The Nonprofit Security Grant is here and due in NY June 12

June 02, 2017

Nonprofit Security Grant Program 2017

June 3, 2017 |

  1. This year DHS is providing $25,000,000 for target hardening activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of a terrorist attack and located within one of the specific UASI-designated urban areas (click here for the complete list).
  2. New York’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Request for Applications (RFA) is posted here. The due date in NY is Monday, June 12, 2017. Yes, everyone knows that this is a crazy schedule, but there’s no choice.
  3. If your Grants Gateway Document Vault is not pre-certified (or well under way) you are running out of time. Organizations that are not pre-certified cannot apply for the grants. Click here for more information.
  4. A PDF of the Investment Justification is available here. The actual spreadsheet will be available on the NY DHSES webpage. You will notice that the questions remain the same, but that there are some formatting improvements.
  5. The New York State Hate Crimes grant applications will probably be released towards the end of the month. As soon as we see the RFA we will publish additional materials to help qualified groups apply for that grant.
Powerpoint presentation Our apologies to those who couldn’t join the webinar. Download a PDF from our 2017 webinar here. View the recording: Part 1, Part 2. Check out our 2017 Investment Justification tips here and tips from JFNA here.  NEW
New Jersey presentation Want more? Check out this workshop presented by David Fields of the New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP).
Prequalification NY nonprofits should register at https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/ &
complete their Document Vault . See JCRC-NY’s additional information at: /document-vault-faqs/ .If your nonprofit was previously prequalified, you will still have to update certain documents or your document vault is expired. Check our your document vault for more information.
NY nonprofit grants webpage If you’ve never applied before, click here for New York’s nonprofit webpage, with the E-grant application. If you have an existing account (and remember the
username/password), you’re fine.
Risk assessment You can do conduct a self-assessment, have your local police do a crime prevention survey or get an independent professional. Find guidance and contacts here and JCRC-NY’s guide to security consultants here. There are some good self-assessment tools available. Check out:

Investment Justification Download the PDF of the 2017 Investment Justification here to see what the application looks like. Make sure to submit your information on the 2017 forms are released.
Threat scan Stymied by the “Risk” section of the Investment Justification? Download our Selective Threat Scan for documentation and help with the “Threat” and “Consequences” questions. You will need an assessment to identify your vulnerabilities.
NY State funding for nonprofit security. This year’s New York State budget included funding for “safety and security projects at nonpublic schools, community centers and day care facilities at risk of hate crimes or attacks because of their ideology, beliefs or mission.” Obviously, the details are still pending.

Click here to subscribe to the JCRC-NY Security and Emergency Preparedness Alert list, which will notify you about the details when they become available.

For the most up-to-date info /securitygrants

Been waiting? Two security grants are coming soon

May 30, 2017
  1. We now expect FEMA will release the FY 2017 Nonprofit Security Grant Program guidelines next Friday, June 2nd to the states. New York’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has been working hard and they will have their Request for Applications (RFA) ready ASAP. However, they must have their documents approved through the various channels as required by NY State law. If all goes well the RFA will be available soon after the federal guidance.
  2. The application deadline in NY depends on the DHS/FEMA deadline. Remember, they have to score the applications and comply with federal guidelines for submission. That takes time, especially when they must process 200 or so applications. Please don’t contact us to ask about the due date… no one will know it before DHS/FEMA publishes their guidance. Expect a quick turnaround.
  3. The New York State Hate Crimes grant applications will be released within the same timeframe. As soon as we see the RFA we will publish additional materials to help qualified groups apply for that grant.
  4. NY applicants: If your Grants Gateway Document Vault is not prequalified (or well under way) you are running out of time. Organizations that are not prequalified will not be allowed to submit for the grants. If you previously prequalified, certain documents may need to be updated. Check your Document Vault to verify that it is up to date. Click here for more information.
Powerpoint presentation/video Download a PDF from our 2017 webinar here and view the recording: Part 1, Part 2
Organization type/Definition of Mission As many have learned, the grant guidelines make “Organization type” a factor in the scoring. Our attempts to formally change the guidelines language faltered during the change of administration. We were advised by House Homeland Security Chairman McCaul’s team  to neutralize this arbitrary scoring measurement self-identify as  “Ideology-based/Spiritual/Religious”. This would apply whether your organization is a religious corporation or simply religiously-affiliated (e.g., JCC, Jewish Family Service, etc.)
NY nonprofit grants webpage  Click here for New York’s nonprofit webpage. When available it will have the RFA (application package), all of the forms necessary for the submission of your application and  the E-grant application and tutorial. (If you have an existing account — and remember the
username/password — you don’t have to reapply.)
Risk assessment You can do conduct a self-assessment, have your local police do a crime prevention survey or get an independent professional. Find guidance and contacts
here and JCRC-NY’s guide to security consultants here. There are some good self-assessment tools available. Check out:

