The Current Threat Environment
Faith-based and communal nonprofit organizations are facing an unprecedented escalation in security threats. Over the past year alone, houses of worship, schools, community centers, museums, and care facilities have been targeted by a wide range of violent acts and credible threats — including arson, firebombing, mass shootings, stabbings, chemical threats, physical assaults, and coordinated intimidation campaigns.
Recent incidents underscore the severity of this trend. In January 2026, the historic Beth Israel synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi was destroyed by fire. In September 2025, an attack on a Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Michigan resulted in multiple casualties. Just weeks earlier, a mass shooting during a school-wide Mass at a Catholic church in Minneapolis claimed the lives of children and left dozens injured.
Federal authorities acknowledge this worsening environment. The FY 2025 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Notice of Funding Opportunity explicitly warns that both the frequency and severity of attacks — whether hate-based, opportunistic, or random — continue to rise.
Against this backdrop, nonprofit organizations must begin preparing now for the upcoming FY 2026 NSGP grant cycle. With uncertainty surrounding federal timelines, funding levels, and application guidance, early preparation may be the single most important factor separating successful applicants from those left behind.
The sections behind the paywall explore what nonprofits should do now, what to expect from FEMA and Congress, and how to position applications for maximum competitiveness in the FY 2026 NSGP cycle.
