Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), administered by the Public Safety Office (PSO) under the Office of the Governor of Texas, is a federally funded initiative designed to enhance the physical security and emergency preparedness of nonprofit organizations that are determined to be at high risk of a terrorist attack. Rooted in Section 2003 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the program is supported through Congressional appropriations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its purpose is to integrate the preparedness of at-risk nonprofit organizations into broader state and local security strategies, while encouraging collaboration between public and private entities in emergency preparedness efforts. This funding opportunity supports a broad range of security enhancements. Allowable expenditures include physical security improvements such as access controls and surveillance systems, planning activities, participation in training and security-related exercises, the hiring of contracted security personnel (under specific sustainability conditions), construction and renovation projects with prior approval, and certain administrative costs. All funded projects must support the physical location occupied by the nonprofit at the time of application, address identified security risks, be both feasible and effective, and be fully completed within the defined performance period. Importantly, certain costs are strictly prohibited, including the hiring of public safety personnel, general-use expenditures, grant writing costs, pre-award expenses, and equipment for surveillance or identification technologies such as facial recognition or license plate readers. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit corporations described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and must be recognized as being at high risk of terrorist attacks by the DHS Secretary. In addition to meeting this threshold, applicants must comply with specific eligibility requirements, including submission of a resolution from their governing body, registration in the federal System for Award Management (SAM), and a valid IRS or Texas Secretary of State filing confirming their nonprofit status. Furthermore, a suite of documents must be uploaded through the PSO’s eGrants portal as part of the application process, including federal and state forms (e.g., IRS W9, direct deposit authorization), a vulnerability/risk assessment, a formal Investment Justification (IJ) aligned with FEMA requirements, and the organization’s mission statement. Applications must be submitted electronically via the eGrants portal (https://eGrants.gov.texas.gov) by March 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST. The grant portal opens on January 12, 2026, and all documentation including financial forms and supporting attachments must be uploaded before submission is permitted. Certain items—like the Investment Justification and vulnerability assessment—must be submitted within ten days of the release of the federal NSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), for which applicants will receive a direct deadline communication from PSO. The earliest project start date for funded applications is September 1, 2026, and the maximum allowable performance period ends on February 28, 2029. Applications will undergo a dual-phase review process. First, the PSO will screen for completeness, eligibility, and feasibility, prioritizing projects based on risk and target hardening justifications provided in the IJ. Bonus points may be assigned to high-scoring proposals, and final rankings will influence funding allocations. Following this, FEMA conducts its own federal-level review. Evaluation criteria include substantiated threats based on the organization’s ideology, symbolism of the site, potential role in recovery from terrorism, and integration with state/local preparedness strategies. Funding decisions will be communicated by PSO within 45 days of receiving the federal award from FEMA, and are contingent upon the actual receipt and processing of these federal funds. Applicants are advised to thoroughly review all requirements and timelines and ensure complete, timely submissions to avoid disqualification. Questions can be directed to the eGrants help desk at [email protected] or (512) 463-1919.

Ensure all required documents are uploaded; system will block incomplete submissions.