Many crime prevention surveys do not give the information necessary to complete the “Threat” section of the Investment Justification? Collect information specific to your organization (e.g., phone threats, graffiti) to document your threat and then  download our Selective Threat Scan for documentation and help with the “Threat” and “Consequences” questions.

Investment Justification Download the 2016 Investment Justification here to see what the application looks like. Make sure to submit your information on the 2017 forms are released.
For the most up-to-date info /securitygrants

Still no budget, but get started

April 28, 2017

April 28, 2017 | The timing of the 2017 applications is still up in the air. The House voted 382 to 30 and the Senate unanimously approved a bill to keep the government open until May 5th. This will give the negotiators time to finalize a longer-term deal that would fund the government through the end of the fiscal year in September. There can be no grant programs without a budget.

Once the budget bill is signed by the President, the US Department of Homeland should post its its guidance within a week or two and the NY Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services releasing its Request for Applications soon thereafter. Assuming that the budget passes next week, don’t be surprised if the application package is due at the end of May or the beginning of June.

So the turnaround may be very quick. We don’t anticipate any significant changes in the application process and most of the requirements of the application process can be met before the deadline. Our advice is to get started now! Here’s what you can do.

Powerpoint presentation/video Download a PDF from our 2017 webinar here and view the recording: Part 1, Part 2
Prequalification NY nonprofits should register at https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/ &
complete their Document Vault . See JCRC-NY’s additional information at: /document-vault-faqs/ .If your nonprofit was previously prequalified, you will still have to update certain documents or your document vault is expired. Check our your document vault for more information.
NY nonprofit grants webpage If you’ve never applied before, click here for New York’s nonprofit webpage, with the E-grant application. If you have an existing account (and remember the
username/password), you’re fine.
Risk assessment You can do conduct a self-assessment, have your local police do a crime prevention survey or get an independent professional. Find guidance and contacts
here and JCRC-NY’s guide to security consultants here. There are some good self-assessment tools available. Check out:

Investment Justification Download the 2016 Investment Justification here to see what the application looks like. Make sure to submit your information on the 2017 forms are released.
Threat scan Stymied by the “Risk” section of the Investment Justification? Download our Selective Threat Scan for documentation and help with the “Threat” and “Consequences” questions. You will need an assessment to identify your vulnerabilities.
For the most up-to-date info /securitygrants

Nonprofit Grant? Get started now, webinar next week

March 17, 2017

NSGP 2017

The timing of the 2017 applications is still up in the air. We won’t be able to determine the due date for the applications until the US Department of Homeland Security posts its guidance. They will only do so once there is a federal budget.

We don’t anticipate any significant changes in the application process and most of the requirements of the application process can be met before the deadline. Our advice is to get started now! Here’s what you can do.

Webinar Our annual webinar will be
Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 12:30-1:30 PM
No RSVP required; click here to join when webinar begins.
Prequalification NY nonprofits should register at https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/ &
complete their Document Vault . See JCRC-NY’s additional information at: /document-vault-faqs/ .If your nonprofit was previously prequalified, you will still have to update certain documents or your document vault is expired. Check our your document vault for more information.
E-Grant registration If you have an existing account (and remember the
username/password), you’re fine; to register for the DHSES E-Grant system, email: grants@dhses.ny.gov
Risk assessment Find guidance and contacts at:
/security-assessment/ and JCRC-NY’s guide to security consultants here.There are some self-assessment tools available. Check out:

Investment Justification The 2017 forms are not ready. Download the 2016 Investment Justification here to see what the applications looks like.
For the most up-to-date info /securitygrants

So when is the NSGP grant be coming out?

