FY26 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
Federal Fiscal Year 2026 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)
NSGP is one of the grant programs that support DHS/FEMA’s focus on enhancing the ability of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as nonprofits, to prevent, protect against, prepare for, and respond to terrorist or other extremist attacks. These grant programs are part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS to help strengthen the nation’s communities against potential terrorist or other extremist attacks.
NSGP is a nationally competitive grant program that provides federal funding to eligible nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attack. The program supports physical security enhancements and other security-related activities designed to strengthen the protection of nonprofit facilities while integrating organizational preparedness with broader state and local emergency management efforts.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) is pleased to announce the availability of approximately $3.4 million in federal funding in the FY 2026 NSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Eligible projects may include planning, training, target hardening, and physical security improvements. All proposed activities must directly enhance the security and safety of the nonprofit organization’s physical site.
As a nationally competitive program, funding is not guaranteed. Approved subrecipients will be reimbursed for eligible costs as phases of their approved project are completed. Additional application and program administration guidance will be provided upon award.
Pre-awards costs are not eligible for reimbursement.
Information on FY 2026 National Priorities
DHS is focused on the criticality of information sharing and collaboration in building a national mindset of preparedness and protecting against terrorism and other threats to our national security. DHS and its homeland security mission were born from the “failures among federal agencies and between the federal agencies and state and local authorities to share critical information related to the threat of terrorism” prior to the September 11, 2001, attacks. However, the threat profile has changed in the past two decades. We now face continuous cyberattacks by sophisticated actors, as well as ongoing threats to soft targets and crowded places, such as schools, churches, synagogues, mosques, and other nonprofit entities. NSGP reflects DHS’s commitment to risk-informed investment, collaboration, and resilience. To ensure that priorities reflect the current threat environment, FEMA’s Preparedness Grant Programs are guided by annually designated National Priority Areas (NPAs).
The FY 2026 NPAs did not change from FY 2025. They are:
1. Enhancing the protection of soft targets and crowded places. (This includes faith-based organizations and election sites)
2. Supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers;
3. Enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency;
4. Enhancing election security; and
5. Border Crisis Response and Enforcement Support.
Please see the NOFO for details and a breakdown of these priority areas for the FY 2026 NSGP, showing both the core capabilities enhanced and lifelines supported, as well as examples of eligible project types for each area. A detailed description of allowable investments for each project type is included in the Preparedness Grants Manual.
Eligibility
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to be eligible.
What type of entities/organizations are eligible to apply under NSGP?
- Houses of worship
- Shelters/crisis centers
- Educational facilities
- Event venues
- Medical facilities
- Science organizations
- Senior centers/care facilities
- Camps
- Community/social service
- Museums
- Eligible organizations are registered 501c3 nonprofits or otherwise organizations as described under 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and tax-exempt under section 501(a) of the IRC.
What type of entities/organizations are not eligible to apply under NSGP?
- Utility companies
- Organizations active in politics/lobbying
- Governmental entities
- For-profit venues, stadiums, amusement parks, etc.
- For-profit hospitals
- Homeowner associations, labor unions, etc.
- For-profit colleges/universities
- For-profit transportation entities
- Volunteer fire departments
- Municipal/public schools (elementary, middle, high)
- Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions Clubs, etc.
Key FY26 NSGP Grant Performance Dates and Other Guidelines
- Application Period Status: Opens 7/1/26 and Closes 7/10/26
- Projected period of performance (POP) for the subgrantee is 10/1/2026 – 6/30/2028
- The maximum amount for an individual application is $200,000. A nonprofit organization can submit up to three projects totaling $600,000. Each facility must have a vulnerability assessment and investment justification. See NOFO for additional guidelines.
- Applicants must only request funding for equipment and activities that are consistent with the allowable costs guidance listed in the FY 2026 NSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Important Application Submission Notice
Due to the abbreviated application period established by FEMA, we are unable to accept application resubmissions, provide technical assistance, or correction opportunities after an application has been submitted. To ensure fairness and maintain compliance with the required timeline, only complete applications received by 5:00 p.m. on July 10, 2026, will be considered for further review. Applications received after this deadline or submitted with incomplete or incorrect information cannot be revised or reconsidered. We understand that this process may be challenging and regret any inconvenience. Unfortunately, these timelines are established by FEMA and are outside of our control. We appreciate your understanding and encourage all applicants to carefully review their submissions before the deadline to ensure all required information and documentation are included.
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FY26 NSGP VDEM Applications
Applicants in the National Capital Region Designated Urban Area
The following information and instructions are for nonprofit applicants located within The National Capital Region Urban Area (NCR) which includes The District of Columbia, parts of Maryland, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William Counties, and the City of Alexandria in Virginia.
Submit applications by email to NCR.NSGP@dc.gov and Cembrye.Ross@dc.gov. Capital Region NSGP grant information can be found here at the DC HSEMA website.
Do not submit your application directly to FEMA or Grants.gov.
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All other applicants must submit their application through VDEM EM Grants here.
Access to EM Grants
Please register at the link above to be given access to the system. Only eligible employees of a nonprofit organization will be granted access.
Below are Application Instructions for applicants through VDEM EM Grants System.
Select the Resources tab at the top of the page.
Next, select Preparedness Resources in the dropdown menu before logging in.
and then click the Apply for a Grant tab on the page
This is where you will find the New 2026 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Applicant Information tab. In this tab, you will find a Job Aid, Investment Justification (IJ) and the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Applicants must submit the following three (3) documents for a complete application packet.
- A completed FY 2026 NSGP Investment Justification form.
