Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program

The Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP-IL), administered by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency & Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), provides targeted security funding to eligible not-for-profit organizations at high risk of terrorist attacks. Established under the authority of Section 5(g-5) of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, the program aims to help these organizations prevent, prepare for, or respond to threats and acts of terrorism. Funding is drawn from Illinois General Revenue Funds, as appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly, and totals $20 million for the State Fiscal Year 2025 (SFY25). The anticipated performance period for awarded projects runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, with awards expected to be issued by September 15, 2025. The purpose of the NSGP-IL is to integrate preparedness efforts of not-for-profit entities into the larger framework of state and federal homeland security strategies. Funding is available for a range of security enhancement initiatives including active shooter response training, physical security improvements to buildings and leased properties, and other preparedness activities that align with the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Applicants may request up to $150,000 per site, for up to three sites, with a total cap of $450,000 per organization. Projects must be distinct for each site, with site-specific vulnerability assessments required. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organizations that can demonstrate a high risk of terrorism due to their mission, profile, ideology, or beliefs. The program explicitly excludes organizations primarily focused on providing medical or mental health services. In addition to documentation verifying their nonprofit status, applicants must submit a Uniform Grant Application in PDF format, along with a signed page, an IRS W-9 form, and registration in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal. A Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov is also required before a grant can be awarded. The grant application process opens on March 31, 2025, and closes on August 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM CDT. Technical assistance is available via a session scheduled for April 7, 2025, at 10:00 AM, though attendance is not mandatory. All training and informational resources related to the program will be made available on the agency’s NSGP-IL webpage, and updates will be disseminated through legislative offices and existing NSGP participants. Applications will undergo a competitive merit review conducted by IEMA-OHS in accordance with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA). Evaluation criteria include the organization's risk level, vulnerability assessments, coordination with state and local preparedness efforts, sustainability, disadvantaged community impact, prior grant history, and project feasibility. Applications that fail to distinguish their project from any existing or pending federal grant applications will be rejected for supplanting funds. Successful applicants will enter into a formal grant agreement with IEMA-OHS detailing performance periods, budget reviews, and audit requirements. The primary agency contact for the NSGP-IL is Tammy Porter at IEMA-OHS, who can be reached via email at Tammy.D.Porter@illinois.gov or by phone at (217) 557-4831. Physical correspondence can be directed to 2200 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703. All applicants are advised to complete their GATA registration and obtain their UEI well ahead of the application deadline to avoid delays in award processing.

Ensure site-specific applications are unique and complete. Do not duplicate federal funding requests.