February 15, 2017

Short answer, we don’t know. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security cannot formally announce any grant program before there is a federal budget and Congress gave itself up to April 28, 2017 to come to an agreement. Both the House and the Senate included the program in their appropriations, but they must still work out the funding level of the program (We want it raised to $25 million.). It could be that the grant deadline is only days, rather than weeks, after the grant announcement, so get started now! 

We don’t expect many changes in the application process this year. Our best advice, complete all of the preliminary steps below and a draft of your application (known as the “Investment Justification” or “IJ”) as soon as possible. If there are any changes, you will be able to concentrate on the changes.

One final piece of advice. If you think that your organization is at high risk because of ideology-based/spiritual/religious reasons, think about how you would document them, especially if you follow mission implementing policies or practices that may elevate your risk. If you are a religious corporation, the answer is clear. If not, there may be an opportunity to document the risk.

NSGP 2017

Prequalification NY nonprofits should register at https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/ &
complete their Document Vault . See JCRC-NY’s additional
information at: /document-vault-faqs/ .If your nonprofit was previously prequalified, you will still have to update certain documents or your document vault is expired. Check our your document vault for more information.
E-Grant registration If you have an existing account (and remember the
username/password), you’re fine; to register for the DHSES E-Grant system, email: grants@dhses.ny.gov
Risk assessment Find guidance and contacts at:
/security-assessment/ and JCRC-NY’s guide to security consultants here.There are some self-assessment tools available. Check out:

Investment Justification The 2017 forms are not ready. Download the 2016 Investment Justification here to see what the applications looks like. Just make sure that the
For the most up-to-date info /securitygrants
Questions? Click here to send questions about the grant program.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program 2016 results | NY secures over $5.1M | Special thank you’s to Schumer, Gillibrand, Lowey, Donovan and King

June 29, 2016

Thank you to our champions. They fought for this grant and 70 NY organizations will benefit this year. They are already fighting for the 2017 allocation. Please let Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Reps. Lowey, Donovan and King and the rest of our delegation know that you appreciate their hard work.

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND SECURE OVER $5.1 MILLION TO IMPROVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS & ORGANIZATIONS IN-AND-AROUND NYC; GRANTS AWARDED TO 66 AT-RISK JEWISH SCHOOLS AND CONGREGATIONS

Schumer and Gillibrand Secured over 25% Of Total Funding For Organizations Based in New York – Out of the Total $20 Million Granted to Awardees Across the Country
The Awardees Include 66 Jewish Educational Institutions and Congregations; The Money Will Help These At-Risk Nonprofits For Security Preparedness
Schumer, Gillibrand: These Schools and Congregations are Vital Parts of our Community and Like Institutions Have Been Targeted Before; We Must Do All we can to Protect all At-Risk Institutions

U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced today that 66 New York Jewish organizations, includingDHS Nonprofit Security Grant Program Results schools and congregations, and more have received a combined total of $5,172,143 for the 2016 fiscal year as Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Awardees. The program, run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), awards federal funds to nonprofit organizations that are at a high risk of a national terrorist attack to encourage preparedness efforts.

“Would-be evildoers have previously targeted schools and congregations for attacks and that’s why FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program is critical in making sure that high-risk organizations like Jewish schools and congregations are safe and protected from terrorist attacks,” said Senator Schumer. “It is especially important for organizations in and around New York City to receive this federal funding, which will go a long way to ensure that they are fully prepared for whatever may happen in the future.”

“New York is the number one terror target in the world, so we must continue to be vigilant, and I’ll continue to fight for every available federal resource to help keep us safe,” said Senator Gillibrand. “New York’s religious institutions and non-profit organizations, including Jewish schools and congregations, are the backbone of our communities. These federal funds through Homeland Security will provide the necessary resources to help keep our places of worship safe and secure.”

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is run under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI). For the 2016 fiscal year, the UASI NSGP was budgeted $20 million. Only eligible nonprofit organizations, as described by the 501(c)(3) tax code of 1986, may apply for this grant. To be eligible, the nonprofit must be at high risk for an international terrorist attack and must be located in one of the designated urban areas throughout the country.