First, download the document through a web browser. We have found Edge or Firefox works best. Save to your computer. After saving the IJ to your computer, open the document and start to populate your information. Save frequently. This form is not set up to automatically save.
A job aid is listed below under Attachments with more helpful tips.
Do not open and use the web browser to input your information.
*IT MUST REMAIN IN THE ADOBE FILLABLE FORMAT. IF IT IS ALTERED IN ANY WAY IT WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUBMISSION AND REVIEW. **
** All sub-applicants are required to submit a FY 2026 IJ. Using an incorrect or outdated version of the IJ will lead to disqualification from the application process. Ensuring the use of the FY 2026 IJ is critical to maintaining compliance with program requirements.
- A Mission Statement as described in the NOFO, which explains the nature of the applicant organization’s purpose and mission in PDF format. This will primarily be used to validate the organization’s type identified in the IJ as either: 1) Ideology-based/spiritual/religious; 2) Educational; 3) Medical; or 4) Other.
- A copy of the Vulnerability Assessment on which the request in the application is based in PDF format.
Please do not submit any documents that are password protected.
Applicants in the Hampton Roads Designated Urban Area
The following information and instructions are for nonprofit applicants located within the Hampton Roads Urban Area: City of Chesapeake, City of Franklin, Gloucester County, City of Hampton, Isle of Wight County, James City County, City of Newport News, City of Norfolk, City of Poquoson, City of Portsmouth, Southampton County, City of Suffolk, Surry County, City of Virginia Beach, City of Williamsburg, and York County.
Applicants must submit their applications no later than July 10th, 2026, through our grants management system, EM Grants at https://vdem.emgrants.com/.
The following file naming convention must be used:
“FY2026_NSGP_UA_VA_HR_<Your Nonprofit Name>_IJ”
“FY2026_NSGP_UA_VA_HR_<Your Nonprofit Name>_VA”
“FY2026_NSGP_UA_VA_HR_<Your Nonprofit Name>_MS”
Applicants in the Richmond City Designated Urban Areas
The following information and instructions are for nonprofit applicants located within the Richmond City Urban Area: Amelia County, Charles City County, Chesterfield County, Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, King & Queen County, King William County, New Kent County, Powhatan County, Prince George County, Sussex County, Colonial Heights City, Hopewell City, Petersburg City, and Richmond City.
Applicants must submit their applications no later than July 10th, 2026, through our grants management system, EM Grants at https://vdem.emgrants.com/.
The following file naming convention must be used:
“FY2026_NSGP_UA_VA_R_<Your Nonprofit Name>_IJ”
“FY2026_NSGP_UA_VA_R_<Your Nonprofit Name>_VA”
“FY2026_NSGP_UA_VA_R_<Your Nonprofit Name>_MS”
Virginia Applicants in Areas Other Than Designated Urban Areas
Any nonprofit applicant in Virginia that is not located within the Hampton Roads and Richmond City designated areas or the National Capital Region designated urban areas will submit application(s) through our grants management system, EM Grants at https://vdem.emgrants.com/ no later than July 10th, 2026.
The following file naming convention must be used:
“FY2026_NSGP_S_VA_<Your Nonprofit Name>_IJ”
“FY2026_NSGP_S_VA_<Your Nonprofit Name>_VA”
“FY2026_NSGP_S_VA_<Your Nonprofit Name>_MS”
You can direct any questions to vdemgrants@vdem.virginia.gov.
VDEM, Richmond Urban Area Work Group and the Hampton Roads Urban Area Working Group will conduct an initial review and scoring of all eligible applications received. A combined application will be sent to FEMA on behalf of Virginia non-urban, Hampton Roads urban area, and Richmond City urban area that will include all applications received. The scoring criteria for the applications are included in the NOFO.
FEMA will make the final selection of subrecipients to be awarded to the SAA. Subawards to the nonprofit organizations selected for funding will be notified by VDEM at a date to be announced.
Do not submit to FEMA or grants.gov—the SAA will do that on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
FEMA has provided the following Key Application Takeaways based on the NSGP grant cycle that you may want to consider:
- Duplicative applications: If you hire a grant writer, review their work. Limit copy and pasting between IJs if applying for multiple locations.
- Administratively incomplete/insufficient: The FEMA-provided IJ must be submitted as complete. Any incomplete package will not be reviewed by FEMA.
- Unallowable/out of scope expenditures: Ensure that all requested expenditures align with the program rules and objectives.
- Organizations applying on behalf of ineligible entities: Nonprofits may not act as a pass through for a government or for-profit entity.
- UEI number: While you can apply for NSGP without a UEI number, you MUST have a valid UEI number and be fully registered to receive federal funding.
- Threats/Risks/Vulnerability: Nonprofits must tie threats/risks to existing physical vulnerabilities. All must tie to terrorism or extremism.
- Direct hiring of law enforcements/public safety officials are not allowed. Contract security CANNOT be sole-sourced.
- Misaligned or unrealistic narratives, timelines, projects/activities: The IJ content and project goals should be logical, reasonable, and attainable.
Applicants should include the organization’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in the Investment Justification where requested, if available at this time.
Note that sub applicants do not need to have a valid UEI at the time of application; however, they must have a valid UEI to receive a subaward and must be fully registered to be reimbursed from federal funds.
For more information about the UEI process, visit SAM.gov or the Federal Service Desk, FSD.gov. You can search for help at FSD any time or request help from an FSD agent Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
Applicants that do not have a UEI number may visit the following gov or the Federal Service Desk, FSD.gov.