lighting, cameras, access control), operational security (staffing, protocols, training), and the threat environment specific to your organization.
Who can conduct one? Your options include:
A certified security professional or consultant
Local law enforcement (many police departments offer these at no cost)
CISA (the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) through their no-cost assessment programs
Self-assessments using CISA's online tools, in some states
At Nonprofit Security Advisors, we coordinate the vulnerability assessment process for every client as part of our service — connecting you with licensed security professionals who understand NSGP requirements. Learn more about how we work with clients here.
How Competitive Is NSGP?
NSGP is competitive, but not as daunting as many organizations assume. The national success rate in recent years has hovered around 50–55%, meaning roughly half of all eligible applicants who submit complete applications receive an award.
That said, application quality matters enormously. A well-written Investment Justification with a current, detailed vulnerability assessment and a clear, feasible security plan performs significantly better than a generic or incomplete application.
Our network of experienced grant writers maintains a success rate between 70% and 90% — well above the national average. The difference comes down to preparation, documentation quality, and knowing what FEMA and state reviewers look for.
The 2026 NSGP Timeline — What You Need to Know Right Now
The 2026 NSGP cycle is navigating some complexity. While Congress agreed on a budget of $300 million for NSGP for 2026, the program has been affected by DHS administrative issues. This has created uncertainty around exact release dates for the FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
For the 2026 cycle, a good planning rhythm is to begin or update your vulnerability assessments and security plan now, then track federal and state announcements so you can quickly submit when application windows open.
What we recommend for organizations planning to apply in 2026:
Start your vulnerability assessment now — this is the most time-consuming part of the process and doesn't depend on the NOFO being released
Register in SAM.gov — federal grant applicants must have an active SAM.gov registration, which can take several weeks to process
Connect with your state administrative agency — sign up for email notifications from your state's homeland security office
Gather your organizational documents — 501(c)(3) determination letter, most recent financial statements, governing board resolution, mission statement
Start your Investment Justification narrative — the core application can be drafted before the NOFO is released
Award announcements for the 2026 cycle are anticipated in late summer 2026.
Why Most Nonprofits Leave NSGP Funding on the Table
We've seen several patterns in organizations that either don't apply or get denied:
They don't know the program exists. NSGP is not heavily marketed to nonprofits. Many organizations learn about it from a peer, a denomination newsletter, or a conference presentation — not from a government outreach campaign. The fact that you're reading this guide puts you ahead of the majority of eligible organizations.
They assume they won't qualify. "We've never had an incident" is the most common reason organizations self-disqualify. But risk, not history, is what NSGP measures. A church that has received threats, a school in an area with elevated crime, or any organization that serves a population that has been historically targeted may qualify regardless of whether anything has actually happened.
They attempt the application without help. The federal application process involves SAM.gov registration, a multi-section Investment Justification, a compliant vulnerability assessment, state-specific submission portals, and strict formatting requirements. First-time applicants who go it alone frequently make errors that disqualify their application or significantly weaken their scoring.
They miss the window. State application windows can be as short as two to three weeks. Organizations that start the process after the NOFO is released often run out of time to complete a strong application.
What It Costs to Work With Nonprofit Security Advisors
Our fees are structured as a fraction of the grant funding secured. In most cases, our costs are covered by the grant's management and administration allowance — meaning most clients pay very little out of pocket, and some pay nothing at all until they receive an award.
The average return on investment for our clients exceeds 1,000%.
We manage the entire process: identifying the right grant programs for your organization, coordinating your vulnerability assessment, writing and submitting your Investment Justification, managing procurement and implementation after an award, and preparing you for audit and compliance requirements.
View a full breakdown of how we work with clients here.
Is Your Organization Eligible? Find Out for Free.
The best way to determine whether your nonprofit, church, or school is a strong NSGP candidate is to talk with someone who has guided hundreds of organizations through the process.
Our free consultation takes about 30 minutes. We'll review your organization's profile, identify which grant programs you're eligible for, give you an honest assessment of your likelihood of success, and explain exactly what the process would look like for your specific situation.
There is no obligation and no cost. We only take on clients where we believe we can deliver real results.
Schedule your free consultation here
Nonprofit Security Advisors is a specialized practice of Lynde Consulting LLC, serving nonprofit organizations in all 50 states. Our team has guided organizations through the NSGP application process across more than 20 states. Meet our team here.
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