The 66 Jewish organizations that received funding from the New York City-metro area are:

A Ahi Ezer Congregation, Associated Beth Rivkah School for Girls, Inc.
B Babylonian Jewish Center, Bais Ruchel High School, Bais Uvi Grieding, Bay Terrace Garden Jewish Center, Be’er HaGolah Institutes, Beth Gavriel Bukharian Congregation, Beth Jacob Parochial School of Manhattan, Beth Rachel School for Girls, Boro Park Hatzolah
C Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Chabad Lubavitch Community Center of Northeastern Queens, Chabad Lubavitch of Briarcliff Manor-Ossining, Inc., Congregation Aish Kodesh, Congregation Beth Torah, Congregation B’nai Israel, Congregation Bnos Chaya, Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York, Congregation Khal Adath Jeshurun, Congregation Kneseth Israel, Congregation Machna Shalva, Congregation Mercaz Hatorah of Belle Harbor, Congregation Mount Sinai Anshe Emeth, Congregation Ohel Chabad Lubavitch, Congregation Or Zarua, Congregation Shaari Tefiloh of Kings Highway, Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale
F Foundation for Sephardic Studies dba Bnei Yitzhak
G Good Shepard Roman Catholic Church
H Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway, Hebrew Educational Society of Brooklyn, Hebrew Institute of University Heights dba Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
L Lincoln Square Synagogue
M Magen David Yeshivah, Manhattan Beach Jewish Center, Manhattan High School for Girls, Manhattan Jewish Student Center, Masores Bais Yaakov, Mesivta Ateres Yaakov of Greater Long Island, Mesivta Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, Mirrer Yeshiva Central Institute
N North Shore Sephardic Synagogue
R Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin
S Satya Narayan Mandir, Shaare Zion Congregation, Inc., Shulamith School for Girls, Sonia & Max Silverstein Hebrew Academy, St. James’ Episcopal Church, Staten Island Volunteers of Hatzalah, Inc. dba Hatzalah of Staten Island
T Talmud Torah Ohel Yochanan, Talmud Torah Tashbar, Temple Beth Sholom Roslyn Heights, Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, The Jewish Center, The Merrick Jewish Centre, Torah Center of Hillcrest
Y Yeshiva and Mesivta Toras Chaim of Greater NY at South Shore, Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island, Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan, Yeshiva of Central Queens, Yeshivah of Flatbush, Yeshivat Darche Eres, Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst, Young Israel of Oceanside, Young Israel of Scarsdale, Inc.

NY Nonprofit Security Grant package available | due March 28

February 18, 2016

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released its guidance on Tuesday for the $20 million Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The grant is competitive and awardees can qualify for up to $75,000 in equipment approved for target hardening.

  • The NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES)  2016 RFA (application package) at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/grants/nonprofit.cfm is live. The deadline for submission will be March 28, 2016. (Applicants will still have 6 weeks to complete their application package and will be finished before Passover.)  If you have any questions regarding this announcement, please contact DHSES via email at: grants@dhses.ny.gov.
  • In New York, nonprofits located in NYC, Long Island and Westchester are eligible. Outside of NY, check here.
  • JCRC scheduled its assistance webinar on Monday, February 22, 2016 from 11AM to 12:30PM. Click here to reserve and receive the instructions to connect to the webinar.
  • We are busily updating our help webpage at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants. We plan to include the webinar presentations and a recording of the webinar on the page. Check back often.
  • Click here to subscribe to the JCRC-NY Security and Emergency Preparedness Alert list. Subscribers will receive updates on the security grant program and other alerts.
NSGP 2016: Here’s what you can do now
Prequalification NY nonprofits should register at https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/ &
complete their Document Vault . See JCRC-NY’s additional
information at: /document-vault-faqs/ .If your nonprofit was previously prequalified, you will still have to update certain documents or your document vault is expired. Check our your document vault for more information.
E-Grant registration If you have an existing account (and remember the
username/password), you’re fine; to register for the DHSES E-Grant system, email: grants@dhses.ny.gov
Risk assessment Find guidance and contacts at:
/security-assessment/
Investment Justification Download the 2016 Investment Justification here.
For the most up-to-date info /securitygrants

JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation worked closely with JFNA and its partners worked very hard to bolster the NSGP program allocation this year, and the roles of the Orthodox Union and Agudath Israel were critical.

