Washington · Church, Synagogue & Mosque

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

Washington lists one security-grant program of its own in this catalog, Washington Religious and Nonprofit Security Grant, and its card below reads “Eligible” for houses of worship. The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program applies in Washington too, through the Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division — its urban-area stream for Seattle Area, its state stream for the rest of Washington. 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 Washington — 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.

Washington Religious and Nonprofit Security Grant

Eligible

Administered by Washington State Department of Commerce

Washington's Commerce program is written for religious institutions — the natural fit for a church, synagogue, mosque, temple or gurdwara — whose members, sites or visitors have been targeted for bias or hate crimes. Confirm your category with the Washington State Department of Commerce before you apply.
A congregation does not need an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter to apply here — Commerce does not ask for one — but it must be a nonprofit. Verify your category with WA Commerce.

Up to $25K per organization · Closed — next cycle expected

WA Religious Security: full details →

Federal NSGP in Washington

The federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program is administered in Washington by the Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division, 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 Washington's FEMA-designated high-risk urban area — Seattle Area. Confirm your area with the Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division.

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 Washington outside that urban area; the Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division 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 Washington

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 Washington asks houses of worship to provide
Document	WA Religious Security	NSGP-UA	NSGP-S
501(c)(3) status from the IRSFederal tax-exempt status.	Not listed	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.	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
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.WA Religious Security: A congregation does not need an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter to apply here — Commerce does not ask for one — but it must be a nonprofit. Verify your category with WA Commerce.
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.

WA Religious Security

Target hardening (doors, fences, lighting, security systems)Cameras, controlled entry doors and alarms fit a sanctuary that is open to the public at service times and quiet in between.
Construction or renovation for securityConstruction or renovation can pay for a secure vestibule or reinforced entry when the building itself is the weak point.
Security planning and trainingTraining and drills help ushers, greeters and volunteers — the people actually at the door — know what to do.

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 Washington

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. Washington Religious and Nonprofit Security Grant
Closed — next cycle expected
The WA Religious Security 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 Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division (linked below).
FEMA NSGP page ↗

Federal NSGP applications in Washington go through Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division. Confirm the current deadline and submission steps on their official page before you apply.

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

Church, Synagogue & Mosque FAQ for Washington

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

Washington has one program of its own in this catalog. Washington Religious and Nonprofit Security Grant, administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce, reads “Eligible” for houses of worship on its card above (up to $25K per organization). The federal NSGP applies in Washington as well, through the Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division.

Is any application window open in Washington right now?

WA Religious Security 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 Washington?

NSGP-UA is for houses of worship inside Washington's FEMA-designated high-risk urban area — Seattle Area — and NSGP-S for those elsewhere in Washington; the Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division confirms which one applies to your address.

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

Other organization types in Washington

Community Center, JCC & Museum

Church, Synagogue & Mosque security grants in other states

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

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.