First look: Nonprofit Security Grant guidlines: 2011

1. Timing. The US Department of Homeland Security released its guidance for the 2011 Nonprofit Security Grant Program and applications from nonprofit organizations are due to be submitted to state authorities by 11:59 PM on June 9, 2011. The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYS DHSES) and the lead agencies in other states may be able to slightly alter the due date, but that remains to be determined. 
2. New webinar date. The JCRC has sponsored trainings annually and those following the JCRC suggestions have a high success rate. The information provided will include tips on how to complete the Investment Justification and an introduction to the New York E-Grant application process.The JCRC webinar will now be scheduled for Monday, May 23rd at 1PM. We will assume that all who reserved for the old date will join us for this online webinar. Based on input from past participants, we are offering this session exclusively over the internet. Information applicable to all eligible applicants will be presented at the beginning of the webinar, followed by NY-specific guidance. You can reserve here.
3. Eligibility. This year, DHS reduced the number of eligible urban areas (31 eligible Urban Areas in 2011 vs. 64 in 2010). New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties remain eligible, other counties in New York State are not eligible. For a complete list click here.
4. Non-recipients will have an advantage. The most significant change this coming year is that preference will be given to nonprofit organizations that have not received prior years' funding. That doesn't mean that past grantees cannot apply. However, they will be at a slight competitive disadvantage.
5. No local match required this year. The local match (25% of total project costs) will remain voluntary for FY2011. This voluntary nature will be neutral in the scoring process. Making the contribution will not create a preference, and declining to contribute will not count against an application. However, where a local match can be made, it should be made, as it will save limited resources and enable additional applicants to secure grants.
6. Equipment. The Authorized Equipment List seems to be the same as last year. Check it out here. 
7. Citizen Corps Council. Once again nonprofit applicants are required to join the Citizen Corps Council. NYC OEM is trying to streamline the process as much as possible.Organizations wishing to join the Communication Network should visit www.NYC.gov/citizencorps and click on the link for the Communication Network. Any questions can be sent to Justin Land at citizencorps@oem.nyc.gov or by phone at 718-422-8902. We are in the process of confirming the how to apply Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester. 
8. New Investment Justification form. This year applicants will be required to use a specific MS Excel 2003 Template. The Template does not seem to be posted at this time, but you can learn more about it here. 

We are continuing to review the official guidance for more information. New York State applicants should rely on the official application package published by NYS DHSES. For further information contact Dov Horwitz at horwitzd@jcrcny.org. You may obtain FY2010 guidance from the JCRC at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants and the Jewish Federations of North America at: www.jewishfederations.org/homelandsecurity.

Details of May 11th Terror Arrests

This afternoon Mayor Michael Bloomberg held a press conference to announce the arrest of two suspects accused of plotting to bomb a major synagogue in Manhattan. Michael Miller and David Pollock of the JCRC were invited and attended. Watch the video of the press conference in low or high bandwidth.

Mayor Bloomberg explained in his opening remarks:

“Yesterday, detectives from the NYPD arrested two men who said they wanted to destroy a major synagogue in Manhattan, and then purchased several weapons and a hand grenade from an undercover officer.

“Fortunately, long before their aspirations could take hold, New York City police officers were watching them and were in a position to take them into custody, before they could maim and murder innocent New Yorkers.

Read Mayor Bloomberg's full remarks here.

Ahmed Ferhani, 26, and Mohamed Mamdouh, 20, are charged with multiple felony counts and hate crimes carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. In the course of the investigation Mr. Ferhani expressed clear anti-Semitism and asked an undercover officer whether he would join him in a plan to bomb a synagogue.

Manhattan DA, Cyrus Vance, Jr., noted:

"The defendants plotted and took concrete steps to bomb synagogues and kill Jewish New Y orkers as an act of terrorism" 

Read DA Vance's statement here. Read the full criminal complaint providing more details here.

NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly described the police activities leading to the arrests and commended NYPD Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence David Cohen and his team for their outstanding work. He also commented that:

"While there are no specific plots targeting New York City in the wake of Bin Laden's death, this latest case reminds us that we must remain vigilant every day.

Read Commissioner Kelly's account of the investigation here.

When the news of the arrests broke this morning the JCRC called for heightened vigilance and tighter access policies in a security alert to synagogues, yeshivot and other Jewish institutions. Read the recommendations here.

Organizations wishing to apply for Nonprofit Security Grants will find more information at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants and can reserve for the JCRC May 23rd  Grants Webinar here. Find guidance and practical suggestions on how to increase the security of your Jewish institution at: www.jcrcny.org/securityresources.

JCRC commends Mayor, NYPD and DA in Terror Arrests

JCRC President Alan S. Jaffe and Executive Vice President & CEO Michael S. Miller said in a statement:

 The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) highly commends Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance on the interception and arrest of two would-be terrorists from Queens, New York.

The New York Police Department performed expertly and heroically to prevent what would likely have been a vicious attack on a synagogue and members of the Jewish community resulting in death and destruction.  We hail their professionalism.

The JCRC-NY has emailed a Security Alert to hundreds of Jewish institutions in the metropolitan area urging the heightening of vigilance, the review of security precautions and the tightening of access systems.

Anti-semitism is a core component of militant-Jihadist ideology, and we call on the federal government to continue and increase its effective Nonprofit Security Grant Program to assist non-profits and religious institutions for target security hardening measures.

May 11th arrests reinforce need for heightened vigilance

Media outlets report the arrest of two individuals allegedly engaged in a terror plot in New York. See the NY Post article here. Law enforcement officials have not yet released details, but the article states: "One source said the man was trying to buy a handgun and talked about attacking a synagogue." The NYPD is providing special attention to Jewish institutions.  We are grateful to the Mayor and the NYPD for their ongoing concern and efforts to keep all New Yorkers safe.

Harden your target now. The suspects have been described as "lone wolves." The NYPD has cataloged over 50 cases of Americans who were radicalized to acts of violence and/or conspiracies over the last 30 months. This case may add to the total and those responsible for Jewish institutions should review their security precautions and introduce steps to ensure heightened awareness. The JCRC Security Resources webpage (www.jcrcny.org/securityresources) has guidelines and practical solutions on how to detect hostile surveillance and how to tighten your access systems.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program . The US Department of Homeland Security’s 2011 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) will be opening soon, allowing nonprofits to apply for up to $75,000 for target hardening measures such as security hardware and related training. The JCRC-NY will provide a free webinar training detailing the specifics of the grant and the application process. The webinar will be held on Monday, May 23rd, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm and is accessible from any internet capable computer. Please click http://bit.ly/JCRCNPSGWebinar to RSVP to receive login information. The JCRC-NY has hosted trainings annually and those following the JCRC-NY’s suggestions have had a high success rate. Get more information on the grants at the JCRC Security Grants website (http://www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants).

Ongoing threat. In the aftermath of the killing of Bin Laden we should remember:

• Anti-Semitism is a core component of militant-Jihadist ideology;
• Anti-Semitism is a common tool in the radicalization process;
• Jewish-affiliated targets may be preferable for less sophisticated terrorists; and
• Jewish institutions may not be priority targets, but may become secondary targets or targets of convenience.

Feel free to contact David Pollock at (pollockd@jcrcny.org or 212. 983.4800, ext 132) or Dov Horwitz at (horwitzd@jcrcny.org or 212 983.4800, ext. 129) if you need more information.

