Complete guide to security grants for churches and places of worship

What can church security grants be used for?

Grant funds can be spent developing and installing various important security technologies, including church IP security cameras, access control systems and more. 

Security camera systems are key to a facility’s physical security posture. By investing in an effective video security system, security officers at places of worship can enhance their situational awareness, observe activities across the premises and detect and respond to threats. Additionally, security camera systems support post-incident investigations by providing evidentiary footage that can be used to support law enforcement investigations and prosecutions.

According to FEMA, the following are covered by the government nonprofit security grants for churches, synagogues and other places of worship:

• Access control systems
• Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras
• Contracting security guards
• Planning
• Training and exercises
• Cybersecurity and technology
• Security-streaming equipment
• Fences
• Bollards
• Blast-proof windows and doors
• Warning and notification systems

What can’t grant funds be spent on?

Nonprofit security grants for churches, synagogues and other places of worship do come with restrictions on what awarded funds can be spent on. According to FEMA, the following activities are not covered by the government grants for religious organizations:

• Organizational operating costs
• Public safety personnel hiring costs
• General-use expenditures
• Overtime costs
• Development of risk or vulnerability assessments
• License plate reader systems
• Facial recognition software
• Knox boxes
• Guns, weapons or weapons training
• Initiatives that study technology development
• Proof-of-concept initiatives

Church security grant eligibility requirements

NSGP grants can be awarded to any nonprofit organization in America at risk of experiencing a targeted physical or cybersecurity attack. This can include religious facilities, education premises and other nonprofit organizations. 

FEMA sets out the following church security enhancement grant eligibility requirements:

• Nonprofit status: Institutions applying for FEMA church security grants must be nonprofit entities with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to ensure stakeholders aren’t driven by profit-making motives.
• Facility status: The applicant must own or lease the place of worship’s facilities and can request funding for other sites alongside the main facility in the church security enhancement grant application. The other sites can be buildings at a separate or the same address but used for a different purpose. The maximum number of sites per application is three.
• Vulnerability to threats: Successful applicants will provide evidence that their organization is at risk of targeted attacks. Evidence can include reports detailing previous security incidents with footage and operational data collected by existing church security systems or a vulnerability assessment.
• Relevant improvements: Government grants for church security can only be used to fund the development of security measures. Leaders need to outline exactly how funds will be used for this purpose.
• Regulatory compliance: Churches and places of worship must comply with grant-specific federal regulations often including adherence to environmental and historic preservation standards.

Grants available for churches and places of worship

Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is a government-backed grant program designed to provide nonprofit organizations with federal funding to make physical security enhancements. Funding allocated through the NSGP can be secured by nonprofit organizations, including places of worship.

NSGP funds are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), for the express purpose of financing improvements to protect nonprofits against threats like theft and vandalism.

FEMA records show the total financial value of NSGP awards has grown substantially in recent years, with the total award value increasing from $250 million in 2022 to $305 million in 2023. For the Nonprofit Security Grant Program 2024, total funding available rose to $454 million. This demonstrates FEMA’s commitment to supporting churches and places of worship in enhancing existing security systems.

While federal government grants for church security are considered the main funding avenue for security improvements in places of worship, several alternative funding opportunities are available to religious institutions.

State and local church security grants

Government-backed nonprofit security grants for churches can be issued at state and local levels, with funds allocated to eligible places of worship by state government agencies. Different grant programs will have different requirements, meaning religious leaders will need to assess funding opportunities on a case-by-case basis, with some programs only used to fund specific technologies and security measures.

Leaders of religious institutions can search for applicable funding opportunities using online resources like grants​.gov. Examples of recent nonprofit grants for church security issued at state and local levels include:

• The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security — Houses of Worship Security Grant
• The Ohio Department of Public Safety — Safety and Security Grant Program

Private and charitable security grants for churches

Private companies and charitable organizations wanting to help religious institutions protect themselves from security threats can issue security grants to places of worship. Online resources such as grant​watch​.com can be used to search for funding opportunities aimed at churches and nonprofits. Religious leaders may also directly approach charities to discuss security grants and funding opportunities.

Examples of foundations known to award grants to places of worship include:

• Lilly Endowment Inc
• The Pew Charitable Trusts
• The Chatlos Foundation

How do church security grant applications work?

Once stakeholders have conducted their research and found the church security grants program that best suits their needs, they can look ahead to the church security enhancement grant application process. But, what does this entail? While the exact process may vary, below you can find the typical application process and the key steps involved.

1. Review eligibility criteria

Applicants must ensure they meet the eligibility requirements set out by the security grants programs for churches. If your organization does not meet the eligibility requirements, you should look at alternative grant programs that could accept applications from your church, synagogue or place of worship.

2. Application form

If your organization meets the eligibility criteria, you can begin filling out the church security enhancement grant application form. The information required in the application form varies by grant program so it is recommended that you check the application form and clarify exactly what information is required from your place of worship. If you have questions or require further clarification, grant program providers will generally provide contact details to get in touch with them.

