Massachusetts · Church, Synagogue & Mosque

Security grants for churches, synagogues, mosques, temples & gurdwaras in Massachusetts

Massachusetts lists two security-grant programs of its own in this catalog: Massachusetts Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant (its card below reads “Eligible” for houses of worship) and Massachusetts Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant (it has no rule specific to houses of worship). The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program applies in Massachusetts too, through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security — its urban-area stream for Boston Area, its state stream for the rest of Massachusetts. Every rule below is quoted from the program's own materials, and each card names the agency to confirm it with.

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What each program says about churches, synagogues, mosques, temples & gurdwaras

One card per program in this catalog for Massachusetts — the state's own programs first, then the federal NSGP streams. Each badge reflects what the program's own materials say about houses of worship; it is not a determination, so confirm with the agency named on the card before you plan around it.

Massachusetts Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant

Eligible

Administered by Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research (OGR)

Massachusetts describes its Commonwealth NSGP as a program for 501(c)(3) organizations and lists faith-based organizations among them, so a church, synagogue, mosque, temple or gurdwara with 501(c)(3) status appears to fit. Have your tax-exempt paperwork ready and confirm your fit with the Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research (OGR) before you plan around it.

Up to $60K per organization · Closed — next cycle expected

MA Commonwealth NSGP: full details →

Massachusetts Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant

General rules apply

Administered by Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research (OGR)

This program's materials say nothing specific about houses of worship; its general eligibility rules apply. The program page has the full checklist and the agency to ask.

Up to $40K per organization · Closed — next cycle expected

MA Personnel Grant: full details →

Federal NSGP in Massachusetts

The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program is administered in Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security, the state's State Administrative Agency. Both streams follow one federal notice; each card says which stream is for houses of worship where.

Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program — Urban Area

See notes

Administered by FEMA via your State Administrative Agency (SAA)

For houses of worship inside Massachusetts's FEMA-designated high-risk urban area — Boston Area. Confirm your area with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security.

Up to $200K per site · up to $600K per organization · Closed — next cycle expected

NSGP-UA: full details →

Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program — State

See notes

Administered by FEMA via your State Administrative Agency (SAA)

For houses of worship in Massachusetts outside that urban area; the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security confirms which stream fits your address.

Up to $200K per site · up to $600K per organization · Closed — next cycle expected

NSGP-S: full details →

What the federal notice says about houses of worship

A church, synagogue, mosque or temple does not need an IRS determination letter for the federal NSGP — the current federal notice treats houses of worship as 501(c)(3) organizations without one. Other nonprofits should attach theirs.

The rest of the notice's rules for houses of worship — how to apply, what the money can buy, what each site needs — are on the national Church, Synagogue & Mosque page →

Documents for houses of worship in Massachusetts

What each program asks applicants to provide. Where a program treats houses of worship differently — usually over the IRS determination letter — the cell reads “see note” and the numbered note under the table says how.

Documents each security-grant program in Massachusetts asks houses of worship to provide
Document	MA Commonwealth NSGP	MA Personnel Grant	NSGP-UA	NSGP-S
501(c)(3) status from the IRSFederal tax-exempt status.	Required	Required	Required	Required
IRS determination letter¹Your IRS 501(c)(3) confirmation letter.	Not listed	Not listed	See note 1	See note 1
SAM.gov registration (with UEI)Federal entity ID.	Not listed	Not listed	Required	Required
Threat, Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (TVRA)A documented assessment of your organization's specific risk profile.	Required	Not listed	Required	Required
Investment Justification narrativeThe heart of the application — explains the threat, your mission, the proposed mitigation, and how you'll sustain it after the grant ends.	Required	Required	Required	Required
Budget Detail WorksheetItemized budget mapped to allowable cost categories.	Required	Required	Required	Required
Mission statementA clear statement of your organization's purpose and the community you serve.	Not listed	Not listed	Required	Required
Board resolution authorizing the applicationA formal vote from your board of directors authorizing the application and committing to comply with grant terms.	Not listed	Not listed	Required	Required

1.NSGP-UA and NSGP-S: A church, synagogue, mosque or temple does not need an IRS determination letter for the federal NSGP — the current federal notice treats houses of worship as 501(c)(3) organizations without one. Other nonprofits should attach theirs.

What the money can buy

Each program's own allowable-cost list, with a note on how the line tends to apply to houses of worship. Lines without a note are allowable too — they just have no audience-specific angle.

MA Commonwealth NSGP

Physical security equipment / target hardening (cameras, doors, locks, alarms, fencing, lighting)Cameras, controlled entry doors and alarms fit a sanctuary that is open to the public at service times and quiet in between.
Inspection & screening systemsScreening and inspection equipment suits a congregation that already manages a single entrance on busy days.

MA Personnel Grant

Contracted, qualified security personnel (not on-duty law enforcement; no equipment or uniforms)Paid security staffing covers services, festivals and holiday gatherings without putting congregants on the door.

The federal NSGP-UA and NSGP-S list is the same in every state — it is on the national Church, Synagogue & Mosque page, with the same notes for houses of worship →

Realistic next step in Massachusetts

Ordered by what you can act on now: open windows first, then programs whose next cycle is unannounced, then closed windows to prepare for.

1. Massachusetts Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant
Closed — next cycle expected
The MA Commonwealth NSGP window is closed. Watch its official page for the next cycle and prepare an Investment Justification (the application narrative) now, so you are ready the day it opens.
Official program page ↗
2. Massachusetts Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant
Closed — next cycle expected
The MA Personnel Grant window is closed. Watch its official page for the next cycle and prepare an Investment Justification (the application narrative) now, so you are ready the day it opens.
Official program page ↗
3. Federal NSGP (NSGP-UA / NSGP-S)
Closed — next cycle expected
The federal window is closed. Register in SAM.gov (free) and get a vulnerability assessment (TVRA) for each site now, so you are ready when the next cycle opens through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security (linked below).
FEMA NSGP page ↗

Federal NSGP applications in Massachusetts go through Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security. Confirm the current deadline and submission steps on their official page before you apply.

Massachusetts SAA — official page ↗Not sure you qualify? Check free →

Church, Synagogue & Mosque FAQ for Massachusetts

Does Massachusetts have its own security-grant program for houses of worship?

Massachusetts has two programs of its own in this catalog. Massachusetts Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant, administered by the Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research (OGR), reads “Eligible” for houses of worship on its card above (up to $60K per organization). Massachusetts Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant, administered by the Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research (OGR), reads “General rules apply” for houses of worship on its card above (up to $40K per organization). The federal NSGP applies in Massachusetts as well, through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security.

Is any application window open in Massachusetts right now?

MA Commonwealth NSGP, MA Personnel Grant and the federal NSGP-UA and NSGP-S are closed, with the next cycle expected. Nothing is open at the moment, so use the time on the preparation steps above; each card links to the official page that will announce the next cycle.

Which federal NSGP stream applies to houses of worship in Massachusetts?

NSGP-UA is for houses of worship inside Massachusetts's FEMA-designated high-risk urban area — Boston Area — and NSGP-S for those elsewhere in Massachusetts; the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security confirms which one applies to your address.

The national Church, Synagogue & Mosque page answers 6 more general questions.

Church, Synagogue & Mosque security grants in other states

California District of Columbia Florida Georgia Maine Maryland Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas Virginia Washington

Eligibility, deadlines, and funding amounts are based on publicly available program documents and may change between funding cycles. Verify all details with the administering agency before applying. Catalog last reviewed September 2026. SecurityGrants.com is not affiliated with FEMA, DHS, or any state agency.