If you lead a church, synagogue, mosque, religious school, or nonprofit in Illinois, you may have heard that the state offers money for security upgrades. You may also be wondering whether it applies to you and how it relates to the federal grant. This guide to the Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program answers both questions and explains how to prepare before the next round opens.
The short answer: The Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP-IL) is a state-funded nonprofit security grant for 501(c)(3) organizations at high risk of threats or attacks because of their profile, ideology, mission, or beliefs. In the most recent round, organizations could request up to $150,000 per site, for up to three sites, with no matching funds required. SGA expects the next round to open in November or December 2026.
What Is the Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program?
NSGP-IL is run by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS). It helps eligible nonprofits prevent, prepare for, and respond to threats, attacks, and acts of terrorism.
The program is paid for with Illinois state funds that the General Assembly appropriates. That matters for two reasons. First, it is separate from the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, so it does not depend on FEMA timelines. Second, each round depends on the legislature funding it, so the program does not run on a fixed annual calendar.
Recent rounds have been substantial. The state made $20 million available in both State Fiscal Year 2023 and State Fiscal Year 2025.
You can find the official program page on the IEMA-OHS NSGP-IL website. For a summary of how SGA supports Illinois applicants, see our Illinois State NSGP page.
How NSGP-IL Differs From the Federal NSGP
Many Illinois organizations know about the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which FEMA funds and IEMA-OHS administers in Illinois. NSGP-IL is a different program with its own money, application, and timing.
Here are the main differences:
- Funding source. The federal program uses federal funds. NSGP-IL uses state funds.
- Application. The federal program uses FEMA’s Investment Justification form. NSGP-IL uses its own Illinois application.
- Timing. The two programs open at different times of year. In 2026, the federal window was projected for late June through late July. NSGP-IL rounds have opened at other points in the year.
- Geography. The federal program splits Illinois applicants into two pools: nonprofits in the Chicago urban area and nonprofits elsewhere in the state. Our post on NSGP-S vs. NSGP-UA explains that split. NSGP-IL is a single statewide program.
Can You Apply for Both?
Yes, with one important rule. A state project cannot duplicate a project that is already funded or pending under a federal grant. State funds are meant to add to federal funds, not replace them.
You can request the same type of equipment in both applications, as long as the state request is clearly distinct from the federal one. Reviewers also consider whether an organization has received funding before under either program.
Who Is Eligible for NSGP-IL?
Based on the most recent round of the Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program, an organization must meet these requirements:
- 501(c)(3) status. The organization must be exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) and submit proof with the application.
- High risk. The organization must show that it faces an elevated probability of threats, attacks, or acts of terrorism because of its profile, ideology, mission, or beliefs. IEMA-OHS makes the final determination, working with state partners.
- An occupied Illinois site. The project must be at a physical address the organization occupies when it applies, and the site must stay in Illinois for at least five years after the grant ends. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
- A long-term commitment for leased space. If the building is leased, the organization provides a lease running at least five years from the application date, or a written commitment to stay that long.
- Not primarily a health provider. Organizations whose primary purpose is providing medical or mental health services are not eligible under state law.
- Clean standing. Organizations on the Illinois Stop Payment List or the federal excluded parties list must resolve those issues before signing a grant agreement.
Eligibility is not limited to houses of worship. Religious schools, community centers, and other mission-driven nonprofits can qualify if they meet the requirements above.
What NSGP-IL Funds
In the most recent round, NSGP-IL could pay for:
- Security equipment purchased and installed on property the organization owns or leases. Allowable equipment is limited to selected items on an approved equipment list that IEMA-OHS publishes with each round.
- Security training, specifically active shooter training and evacuation and security training for employees.
- Contracted security personnel. Equipment for contracted guards is not allowable.
- Management and administration costs of up to 5% of the award. These are included in the total request, not added to it, and are adjusted to match what the organization actually spends.
- Indirect costs, consistent with Illinois grant rules.
NSGP-IL Award Limits
- Up to $150,000 per site
- Up to three sites per organization
- A maximum of $450,000 per organization
- No cost share or match required
- A separate application and a separate vulnerability assessment for each site
Projects must be completed within a 36-month performance period, and grantees report spending to the state each quarter. IEMA-OHS can pay grantees in advance, by reimbursement, or through a working capital advance, which is unusual among security grant programs. Our post on NSGP reimbursement explains why that matters for cash flow.
How Applications Are Reviewed
The Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program is competitive. IEMA-OHS can deny an application or award less than the amount requested.
In the most recent round, reviewers considered:
- The organization’s risk of threats, attacks, or acts of terrorism
- The need for funding, based on the organization’s vulnerability assessment
- How much the project would improve safety
- Coordination with broader state and local preparedness efforts
- Whether the project is sustainable and works with existing equipment
- Whether the project can be finished within the performance period
- Service to a disadvantaged community or population
- Available funding and any prior federal or state awards
Risk is weighed most heavily. A review panel ranks applications by site, and before making awards, the state also reviews each applicant’s financial stability, management systems, and history of managing grants.
