Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $2.6 Million to Protect Massachusetts Nonprofits from Extremist Violence

• Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

BRAINTREE- The Healey Driscoll Administration today announced that over $2.6 million in federal funding has been awarded to 25 Massachusetts nonprofits to help strengthen our communities against potential terrorist or other extremist attacks.

Grants totaling $2,622,120 were awarded through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program - National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS). This supplemental federal funding was made available to help nonprofit organizations strengthen their safety and security, particularly in facilities that are open to the public and may be vulnerable to threats. As the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for federal funds received from the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) manage these funds in Massachusetts.

"Faith-based institutions are central to community life. Everyone has the right to be safe as they gather, pray and seek comfort in their faith," said Governor Maura Healey.

"These funds will help strengthen the security of these institutions and safeguard those they serve."

"There is no place for religious bias in Massachusetts," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "These grants help protect our communities from hate and violence. We are proud to work alongside faith leaders and communities across the state to ensure that everyone can safely practice their religion and live as their authentic selves."

Applicants were given the opportunity to request NSGP-NSS funds by applying as a single nonprofit or joining together with similar organizations to apply as a consortium. Recipients include 16 organizations that applied as single nonprofits and two consortia - one composed of two nonprofits and the other comprising seven organizations.

"While overall crime rates in Massachusetts are trending downward, reflecting the hard work being done statewide; we've also seen a concerning increase in antisemitic hate crimes." said Interim Public Safety and Security Secretary Susan W. Terrey. "Safety is a shared responsibility, and partnership is our strongest asset. This funding combined with other key initiatives, including additional federal and state grant awards, suspicious activity reporting protocols and our upcoming yearly faith-based seminar, ensure our nonprofit organizations have direct access to the people, programs, and resources designed to help protect our communities' congregations."

"These funds help protect our communities from hate and reduce the risk of extremist violence" said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton. "The federal funds awarded through this program represent just one of the initiatives we have available to support at-risk nonprofits across Massachusetts. OGR is committed to partnering with organizations to support the safety of their facilities and those they serve."

Through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program - National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS), 16 nonprofits and 2 consortia received funding, including:

The funds were awarded following a rise in bias-motivated crimes reported in Massachusetts and across the country. According to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's 2023 Hate Crime Report for Massachusetts, reports of hate crimes increased 26.6 percent from 2022 to 2023. The sharpest increase was seen in offenses motivated by anti-Semitism, which jumped to 119 in 2023 from 70 in 2022. In 2024, crime data identified a troubling 20.5% increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes. For the first time since tracking began in 1991, anti-Jewish bias incidents surpassed anti-Black incidents as the most reported hate crime in Massachusetts.

While the NSGP-NSS is a one-time grant program, OGR manages additional programs that are offered annually to provide funds to help at-risk nonprofits enhance their security.

On September 19, OGR made applications available for the Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program and Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant Program. These state-funded programs support equipment and security infrastructure improvements and the hiring of contracted security personnel, respectively.

Applications are due by 4 p.m. on October 30.

In addition to this one-time grant award, OGR manages additional state- and federally funded programs supporting organizations at risk of a hate crime or terror attack. With the grant awards announced today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded $12.7 million in state and federal grant funds to support nonprofit security this fiscal year.

EOPSS and its agencies are committed to supporting vulnerable communities at risk of hate crimes through multiple programs, including:

• Nonprofit Security Grant Program: As the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for grant funding received from FEMA, OGR manages and administers the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program in Massachusetts. In October 2024, OGR awarded $7.8 million through the program to 67 Massachusetts nonprofits at risk of a terror attack.
• Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program: The state-funded Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program awards grants annually to help nonprofits and faith-based organizations enhance their facility's physical security to protect against a potential hate crime or terror attack. This year, OGR awarded $4.4 million to 83 nonprofits through the program.
• Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant Program: OGR introduced the Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant Program in 2023. The state-funded program awards funds to help at-risk nonprofits hire security personnel to protect the safety and security of their facilities and all who gather there. OGR awarded $500,000 to 20 nonprofits for security personnel this year.
• Faith-Based Organizations Safety and Security Seminar: The Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center hosted its seventh annual security summit for faith-based organizations at Gillette Stadium in November 2025, bringing together public safety and security officials with faith leaders to promote safety in houses of worship and other facilities.
• Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team (HART): Massachusetts State Police launched HART in November 2023 to reinforce the statewide response to hate crimes and hate-based incidents.

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• Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

  EOPSS is responsible for the policy development and budgetary oversight of its secretariat agencies, independent programs, and several boards which aid in crime prevention, homeland security preparedness, and ensuring the safety of residents and visitors in the Commonwealth.