Frequently Asked Questions

To qualify for the Federal NSGP, your organization must: be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, be located anywhere in the U.S., D.C., or territories, demonstrate an elevated risk of terrorism or hate-crime attack, and have a current Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov. State programs have additional requirements specific to each state. MSG will assess your eligibility at no cost during an initial consultation.

MSG specializes in houses of worship — including mosques, churches, synagogues, temples, and faith-based schools — but we also assist nonprofits and community organizations more broadly. If your organization is a 501(c)(3) at elevated risk, we can evaluate your options across all three grant programs.

No — and this is a common misconception. Security grant programs recognize that certain types of organizations face elevated risk simply due to their identity or affiliation, not because of past incidents. Risk is evaluated based on your organization's profile, community context, and documented threat environment.

Yes, though some state programs give preference to first-time applicants or organizations that have not received a security grant in recent cycles. MSG will advise on your positioning strategy based on your specific history.

Federal NSGP (FEMA): Up to $200K per address (3 addresses max), all 50 states, administered through each state's SAA. State NSGP: Varies by state ($25K–$250K+), available in participating states, runs on its own timeline. DOJ CAT 1: Up to $200K for security cameras at faith-based institutions, 2-year period. DOJ CAT 2: Up to $150K for law enforcement presence at houses of worship, 3-year period, applied for by local government with MSG facilitating the coordination.

Yes — the Federal NSGP, State NSGP, and DOJ programs operate independently with separate timelines and award pools. Many MSG clients apply for multiple programs in the same cycle, maximizing their total security funding. MSG will advise on the best combination for your organization.

Eligible uses include: CCTV and video surveillance systems, access control systems, perimeter security (fencing, bollards), exterior and interior lighting, blast-resistant window film, alarm systems, security training, Target Hardening Equipment (THE), and security personnel (with restrictions). Specific eligible items may vary by program.

For the Federal NSGP, no cost-share is required for most awards. For State NSGP programs, it varies by state — for example, Pennsylvania's state program may have its own cost-share requirements. MSG will clarify the requirements for your specific state and program during your consultation.

Don't let missing documentation stop you from reaching out — MSG will help you obtain anything you need. Typical items include your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, EIN, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov (MSG walks you through registration if needed), a completed MSG questionnaire, and a current Vulnerability Risk Assessment completed by a state-designated law enforcement organization. If you're missing any of these, we will work through it together.

Application submission varies by state and program. For some states, MSG can facilitate submission directly; for others, the SAA requires the applicant organization to submit through its own portal. In all cases, MSG will work with you to ensure your application is submitted successfully — you are never left to navigate the process alone.

Yes — MSG provides end-to-end service from first contact through final closeout, including award acceptance, procurement management, vendor coordination, and reimbursement submissions. You are never handed off or left to manage compliance on your own.

MSG works to make every application as competitive as possible. If your application is not awarded in a given cycle, we review the outcome, identify gaps, and prepare an improved application for the next cycle.

All purchases using grant funds must follow competitive procurement regulations. At minimum, 3 qualified vendors must be solicited for purchases over a threshold amount, all bids must be documented, a written vendor selection justification is required, contracts must be executed before work begins, and records must be retained for the required period post-closeout. MSG manages the entire procurement process for our clients.

Your organization may have preferred vendors, and MSG is happy to include them in the solicitation process. However, grant compliance requires a competitive bidding process — no single vendor can be selected without documented comparison against other qualified bids. MSG guides you through this while honoring your vendor preferences where possible.