MARC News

Security grant opportunity for nonprofits

December 30, 2009

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) provides $19,000,000 in funding support for target hardening activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist attack. While this funding is provided specifically to high-risk nonprofit organizations under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2010 (Public Law 111-83), the program seeks to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader State and local preparedness efforts. It is also designed to promote coordination and collaboration in emergency preparedness activities among public and private community representatives, State and local government agencies, and Citizen Corps Councils.

Criteria for determining eligible applicants who are at high risk of terrorist attack include, but are not limited to:

• Identification and substantiation (e.g., police reports or insurance claims) of prior threats or attacks against the nonprofit organization or closely related organizations (within or outside the U.S.) by a terrorist organization, network, or cell

• Symbolic value of the site(s) as a highly recognized national or historical institution that renders the site as possible target of terrorism

• Role of the applicant nonprofit organization in responding to or recovering from terrorist attacks

• Findings from previously conducted risk assessments including threat or vulnerability

Each nonprofit organization may apply through their Urban Area for up to a $75,000 grant award. The FY 2010 NSGP funds will be allocated to high-risk nonprofit organizations, as described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Title 26 of the U.S.C., and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such Code. The high-risk nonprofit organizations must be located within one of the specific UASI-eligible Urban Areas.

Urban Areas are encouraged to actively and aggressively advertise the availability of the FY 2010 NSGP to eligible nonprofit organizations, especially to organizations that previously have not applied for or received NSGP funding.

Investment Justification. As part of the FY 2010 NSGP application process, 501(c)(3) organizations within eligible Urban Areas must develop a formal Investment Justification that addresses each initiative proposed for funding. These Investment Justifications must demonstrate how proposed projects address gaps and deficiencies in current programs and capabilities. While FEMA has not established a formal Investment Justification template, the following guidelines are provided to ensure that submissions are organized in a consistent manner while addressing key data requirements.

• A letter of intent is due to the Kansas City UASI February 15, 2010
• Applications/Investment justifications are due to the Urban Area no later than March 26, 2010.
• Representatives of the Urban Area Working Group will score applications and submit documentation to SEMA by April 1, 2010.

Documentation should be sent via e-mail to:

Kansas City Urban Area
c/o Mid America Regional Council
Emergency Services
Attention: Chris Allen at callen@marc.org

Additional information may be found at http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/nsgp/index.shtm

The State of Missouri will host a workshop on January 20 at 9 a.m. at MARC, 600 Broadway, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO, 64105, to provide additional information regarding the grant opportunity and to answer any questions.

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