Georgia has a brand-new state-funded security grant program, and the application window is already open. The Georgia Funds for Protection of Communities (FPC) grant provides up to $150,000 per organization for security upgrades and security personnel. Applications are due May 22, 2026, giving eligible nonprofits and houses of worship less than two weeks to apply.
Here is what the program covers, how it differs from the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and what you need to have ready before the deadline.
What Is the Georgia Funds for Protection of Communities FPC Grant?
The Funds for Protection of Communities (FPC) grant was created by the Georgia General Assembly through the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 state budget. It is administered by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS). The Notice of Funding Availability was released on May 8, 2026. The applications are due on May 22, 2026.
This is the first year of the program. Georgia has administered the federal NSGP for years, but a state-funded grant modeled on it is new.
The basics:
- Total funding available: $3 million
- Award range: $25,000 to $150,000 per organization
- Match requirement: None
- Grant type: Reimbursement (you spend first, then get paid back)
- Period of performance: June 15, 2026 through May 1, 2027
- Limit: One application per facility
To be eligible, your organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Georgia that has been disproportionately affected by hate-motivated violence or threats of terrorism or violent extremism.
What the FPC Funds
This is where the FPC stands apart from most security grant programs. The grant places clear emphasis on security personnel, not just equipment.
Allowable uses include:
- Hiring off-duty state, county, or municipal law enforcement officers
- Hiring security officers registered and licensed in Georgia
- Physical security equipment under FEMA Authorized Equipment List Categories 14 (physical security enhancements) and 15 (inspection and screening systems), including cameras, access control, intrusion detection, barriers, and screening equipment
A few important exclusions: the FPC does not fund cybersecurity equipment, training, planning activities, or management and administration (M&A) costs. Construction is limited to minor, non-structural physical security improvements. And the program explicitly excludes the use of security personnel for traffic control services.
The personnel funding is significant. The federal NSGP is primarily equipment-focused. The FPC flips that emphasis. If you are a Georgia house of worship or nonprofit that needs funded security officers at your facility, this program was designed with you in mind. Among state-level programs, Tennessee’s House of Worship Security Personnel Grant is the closest parallel.
How Applications Are Scored
The FPC is competitive. Applications are scored on a 100-point scale:
- Background (20 points): The symbolic or historic significance of your facility (10 points), whether your organization is affiliated with a house of worship (5 points), and whether the grant will protect a house of worship or its core operations such as pre-K, K-12 schools, aftercare programs, or senior living facilities (5 points).
- Risk (60 points): This is the largest section. It covers recent hate-motivated events affecting your organization (10 points), specific threats received (10 points), hate crimes committed against your organization in the past three years (10 points), your facility’s vulnerabilities (20 points), and the potential consequences of an attack (10 points).
- Security Personnel Impact (15 points): How you currently use security personnel, and how FPC funds will be used to hire new or additional personnel.
- Measurable Outcomes (5 points): How you will measure the success of the funded project.
Two things stand out in this rubric.
First, houses of worship have a built-in scoring advantage. Ten of the 20 Background points are essentially reserved for organizations that are affiliated with a house of worship or are protecting one. Community nonprofits without a religious affiliation start with a narrower path to a competitive score.
Second, the 15-point personnel section rewards applicants who can show that FPC funds will add new or expanded security coverage. If your organization already has security personnel, the application asks you to describe your current operation and then demonstrate what the grant will add on top of it. If your facility currently has no security personnel, everything you propose is new, but you will need to show you are ready to manage a personnel contract.
The MOU Requirement
Here is a detail that many applicants may overlook: if you plan to use FPC funds for security personnel, you need to identify your provider in the application itself.
The application asks for the name, address, and contact information for the law enforcement agency or private security contractor you plan to use. The program materials state that the information provided will be used as the “approved provider.” That means you are essentially selecting your vendor at the application stage, not after you receive an award.
For law enforcement contracts, the program requires a documented memorandum of understanding (MOU) that includes legal review and liability coverage. For private security contractors, you must follow competitive procurement procedures and document that costs are reasonable.
This is a meaningful hurdle given the timeline. Organizations that already contract with local law enforcement or a licensed security firm can document an existing relationship and build from it. Organizations starting from scratch will need to make contact, negotiate terms, and prepare an MOU, all before the deadline.
What Makes the FPC Different from the Federal NSGP
The FPC borrows heavily from the federal NSGP framework. The application even references the FY 2025 NSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity as its baseline guidance, and investment justifications must follow NSGP standards. But several key differences change how you should approach the application:
- Personnel costs are eligible. The federal NSGP is equipment-first. The FPC leads with personnel and treats equipment as supplementary.
- You must name your security provider upfront. NSGP handles vendor procurement after award. The FPC requires you to identify your provider in the application, and that provider becomes the approved vendor.
- No Environmental and Historical Preservation (EHP) review. This removes a common friction point for physical security projects under NSGP.
- No Management and Administration (M&A) costs. Every dollar must go to security. The 5% administrative cushion that NSGP allows is not available here.
- Off-site event coverage is allowed. Security personnel funded through FPC can cover events within Georgia, not just your home facility.
- Houses of worship receive explicit scoring preference. The rubric awards points for religious affiliation and for protecting core operations like schools and senior programs.
The Timeline Is Tight
The FPC application window opened on May 8, 2026. Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET on May 22, 2026. Award announcements are expected by June 1.
That is a 14-day window from open to close, with roughly 10 days for GEMA/HS to review and make awards. The application states that late submissions will not be accepted due to the hard deadline to encumber FY26 state funds before the end of Georgia’s fiscal year on June 30.
The compressed schedule explains the pace. The funding was appropriated through the mid-year budget adjustment, and GEMA/HS needs to stand up the program, collect applications, make awards, and execute grant agreements before the fiscal year closes. That leaves very little room for extensions or flexibility.
What Georgia Nonprofits Should Do Now
If your organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Georgia and you believe you face an elevated risk of hate-motivated violence or threats, here is what to focus on before May 22:
- Contact your local law enforcement agency or licensed security provider. If you plan to request personnel funding, you need a named provider, a rate schedule, and ideally a draft MOU before you submit.
- Gather your threat documentation. Police reports, incident records, threat communications, and any prior risk or vulnerability assessments will support the 60-point Risk section of the application.
- Prepare a budget. The application requires a detailed budget and budget narrative. Know what you are requesting, how much it costs, and how each item addresses a specific vulnerability.
- Confirm your 501(c)(3) status. Have your IRS determination letter ready. You will also need a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number by the time awards are made, though it is not required at the time of application.
- Submit to GEMA/HS before the deadline. Contact GEMA/HS at HSGrants@gema.ga.gov with questions about the application or submission process.
The FPC is a first-year program, and the application materials reflect a team that built this quickly using federal NSGP templates as a starting point. If something in the application is unclear, ask GEMA/HS directly. They are the final authority on eligibility and allowable costs.
Questions About the Georgia FPC Grant?
If you are a Georgia nonprofit trying to figure out whether this program is right for your organization, or if you need help putting together a competitive application on a short timeline, we are happy to talk it through. You can book a free consultation with SGA here.
