Jim Richards | |
FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) distributes hundreds of millions of dollars to help nonprofit organizations improve safety and security at their facilities. While a wide range of nonprofits are eligible for NSGP, it is possibly most important for independent and religious schools, who usually operate under extremely tight budgets while facing disproportionately high risk of attack.
Unfortunately, many schools miss vital deadlines because of how the NSGP is administered: FEMA does not work directly with recipients. Instead, the organizations must apply through their local State Administrative Agency (SAA). The FEMA deadlines are for the SAAs, not the schools who need the grant. Schools must have everything prepared and submitted to their SAA earlier before FEMA’s submission deadline. In some states, that can be much earlier and include several additional steps.
If you’re considering applying for FEMA’s NSGP, it may seem very early, but now is the time for nonprofit and religious schools to get started preparing their NSGP applications.
A Five-Step Plan for NSGP Application Success
While the application process might be complex, following a few simple steps will help keep your organization on track. As you go through the process, it’s important to note that an NSGP award “can only be for a single physical address for your facility at the time of application.” If you have multiple campuses with different addresses, you will need to apply separately for each facility. In these situations, coordinate closely with your SAA to make sure everything is filed appropriately.
Step 1: Contact Your SAA
Start by contacting your State Administrative Agency (SAA). To find FEMA’s official list of SAAs, please click here. Your SSA will guide you through the application process and help you sort out any confusing details, such as whether or not your organization has or needs a DUNS or UEI number.
When you speak with your SAA, make sure you understand:
- All of their deadlines for completed applications and supporting documentation
- Any state-level application requirements
- FEMA application requirements
- Any prequalification requirements with the SAA. Prequalification can include having to register with your SAA's online grants management system, providing financial documentation, and verifying compliance with state regulations.
Step 2: Get a Threat, Vulnerability, and Risk Assessment
FEMA requires that NSGP applications include a recent Threat, Vulnerability, and Risk Assessment (TVRA). A TVRA identifies threats and unique vulnerabilities; highlights gaps in existing safety and security measures; and identifies areas for improvement. For FEMA’s purposes, a TVRA is valid for 36 months.
Any security improvement or investment for which you request funds in your NSGP application must be substantiated in the TVRA. Take the time to think through everything you do at your facility to make sure nothing is left out. For example, do you host occasional sporting events, weekend clubs, performances, or holiday observances that might require extra or different security measures?
FEMA’s TVRA requirements are typically general, but your SAA might have more detailed requirements, guidance, or a template or format they’d prefer you use. When in doubt, always ask your SAA and follow their directions.
Many communities have trained consultants who can help you prepare your TVRA at little or no cost. For example, Jewish schools can often get security assessment support through their local Jewish Federation. In many communities, the local sheriff’s office, mayor’s office, or a first responder task force will help you complete a rigorous threat assessment.
Collect and retain any supporting documents throughout this process. You’ll want them for your records, and might find them handy to refer to later when completing the Investment Justification application. Documents may include but aren’t limited to police reports, insurance reports, written assessments from consultants, or records of any security incidents in your area.
Step 3: Review and Discuss TVRA Findings
Review the TVRA with your leadership team and security advisors. Use the TVRA as a basis for setting priorities and determining what security programs or improvements can be covered by the NGSP. Identify specific physical improvements, training, or staff changes you might pursue.
If you decide to move forward with an NSGP application based on these discussions, now is the time to get estimates for each planned project. While your application does not need to include formal bids from vendors, you do need to build a realistic budget, one that you will later rely on if you are awarded a grant and begin work.
Step 4: Draft Your Investment Justification
As mentioned earlier, the Investment Justification is the formal application form for the NSGP. You’ll submit your Investment Justification to your SAA; your SAA will include it with other materials sent to FEMA.
The Investment Justification form changes from year to year, but usually not much. Many organizations use last year’s form as a guide for the current year while they await the release of the official form. Here is the 2024 Investment Justification form.
Your Investment Justification will need to clearly articulate how each element will help prevent an attack or minimize harm in the case of an attack. Remember, each Investment Justification can only cover a single physical address. Any security upgrades requested on the Investment Justification must be clearly identified in the TVRA and tied to your organization’s mission in the “narrative” portion of the Investment Justification.
Ask Your SAA About Funding Designations
In most years there are two equal pools of money for the NSGP. These are designated as NSGP-S and NSGP-UA. NSGP-UA is specifically for high-need or high-risk urban areas. NSGP-S is a statewide pool of money. FEMA usually has slight differences in how they want documents named, depending on whether your facility is in an Eligible High-Risk Urban Area or not. These details are all laid out on the Investment Justification form. To determine if you are NSGP-S or an NSGP-UA you can check FEMA’s list of Eligible High-Risk Urban Areas.
Take your time with your Investment Justification. The best approach is to draft your responses in a separate Word or Google Doc, which various members of your leadership team can then help revise and proofread. Your finished, polished answers can then be copied and pasted into the official form.
Step 5: Submit!
Submit your subapplication package to your SAA. They will submit the final application package to FEMA, including your Investment Justification and any supporting documents.
TSS is Your Trusted Security Guide
If you’ve determined that you need to add bulletproof protection to your school, please don’t wait to reach out to us. We can work with you, your security consultants, and your timeline to create a design that meets your needs and protects what matters most.
We also have free educational materials available to support good, comprehensive security planning. That includes a newsletter full of security advice from TSS CEO and co-founder Jim Richards. Jim has decades of experience in the bullet-resistant glass and physical security industries. His free security newsletter offers security advice once a quarter; no sales pitch, just insight and advice.
If you have any questions, or are ready to begin moving forward with a project, we’re here to help. Simply send us a message online to get started.
