Ohio · Church, Synagogue & Mosque

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

Ohio lists one security-grant program of its own in this catalog, State of Ohio Security Grant, and its card below reads “Eligible” for houses of worship. The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program applies in Ohio too, through the Ohio Emergency Management Agency — its urban-area stream for Cincinnati Area, Columbus (OH) Area and Cleveland Area, its state stream for the rest of Ohio. 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 Ohio — the state's own program 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.

State of Ohio Security Grant

Eligible

Administered by Ohio Department of Public Safety / Ohio Emergency Management Agency

Ohio's State Security Grant names houses of worship as eligible applicants alongside nonprofit corporations, chartered nonpublic schools and licensed preschools, so a church, synagogue, mosque or temple in Ohio fits the stated audience. Confirm your standing with the Ohio Department of Public Safety / Ohio Emergency Management Agency through the OSG program page before you apply.
A house of worship may self-attest to its status under this program, where other 501(c)(3) applicants must also hold an active nonprofit filing with the Ohio Secretary of State. Ask Ohio EMA what that self-attestation should look like before you submit.

Up to $125K per site · up to $250K per organization · Closed — next cycle expected

OH OSG: full details →

Federal NSGP in Ohio

The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program is administered in Ohio by the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, 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 Ohio's FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas — Cincinnati Area, Columbus (OH) Area and Cleveland Area. Confirm your area with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

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 Ohio outside those urban areas; the Ohio Emergency Management Agency 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 Ohio

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 Ohio asks houses of worship to provide
Document	OH OSG	NSGP-UA	NSGP-S
501(c)(3) status from the IRSFederal tax-exempt status.	Required	Required	Required
IRS determination letter¹²Your IRS 501(c)(3) confirmation letter.	See note 1	See note 2	See note 2
SAM.gov registration (with UEI)Federal entity ID.	Not listed	Required	Required
Threat, Vulnerability & Risk Assessment (TVRA)A documented assessment of your organization's specific risk profile.	Required	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
Budget Detail WorksheetItemized budget mapped to allowable cost categories.	Required	Required	Required
Mission statementA clear statement of your organization's purpose and the community you serve.	Required	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	Required	Required

1.OH OSG: A house of worship may self-attest to its status under this program, where other 501(c)(3) applicants must also hold an active nonprofit filing with the Ohio Secretary of State. Ask Ohio EMA what that self-attestation should look like before you submit.
2.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.

OH OSG

Target hardening (access control, cameras, doors, windows, fencing, lighting, bollards)Cameras, controlled entry doors and alarms fit a sanctuary that is open to the public at service times and quiet in between.
Contracted / armed security personnel and resource officersPaid security staffing covers services, festivals and holiday gatherings without putting congregants on the door.
Inspection and screening equipmentScreening and inspection equipment suits a congregation that already manages a single entrance on busy days.
Emergency and crisis communications systemsA crisis communications system lets a congregation alert ushers, staff and classrooms at the same moment.
Blast protectionBlast protection and protective glazing address the large windows and glass entries many sanctuaries have.
Training (not firearms or self-defense)Training and drills help ushers, greeters and volunteers — the people actually at the door — know what to do.
Trauma / emergency medical equipment

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 Ohio

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. State of Ohio Security Grant
Closed — next cycle expected
The OH OSG 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. 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 Ohio Emergency Management Agency (linked below).
FEMA NSGP page ↗

Federal NSGP applications in Ohio go through Ohio Emergency Management Agency. Confirm the current deadline and submission steps on their official page before you apply.

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

Church, Synagogue & Mosque FAQ for Ohio

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

Ohio has one program of its own in this catalog. State of Ohio Security Grant, administered by the Ohio Department of Public Safety / Ohio Emergency Management Agency, reads “Eligible” for houses of worship on its card above (up to $125K per site · up to $250K per organization). The federal NSGP applies in Ohio as well, through the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

Is any application window open in Ohio right now?

OH OSG 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 Ohio?

NSGP-UA is for houses of worship inside Ohio's FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas — Cincinnati Area, Columbus (OH) Area and Cleveland Area — and NSGP-S for those elsewhere in Ohio; the Ohio Emergency Management Agency confirms which one applies to your address.

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

Other organization types in Ohio

Private & Religious School

Church, Synagogue & Mosque security grants in other states

California District of Columbia Florida Georgia Maine Maryland Massachusetts 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.