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Mayor Bowser Announces $2.5 Million in Grants to Enhance Security at Faith-Based Institutions

Thursday, August 29, 2019
Outreach Efforts to District’s Houses of Worship Result in 22 First-Time Awards

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced $2.5 million in security and preparedness grants for faith-based, non-profit organizations in the District. The grants support efforts for planning, training, and other security-related activities at non-profit organizations. The funding can be used to purchase physical security enhancements such as cameras, new doors, locks, gates, and security personnel.

“These grants are one more way we can advance DC values and take proactive steps to strengthen security at our places of worship,” said Mayor Bowser. “Coupled with the work of our Interfaith Preparedness and Advisory Group, grants like these will help us ensure residents and visitors feel safe throughout the District – especially in our places of worship.”

Twenty-six District nonprofits will receive grants to enhance security at their facilities, 22 of the recipients are first-time awardees. Nineteen District nonprofits will receive the maximum award of $100,000. The grants are managed through the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).

“The ability to conduct physical threat assessments and share personal preparedness resources within their communities could be the difference in preventing another tragedy,” said HSEMA Director Dr. Christopher Rodriguez. “Building a more resilient community is our agency’s top priority and our partnerships with the faith-based community are invaluable.”


Earlier this year, Mayor Bowser launched the District’s Interfaith Preparedness and Advisory Group – a joint effort to bring together the Mayor’s Office of Religious Affairs (MORA), the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and HSEMA to facilitate collaboration with the District’s faith-based communities. The agencies work together with faith-based partners to enhance security efforts related to hate-based threats.

To learn more about the NSGP, visit hsema.dc.gov/page/applying-nsgp. To learn more about IPAG, visit hsema.dc.gov/IPAG