Update (Feb. 15). reports today point to the fact that the President will sign the  compromise budget bill. That being said, here’s  what we do know about the Program funding.

Program funding. We are thrilled to report that the budget bill funds the Nonprofit Security Grant Program at the same levels as last year: $50 million for the NSGP-UA initiative (limited to designated Urban Areas) and $10 million to NSGP-S (open to jurisdictions located outside of the designated Urban Areas). Our Congressional delegation deserves a round of thanks, first to House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey and to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter calling for an increase in the proposed funding levels.

Timing. FEMA is required to publish its guidance (formally known as a “Notice of Funding Opportunity”) within 60 days of the signing of the budget, although it could be released sooner (i.e., we will know about the details mid-March to mid-April). New York State DHSES will set its submission deadline 3-5 weeks after that, depending on how much time DHS gives them. Note: it is critical that you pay attention to the Request for Applications that will be posted at http://www.dhses.ny.gov/grants/nonprofit/nsgp.cfm. This will include all of the requirements to apply for a grant.  We will continue to post the latest information at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants.

Getting ready for the grant
All organizations planning to submit for a grant this year should get started now, because the actual application may not be available until the last minute. Here’s what you should do:

1. Get an assessment. If you don’t already have one, or have scheduled one, do so immediately. Since November, JCRC-NY, through a generous grant from UJA-Federation and the Paul E. Singer Foundation, has arranged for scores of professional security assessments for Jewish organizations. These assessments cover most of what is required on the federal Investment Justification (the major component of the application). By implementing the recommendations from the report, you should go a long way towards making your facility safer. Applications accompanied by self-assessments will be accepted. For more guidance click to: /security-assessment/.
2. Prequalify. Your Nonprofit Security Grant Program will not be accepted unless your organization is “Prequalified.” See more information at: /document-vault-faqs/. If you submitted for a grant last year you are prequalified, but you may have to update some documents.
3. E-Grants. NY grants must be submitted through the E-Grants system. Previous applicants already have an account. Otherwise, click here to apply for an account. N.B. JCRC-NY cannot answer questions about your E-Grants submissions. Contact DHSES at 1-866-837-9133 or Grant.Info@dhses.ny.gov.
4. Investment Justification. This is the key component of the application. We don’t expect significant changes this year. Download the 2018 template here and answer all of the questions to the best of your ability now, so that you will be able to adapt your answers (if necessary) and cut and paste them into the 2019 Investment Justification, even if the application window is very brief.
5. Help with the vulnerability and facility hardening sections. See our document, Tying together the risk and target hardening language. Select and build on our language to complete the most challenging sections of the Investment Justification.
6. More help.  See our 2018 Tutorial (PDF of PowerPoint), Tying together the risk and target hardening language and our Selective Threat Scan