About
The Howard County Department of County Administration and Office of Emergency Management (OEM) are responsible for administering the County’s FY25 Nonprofit and Faith-Based Security Grant Program. The County has allocated $250,000 to support this one-time grant program. The grants are intended to support costs associated with enhanced security operations and safety infrastructure for organizations experiencing heightened risk of hate crimes and threats of violence.
Dates and Deadlines
The FY25 Nonprofit and Faith-Based Security Grant application opened on Monday, November 25, 2024. The grant application closed on Friday, December 20, 2024, at 11:59 PM. Following the grant application window, the County has convened an internal Grant Review Panel to evaluate and make funding recommendations. Funding notifications are expected to be made in January 2025.
Questions about the application and grant program can be emailed to securitygrants@howardcountymd.gov.
Read the grant application guidelines:
Program Information
Target Populations
The target populations for this Grant Program are Howard County:
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Nonprofit Organizations: Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, including religious organizations, at risk of hate crimes based on their work, community, or known threats experienced by their organization, facility, or similar organizations, facilities, or communities nationally.
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Faith-based Organizations: Religious organizations that meet the requirements of a 501(c)(3) organization, as required by the Internal Revenue Service, and are at risk of hate crimes based on their work, community, or known threats experienced by their facility or other facilities representing their faith group nationally.
Eligible Expenses and Grant Funding Guidelines
Applicants may request funding through this grant program to support the organization’s security efforts through security personnel and security infrastructure. Examples of eligible expenses include:
- Security Personnel:
- Hire security personnel or supplement existing security personnel;
- Pay for a security assessment or plan;
- Conduct security training; and
- Develop and execute a security drill.
- Security Infrastructure:
- Purchase new security cameras for a facility owned by the applicant;
- Pay for facility alarm systems;
- Install door locks; and
- Improve cybersecurity.
Organizations that previously received funding through Howard County’s FY24 Nonprofit and Faith-Based Security Grant Program may apply for up to $15,000 in funding through this grant program. Organizations that did not previously receive funding through the FY24 Nonprofit and Faith-Based Security Grant Program may apply for up to $25,000 in funding through this program.
All grant funding must be expended by the organization by December 31, 2025. Grant awardees will be required to complete quarterly reports detailing the use of grant funding.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant organizations must meet all of the following criteria:
- The organization must have a Federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or be a religious organization that meets the requirements of a 501(c)(3).
- The organization must be experiencing threats or hate crimes, or be at significant risk of hate crimes based on its work, community, or known threats to similar organizations or communities nationally.
- The organization must be currently registered and in Good Standing with the County and with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Applicants can verify their status with SDAT by clicking here.
- Proposed expenses must be for a new activity, expansion of existing activities, or a combination of both.