FY27 COMMONWEALTH NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM

The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) will make available $4,465,000 for nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations (such as faith-based institutions, medical and health care facilities, and other human service entities) to competitively solicit one-time grant funding to enhance building safety and security for its members/visitors and staff. This Availability of Grant Funds (AGF) will provide all the information needed to submit an application for consideration under the SFY27 Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CNSGP).

Applicants must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and may solicit up to $75,000 in funding under this competitive opportunity.

Only one (1) application per nonprofit location can be submitted for consideration of funding. If a nonprofit organization has additional locations, it must submit a separate application for consideration of funding.

Allowable costs are focused on security enhancements. Funding can be used for the acquisition and installation of security equipment/goods on real property (including buildings) owned or leased by the nonprofit organization, specifically to prevent or protect against the risk of a terrorist attack or hate crime.

This equipment is limited to the following categories:

• Physical Security Enhancement (Equipment/Goods)
• Inspection and Screening System

Types of purchases eligible for funding include but are not limited to:

• Exterior door and door locks (with single secure entry points)
• Surveillance video cameras
• Site alarms
• Internal public address system
• Tourniquets or other emergency first aid equipment
• Security fencing and barriers
• Lighting
• Access control systems

Applicants must provide OGR with as much detail as possible to include cost estimate, make, model, and quantity of equipment/goods to be purchased, as well as location where the equipment will be installed.

Unallowable Costs

These grant funds may NOT be used for any of the following:

• Employee salary or benefits
• Training and exercises (unless directly related to operation of equipment purchased from a vendor)
• Grant writers
• Law enforcement equipment such as standard firearms or ammunition, license plate readers, drones and the like
• Major construction, office furniture, or other similar purchases
• Vehicles

The application and attachments must be submitted electronically via the online application form. Emailed submissions will **NOT** be accepted.

Submit your online application form no later than **Friday, November 20, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.** This is a competitive process, and the system will not accept applications received after 4:00 p.m.

The online application must be completed and submitted with the following required attachments uploaded:

- Attachment A: Budget Excel Workbook (in Excel format, not PDF) uploaded to online application form.

This is a competitive grant and will be subject to a peer review process. All eligible applications will be reviewed and scored by three peer reviewers consisting of two internal and one external reviewer. Scores will be based on the following criteria:

• Clear and adequate responses in the Application Information section (5 points).
• A thorough explanation of need, including relevant local data to demonstrate need and correlation to the requested equipment/items to be purchased that will address the stated need (35 points).
• A project description that clearly describes the items to be purchased, types of items requested, and benefits to the nonprofit and community seeking funding (30 points).
• An implementation plan and timeline that is feasible and ensures all goods will be received and paid for within the anticipated grant period (10 points).
• A detailed, reasonable, and complete budget (20 points).

It is anticipated that the CNSGP awards will be announced in January 2027. Performance Period: January 2027– August 31, 2027.