Nebraska Non-Profit Security Grant Program Accepting Applications
RELEASE DATE: Jan 06, 2025
Applications are due by January 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. CST
NEBRASKA NONPROFIT SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM (NE-NSGP)
Pursuant to Nebraska Statute 81-829.08; The Nebraska Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NE-NSGP) has been created. The program shall be administered by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The agency shall establish a working group of stakeholders to review and evaluate applications. The working group shall make recommendations on funding decisions and shall provide such recommendations to the agency.
Program Description:
The NE-NSGP is a reimbursement-based program; the purpose of which is to provide funding support for target hardening and other physical security enhancements to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission.
Eligibility:
The Applicant must meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (IRC) and be exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such code.
Note: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not require certain religious organizations such as churches, mosques, and synagogues to apply for and receive a recognition of exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the IRC; such organizations are automatically exempt if they meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3). See https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/churches-integrated-auxiliaries-and-conventions-or-associations-of-churches#%3A%7E%3Atext%3DChurches%20(including%20integrated%20auxiliaries%20and%2Cexempt%20status%20from%20the%20IRS
A qualified nonprofit organization means an organization that:
- Is exempt from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including any nonprofit organization created exclusively for religious purposes;
- Is at high risk of a terrorist attack or at risk for hate crimes or attacks because of the nonprofit organization’s ideology, beliefs, or mission and;
- Has applied for a federal nonprofit security grant and has not received funding for the same year the applicant is applying for a state grant under the program;
Has been unable to apply for a federal nonprofit security grant;
or Has a documented barrier or hardship related to the application for a federal nonprofit security grant; and
A qualified nonprofit organization shall not be eligible for a grant under the program if:
- the organization applied for a grant under the program and received the full amount of its funding request in the previous year; or
- the organization received a federal nonprofit security grant within the previous five years.
- The organization is a hospital as defined in Nebraska Revised Statute 71-419;
- The organization is a rural emergency hospital as defined in Nebraska Revised Statute 71-428.01; or
- The organization is an institution of postsecondary education
Grant Subaward Period of Performance:
The NE-NSGP is only for projects within the selected period of performance.
March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026
To apply for NE-NSGP funding, applicants must submit a complete application package to NEMA via email to nema.nsgp@nebraska.gov. The Applicant’s NE-NSGP application package must include:
- A completed NE-NSGP application
- Photos as outlined in the examples shown on pages 6 – 8 of this document.
- Vulnerability Assessment – Each Applicant must include a vulnerability assessment unique to the site/location/physical address indicated in the application. There is no standard vulnerability assessment form.
A Vulnerability Assessment is used to identify and validate physical security deficiencies of the applicant’s organization/facility and is the foundation of the NE-NSGP application. Vulnerability assessments can be provided in the form of a:
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Self-Assessment
- State or Local law enforcement assessment
- Contractor Assessment
- Or other valid method of assessment
Projects/activities requested through the NSGP should align to mitigate items identified in the vulnerability assessment.
All entities wishing to do business with the state government must have a unique entity identifier (UEI). The UEI number is issued by the system. Requesting a UEI using System for Award Management (SAM.gov) can be found at: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
Available Funding
NEMA may award up to $411k in grants during the programs first year. A qualified nonprofit organization shall not receive more than $50,000 in NE-NSGP funding in any one year.
FUNDING RESTRICTIONS AND ALLOWABLE COSTS
Treatment of all costs charged to awards covered by this grant opportunity must comply with Nebraska Revised Statute §73-807 of the State Procurement Act; and the State of Nebraska Procurement Manual.
Grants may be issued to qualified nonprofit organizations to reimburse such organizations for the costs of target hardening, and other safety and security projects intended to mitigate vulnerabilities identified in a vulnerability assessment completed by the qualified nonprofit organization or by a vendor with whom the qualified nonprofit organization has contracted. Reimbursement will only be made for expenses incurred during the grants period of performance.
Planning
Those activities that are related to protecting a facility, the people within the facility, and the people with access to the facility and providing for their functional needs. The term includes developing and enhancing a nonprofit organization’s security plans and protocols, emergency contingency plans, evacuation or shelter-in-place plans, and the materials that are required to conduct planning activities;
Security Personnel
Includes personnel who are contracted with the nonprofit organization. A qualified nonprofit organization shall not use grant funds to purchase equipment for security personnel.
Equipment
Equipment means security equipment installed on real property, including any building or improvement, that is owned or leased by the nonprofit organization, including reinforced doors and gates, perimeter lighting, exterior and interior door locking systems, alarm systems, camera-based security systems, access-control systems, blast resistant film for windows or shatter resistant glass, lockdown systems, public-address systems, high intensity lighting and alarms, and inspection and screening systems.
Training and Exercises
Nonprofit organizations may use NE-NSGP funds for the training that addresses a specific security threat or vulnerability.
• Attendance for training the nonprofit organization’s staff or members.
• Security training and exercises or drills, including active shooter and shelter-in-place training, for the nonprofit organization’s staff, members, and visitors; and
• Training-related expenses, including supplies, materials, and training equipment.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Sustainability
Grant funds are intended to supplement existing fiscal resources and are not guaranteed long-term sustainability solutions. Projects funded under this grant opportunity are expected to be reasonably sustained after the end of the period of performance without the expectation to receive future grant funds. Application narratives should provide explanation of sustainability planning.
Changes to Scope of Work
Recipients are selected through a competitive process. Projects are rated and ranked based on the application as submitted. Therefore, changing the scope of work after an application is submitted is not permitted. The expectation is for each Applicant to thoroughly plan out the entire process of each proposed project from project conception to completion in “Part V. Milestone” section of the application.
Extensions
There are no extensions. Recipients are expected to complete all grant-funded activities by the end of the period of performance. Any costs incurred outside of the period of performance will be unallowable under the grant award. Funds remaining at the end of the period of performance, will be de-obligated and returned to the State.
REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS
NEMA shall establish a working group of stakeholders to review and evaluate applications. The working group shall make recommendations on funding decisions and shall provide such recommendations to NEMA.
Application packages are reviewed based on the following criteria:
- NEMA review of Applicant eligibility may include inquiries with the IRS and the established working group of stakeholders.
- Receipt of a complete application package. A complete application package includes:
An application
A vulnerability assessment
Photos as outlined in the examples shown on pages 6 – 8 of this document. - Completeness of Application – The information required for each of the following Sections I through VII
- Application funding requests must be supported by a vulnerability assessment. All funding items requested must be identified in the vulnerability assessment.
- Need and Impact
The relative needs of the Applicant, as compared to other Applicants.
The feasibility of the Applicant’s proposed project, and how effectively the proposed project addresses the Applicant’s identified needs.
Priority will be given to -
- Applicants that have not received prior federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funding.
- Nonprofit organizations that are unable to apply for federal funding due to their size or inability to wait for reimbursements for projects and that have not received federal funding in the last three federal grant cycles.
Awards
Final funding decisions are made by the Assistant Director of NEMA. Awards are based on the overall score of the application reviews as outlined above, under the Review and Selection Process.
All grant funds must be expended by the end of the Grant Subaward period of performance, and final reimbursements must be submitted to NEMA within twenty calendar days of the grant expiration date.