Working on our behalf were Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and members of Congress who signed onto Congressman Peter King’s letter urging an increase in the allocation this year: Dan Donovan, Elliot Engel, Carolyn Maloney, Grace Meng, Jerry Nadler, Kathleen Rice and Lee Zeldin.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program 2016 | It’s here

February 16, 2016

We’ve taken an initial look at the federal guidance and not much is new. Stay tuned for specifics.

NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NY DHSES) will develop its RFA (application package) based on the DHS guidance and specify a deadline for all applications to be electronically submitted (State agencies must have time to judge and process several hundred submissions, so the applicant deadline will be considerably sooner than the federal deadline). The RFA will be posted at: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/grants/nonprofit.cfm. Note: In NY, the requirements and deadlines posted by NY DHSES are final.

We’ve scheduled a webinar with our NY DHSES partners for Monday, February 22, 2016 at 11 AM. Click here to make a reservation and to receive the sign-in instructions to join the webinar. 

NSGP 2016: Here’s what you can do now
Prequalification NY nonprofits should register at https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/ &
complete their Document Vault . See JCRC-NY’s additional
information at: /document-vault-faqs/If your nonprofit was previously prequalified, you will still have to update certain documents or your document vault is expired. Check our your document vault for more information.
E-Grant registration If you have an existing account (and remember the
username/password), you’re fine; to register for the DHSES E-Grant
system, email: grants@dhses.ny.gov
Risk assessment Find guidance and contacts at:
/security-assessment/
Investment Justification Download
/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/FY2015NSGP_InvestmentJustification.pdf and work on responses to each section. It’s unlikely that there will be any significant changes, except possibly Section VII (Impact).
For the most up-to-date info /securitygrants

JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation worked closely with JFNA and its partners worked very hard to bolster the NSGP program allocation this year, and the roles of the Orthodox Union and Agudath Israel were critical.

– See more at: /what-we-do/security-emergency-preparedness/blog/#sthash.U5mnLs3l.dpuf

Nonprofit grants are around the corner

February 01, 2016

The 2016 U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget includes $20 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. According to the best information DHS will release its general grant guidance information to the states in mid-February. NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NY DHSES) will then develop its RFA (application package) based on the DHS guidance. The RFA will specify a deadline for all applications to be electronically submitted. Note: In NY, the requirements and deadlines posted by NY DHSES are final.

This year, we expect very few changes in the RFA. Make sure that you’re prequalified (see below). Don’t wait. If you intend to apply for the grant get started now.

NSGP 2016: Here’s what you can do now
Prequalification NY nonprofits should register at https://grantsgateway.ny.gov/ &
complete their Document Vault . See JCRC-NY’s additional
information at: /document-vault-faqs/

If your nonprofit was previously prequalified, you will still have to update certain documents or your document vault is expired. Check our your document vault for more information.

E-Grant registration If you have an existing account (and remember the
username/password), you’re fine; to register for the DHSES E-Grant
system, email: grants@dhses.ny.gov
Risk assessment Find guidance and contacts at:
/security-assessment/
Investment Justification Download
/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/FY2015NSGP_InvestmentJustification.pdf and work on responses to each section. It’s unlikely that there will be any significant changes, except possibly Section VII (Impact).
For the most up-to-date info /securitygrants

JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation worked closely with JFNA and its partners worked very hard to bolster the NSGP program allocation this year, and the roles of the Orthodox Union and Agudath Israel were critical.

JCRC: training here, training there

January 26, 2016

The past few months have been busy with JCRC-NY coordinating major  training sessions for hundreds of institutions in the NY area. There is a heightened awareness of the potential for attacks and a willingness on the part of organizations to “Step up their Game.”

All of the trainings focused on security/terrorism awareness, building a culture of security within organizations and active shooter responses. Kudos and thanks to our wonderful partners, including: NYPD Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. Our common goals are to strengthen the ties between law enforcement and nonprofit organizations and to empower them by giving them to tools and knowledge to respond as well as possible. Here’s some examples of our recent work: Read More JCRC: training here, training there