3. Collect supporting documentation

To support your application, stakeholders will need to provide documentation and evidence. The exact materials will differ depending on the security grants program so applicants should double-check the list of required documents that need to be submitted. Examples of supporting documents include proof of nonprofit status, a vulnerability assessment and compliance certification.

4. Submit application

Once stakeholders have completed the application form and collected the required supporting documentation, the organization can proceed with submission. It is recommended that the applicant reviews the submission steps outlined by the grant program and, crucially, submit the application and necessary materials by the deadline.

5. Await decision

After applying, the place of worship must wait for an update from the grant program provider on whether their application has been successful. This may take a few weeks or some months so it is important to review the information provided by the grant program on how long they can expect to wait before receiving a decision.

Applying for church security grants: Best practices

Most grant programs receive more applications than awarding bodies can approve. This means reviewers must look for reasons to reject proposals, even from applicants that seem to be a good fit. Stakeholders must meet additional criteria to improve their chances of grant applications being accepted. Below are some best practices to keep in mind when applying for grants.

1. Research relevant grant opportunities

Stakeholders must ensure their organization meets the unique eligibility criteria set out by the grant program they are applying for. Leaders must take the time to review the exact requirements and purpose of each grant program and then compare those details to their operations to ensure awards are relevant.

Online resources such as grants​.gov and the National Council of Nonprofits’ Grant Research Tools can be used to highlight applicable grant opportunities.

2. Conduct a security needs assessment

Conducting a needs assessment will help you identify specific security issues facing your organization and the technologies and/​or measures required to reduce risk factors. Compiling this information clearly and concisely will also help you to demonstrate your eligibility for funding to chosen grant providers.

An effective physical security assessment will include information regarding previous security incidents and details about how proposed security improvements would help to address said threats. This information should be presented in an easy-to-understand document in line with your chosen grant’s formatting requirements, and include further details like installation considerations and proposed maintenance plans.

3. Assess grant guidelines and deadlines 

Once a relevant and applicable funding program has been identified, and leaders are confident that their organization meets associated eligibility requirements, teams can look to guidelines, deadlines and administrative requirements. These factors will be important when writing and submitting the final proposal, so all stakeholders must be briefed on key dates and general policy guidelines.

Guidelines typically involve providing a copy of the organization’s current budget, a brief description of the history and a statement outlining how requested funds will be used. Guidelines will also include formatting requirements such as the font type and size that must be used when writing documents, as well as deadlines for submitting evidence and the final proposal.

4. Prepare required and supporting documentation

Most grant proposals will include several supporting documents to provide awarding bodies with accurate information about the organization’s operations and how they intend to use the grant funds. Supporting documentation for government nonprofit grants for church security will usually include the following:

• Proof of nonprofit status (501(c)(3) certification).
• Current operating budget and most recent audit.
• A list of church board members (including officers).
• Evidence of previous security incidents.
• Recently performed risk and security needs assessments
• Detailed descriptions of proposed security improvements.
• Cost estimates or bids from vendors for security equipment and installation.
• A timeline for the delivery of technologies, training and grant-funded improvements.

Post-award responsibilities for religious facility security grants

Should a religious institution’s grant proposal be accepted by an awarding body, leaders will be expected to meet several pre-discussed requirements. These requirements will have been outlined in the initial grant application and typically include documenting deliverables, meeting deadlines and ensuring newly implemented measures maintain compliance with relevant laws, rules and regulations.

Documentation and reporting 

The conditions of nonprofit security grants for churches will include provisions for documenting how grant funds are utilized during the project’s delivery of the project. Leaders will be expected to keep detailed records of expenses, contracts and summarizations of how individual tasks were completed. Stakeholders must submit progress reports and financial statements to grant administrators during the project.

Implementation deadlines

As a condition of church security grant funding, stakeholders must meet pre-approved deadlines for implementing specific tasks and activities. Grant administrators may perform physical inspections to ensure these deadlines are met and funds have been used appropriately.

Compliance checks

Recipients of some nonprofit security grants for churches, in particular those awarded by government agencies, will be expected to meet specific standards, regulations and rules that govern how grant-funded technologies are used. This can include rules and regulations concerning documentation management, data reporting and progress monitoring, the specifics of which will have been discussed during the grant proposal period.

It’s important to maintain compliance with these rules after the completion of the project. Administrators will likely perform periodic compliance checks and audits to verify funds are being used appropriately. However, the exact terms of these audits will be dependent on the initial program’s terms and conditions.

Conclusion

Churches and places of worship provide communities with a safe space to congregate and share ideas. However, similarly to commercial and residential properties, it’s important that carefully considered and reliable security measures are developed to protect community members from physical security threats.

For many religious institution leaders, securing funding for security improvements can be challenging, especially in smaller communities where internal fundraising efforts may not provide adequate assistance. In these cases, security grants for churches and places of worship can represent a desirable opportunity.

By understanding the eligibility requirements, application process and specific grant coverage, churches can strategically plan and secure the necessary funding to bolster existing security infrastructure. Using the information provided above, stakeholders should be able to identify, apply for and appropriately utilize church security grant funds to create and maintain a safe environment for their community to enjoy.