When the Next NSGP-IL Round Is Expected
As of early November 2026, IEMA-OHS has not published a new funding notice. Based on what we are seeing, SGA anticipates the next round will open in November or December 2026. That is our expectation, not an official date.
Application windows can be short. The SFY 2025 round opened on March 28, 2025, and closed on August 1, 2025, after an extension. The rules that govern the program were also amended in July 2026, so some details may change in the next round.
Want to know the moment it opens? Sign up for SGA’s grant program updates using the form at the bottom of this page. We will send an update as soon as the new notice is released.
How to Prepare Now
Most of the work that slows Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program applicants down can be done before the window opens. Here is what to have in place:
- Illinois GATA registration. Register in the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal and complete pre-qualification. IEMA-OHS says this is required to be considered for an award, so it should not wait.
- SAM.gov registration and UEI. Keep your SAM.gov account active and your Unique Entity ID current. Registration can take weeks, so start early.
- A vulnerability assessment for each site. It must be done by experienced security, law enforcement, or military personnel, or with an approved self-assessment tool, within the last three years. A list of items you want to buy does not count as an assessment. Our vulnerability assessment checklist explains what an assessment covers.
- A record of incidents and concerns. Applicants are asked for specific evidence of prior or current threats against the organization, and may also cite threats against similar organizations. Our post on documenting risk covers what that evidence looks like.
- Basic organizational documents. A mission statement on letterhead, a current W-9, and your tax-exempt documentation.
- A list of your federal grant activity. Note any federal NSGP projects that are funded or pending, so your state request does not duplicate them.
SGA’s NSGP-IL Track Record
In 2025, 80% of SGA clients who applied to NSGP-IL received awards.
One example: a church with several campuses in the western Chicago suburbs applied for three of them in a single round. All three were funded in full, for more than $340,000. You can read the full story on our Client Results page.
Every application is reviewed on its own merits, and no consultant can guarantee an award. Organizations that start early, document their risk clearly, and submit complete applications put themselves in the strongest position. You can read more about how we support Illinois applicants on our Illinois State NSGP page.
What This Means for Your Organization
If you are a 501(c)(3) in Illinois and your organization faces real risk because of who you are or what you believe, the Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program is worth serious attention. It is state money, separate from the federal program, and it requires no match.
The organizations that do well usually treat the months before the window opens as part of the application. Registrations, assessments, and documentation take time. Completing them now means you can focus on the application itself once the notice is released.
If you have already applied for the federal NSGP, you may still qualify for NSGP-IL for different projects. Our Illinois State NSGP page covers how the two programs fit together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NSGP-IL the same as the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program?
No. NSGP-IL is funded by the State of Illinois and has its own application and timeline. The federal program is funded by FEMA.
How much can an organization receive from NSGP-IL?
In the most recent round, up to $150,000 per site, for up to three sites, with a maximum of $450,000 per organization. Amounts may change in the next round.
Does NSGP-IL require matching funds?
No. The most recent round required no cost share or match.
Can my organization apply for both NSGP-IL and the federal NSGP?
Yes, as long as the state request does not duplicate a federally funded or pending project. The state request must be clearly distinct from the federal one.
When does the next NSGP-IL round open?
No official date has been announced. SGA anticipates the next round will open in November or December 2026.
Still Have Questions?
If any of this is confusing or you want to talk through how NSGP-IL applies to your organization, we’re happy to help. You can book a free consultation with SGA here.
Sources
- SFY25 Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity, IEMA-OHS, March 28, 2025. Funding, award limits, eligibility, allowable costs, review criteria, performance period, payment methods.
- Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP-IL) program page, IEMA-OHS, checked November 2, 2026. Extended August 1, 2025 deadline, contracted security, training, vulnerability assessment standard, lease requirement, application package, GATA pre-qualification.
- SFY23 Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program NOFO, IEMA, for SFY23 funding of $20 million.
- Illinois Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program, CSFA 588-40-3019, Illinois Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, GATA program listing.
- 29 Ill. Adm. Code 120, State Not-for-Profit Security Grant Program, Illinois General Assembly, amended effective July 20, 2026.
- Non-profit Security Grant Program (NSGP), IEMA-OHS, for the two federal funding pools in Illinois.
- Fiscal Year 2026 Nonprofit Security Grant Program NOFO, FEMA, for the projected FY 2026 federal application window.
- Illinois GATA Grantee Portal and SAM.gov, for registration requirements.
- SGA internal results, 2025 NSGP-IL cycle, for the client award rate.
