Virginia · Church, Synagogue & Mosque

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

Virginia lists one security-grant program of its own in this catalog, Virginia Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program, and houses of worship may fit, with conditions. The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program applies in Virginia too, through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) — its urban-area stream for Washington DC National Capital Region, Norfolk / Hampton Roads and Richmond Area, its state stream for the rest of Virginia. 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 Virginia — 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.

Virginia Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program

Conditions apply

Administered by Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) — awards approved by the Criminal Justice Services Board (CJSB)

Houses of worship are named in this program: the most recent round let institutions and nonprofits, including houses of worship, apply directly to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), provided they have been targeted by or are at risk of bias-motivated violence. Every earlier round accepted applications only from local governments applying on behalf of at-risk nonprofits, and which model the next round will use is not yet stated — confirm with DCJS (elizabeth.polak@dcjs.virginia.gov) before planning an application.
Whether an IRS determination letter is required is not settled: the latest guidelines describe eligible applicants only as 'institutions or nonprofit organizations', while earlier rounds specified 501(c)(3) partners. A house of worship without an IRS determination letter should confirm with DCJS (elizabeth.polak@dcjs.virginia.gov) before applying.

Up to $150K per organization · Closed — next cycle expected

VA Hate Crimes Grant: full details →

Federal NSGP in Virginia

The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program is administered in Virginia by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), 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 Virginia's FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas — Washington DC National Capital Region, Norfolk / Hampton Roads and Richmond Area. Confirm your area with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM).

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 Virginia outside those urban areas; the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) 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 Virginia

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 Virginia asks houses of worship to provide
Document	VA Hate Crimes Grant	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.	Required	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.	Not listed	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.	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	Required	Required

1.VA Hate Crimes Grant: Whether an IRS determination letter is required is not settled: the latest guidelines describe eligible applicants only as 'institutions or nonprofit organizations', while earlier rounds specified 501(c)(3) partners. A house of worship without an IRS determination letter should confirm with DCJS (elizabeth.polak@dcjs.virginia.gov) before applying.
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.

VA Hate Crimes Grant

Equipment: target hardening, critical technology and infrastructure, security and monitoring equipmentCameras, controlled entry doors and alarms fit a sanctuary that is open to the public at service times and quiet in between.
Contractual security services: on-site security, inspection and screening systemsPaid security staffing covers services, festivals and holiday gatherings without putting congregants on the door.
Training: security-related training for employed or volunteer security staff, serious-incident response training, terrorism awareness trainingTraining and drills help ushers, greeters and volunteers — the people actually at the door — know what to do.
Personnel: part-time staff to perform security assessments (one-time funding)Security planning and a risk assessment give a volunteer-run congregation a written plan it can hand to the next board.

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 Virginia

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. Virginia Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program
Closed — next cycle expected
The VA Hate Crimes Grant window is closed. Watch its official page for the next cycle and get the documents in the table above together 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 Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) (linked below).
FEMA NSGP page ↗

Federal NSGP applications in Virginia go through Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). Confirm the current deadline and submission steps on their official page before you apply.

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

Church, Synagogue & Mosque FAQ for Virginia

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

Virginia has one program of its own in this catalog. Virginia Combating Hate Crimes Grant Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) — awards approved by the Criminal Justice Services Board (CJSB), reads “Conditions apply” for houses of worship on its card above (up to $150K per organization). The federal NSGP applies in Virginia as well, through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM).

Is any application window open in Virginia right now?

VA Hate Crimes 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 Virginia?

NSGP-UA is for houses of worship inside Virginia's FEMA-designated high-risk urban areas — Washington DC National Capital Region, Norfolk / Hampton Roads and Richmond Area — and NSGP-S for those elsewhere in Virginia; the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) 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 Massachusetts Ohio Pennsylvania Tennessee Texas 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.