Accessing Security Grants for Your Private School
This video explains how private schools can access $200,000 per campus to keep their kids and staff safe.
Private School Security Grants: How to Access Up to $200,000 Per Campus
If you had $200,000 to improve your school's security without touching your operating budget, what would you do? Better cameras in the hallways? Controlled access at every entry point? Fencing around the playground? Reinforced classroom doors?
For most private school administrators, the question feels hypothetical — until they learn about the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program. This video explains how private schools can access this funding and what the process looks like from start to finish.
Private Schools Qualify for Federal Security Funding
The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is a Department of Homeland Security program that awards up to $200,000 per building — and up to $600,000 per organization — to eligible nonprofits. Private schools that operate as 501(c)(3) organizations are among the qualifying entities.
That includes faith-based schools (Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and others), independent private schools, and any school affiliated with a qualifying nonprofit. If your school is a 501(c)(3), or affiliated with a church or organization that is, there is a strong likelihood you meet the baseline eligibility requirements.
Many private school administrators are surprised to learn this. The NSGP is most commonly associated with churches and synagogues, but schools represent a significant and growing segment of funded applicants — particularly as school safety has become a national priority.
What the Grant Covers for Schools
NSGP funding can be used for a comprehensive range of security improvements on school campuses, including:
Security cameras and video management systems throughout the facility
Access control systems — buzzer entry, keycard access, visitor management software
Perimeter fencing and gates around playgrounds, parking lots, and building entries
Reinforced doors, door hardware, and window security film
Exterior and interior lighting upgrades
Mass notification and emergency communications systems
Cybersecurity tools and network security
Active shooter response and security awareness training for staff
Contracted security services for higher-risk periods
These are not minor upgrades. A well-funded NSGP award can transform a school's security posture — and the funding does not come out of tuition revenue, endowment funds, or your annual operating budget.
How the Application Process Works for Schools
The NSGP application process involves several steps that must be completed in a specific order:
Free consultation — Understand your eligibility and what funding is available in your state
DHS vulnerability assessment — A licensed security expert evaluates your campus at no cost to you
Grant application — Your assigned grant writer builds and submits the application (clients typically spend 6–10 hours on this)
Award and procurement — NPSA manages vendor selection and installation
Compliance and closeout — Post-award reporting, grant management, and audit preparation
NPSA's grant writers carry a 70–90% success rate, compared to the national average of approximately 50–55%. If your school is not awarded in the first cycle, we reapply the following year at no additional cost. Either way, you walk away with a completed DHS vulnerability assessment and a detailed security opportunity report — deliverables with real value regardless of award outcome.
What is Coverd in This Video
The following topics are addressed in the video. For a full transcript, watch above.
Why private schools qualify for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program
How much funding is available and how award amounts are determined
What the application timeline looks like for schools
The specific security improvements most commonly funded for school campuses
How NPSA manages the process so school administrators are not overwhelmed
How to take the first step with a free consultation
Find out what your school qualifies for. Book a free 30-minute consultation with the NPSA team — no cost, no obligation.
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