NSPG release postponed; JCRC webinar postponed, too

1. New release date. The release date (official commencement of the grant cycle) for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) guidelines is now tentatively  set for Tuesday, May 17th (not May 9th as previously reported). The US Department of Homeland Security sends these e sent to the states (i.e., NY Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and its sister agencies in other states) on this date. Each state must set deadlines and decide on the application process. 
2. New webinar date. The JCRC has sponsored trainings annually and those following the JCRC suggestions have a high success rate. The information provided will include tips on how to complete the Investment Justification and an introduction to the New York E-Grant application process.The JCRC webinar will now be scheduled for Monday, May 23rd at 1PM. We will assume that all who reserved for the old date will join us for this online webinar. Based on input from past participants, we are offering this session exclusively over the internet. Information applicable to all eligible applicants will be presented at the beginning of the webinar, followed by NY-specific guidance. You can reserve here.   
3. Non-recipients will have an advantage. The most significant change this coming year is that preference will be given to nonprofit organizations that have not received prior years' funding. That doesn't mean that past grantees cannot apply. However, they will be at a competitive disadvantage.
4. No local match this year. The local match (25% of total project costs) will remain voluntary for FY2011. This voluntary nature will be neutral in the scoring process. Making the contribution will not create a preference, and declining to contribute will not count against an application. However, where a local match can be made, it should be made, as it will save limited resources and enable additional applicants to secure grants.
5. Only slight changes in eligible areas. The number of eligible areas (64 in FY2010) is expected to change slightly. However, it should not be significantly different than in past cycles (as was the concern of some in the field. Exact eligibility requirements will not be known until after the release date.
6. Get started now. With a delay in the release of the guidelines we can expect that much more of a shorter application period. As such, we continue to advise interested agencies to draft proposals, now, based on the FY2010 guidance, and to make modifications as necessary once the FY2011 guidance is in place. Get information about the Investment Justification (the core component of your application) and download the form from last year here.

All of the information above is tentative, pending the release of the official guidance. For further information contact Dov Horwitz at horwitzd@jcrcny.org. You may obtain FY2010 guidance from the JCRC at www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants and the Jewish Federations of North America at: www.jewishfederations.org/homelandsecurity.

Heighten awareness, register for nonprofit grant seminar

Jewish organizations should have heightened awareness in light of the current situation. Start your Nonprofit Security Grant application now, the application period is likely to be shortened. Grant training webinar scheduled for Thursday, May 12th.

Get more info at: http://www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants

Law enforcement and Homeland Security officials are counseling that Americans should heighten their awareness regarding possible terrorist activity. All organizations should do so. For more information on basic security click here. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security  (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) offers a competitive grant to eligible nonprofit organizations planning to install hardware and conduct training to support target hardening and counter-surveillance. The program this year was delayed (along with many other allocations) by the budget battle and details  about the grant program have not yet been released. For the latest suggestions on how to put together a successful application reserve here for the online JCRC webinar (see below) on May 12th at 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The following includes the current available information: Announcement of details. DHS tentatively scheduled the release of their guidance to the state agencies on May 9th. Those agencies, including the NY Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) will prepare their Request for Applications as soon as they reasonably can.  A shortened application period is likely. DHS will not announce when the states’ applications will be due until they release their guidance. However, many have speculated that the application period will be shortened, possibly to 30 days. Nonprofits wishing to apply for FY2011 Nonprofit Security Grants should start working on their application immediately. The Investment Justification.  DHS indicates that the core of the application, the Investment Justification, will not be significantly different from last year's. Download the Investment Justification from last year and begin to prepare answers to those questions ASAP. This year the Investment Justification will be in a MS Excel format. You will be able to paste your answers into the new DHS template. Non-recipients will have an advantage. The most significant change this coming year is that preference will be given to nonprofit organizations that have not received prior years' funding. That doesn't mean that past grantees cannot apply. However, they will be at a competitive disadvantage. JCRC grant trainings.The JCRC has sponsored trainings annually and those following the JCRC suggestions have a high success rate. The information provided will include tips on how to complete the Investment Justification and an introduction to the New York application process. Based on input from past participants, we are offering this session exclusively over the internet. Information applicable to all eligible applicants will be presented at the beginning of the webinar, followed by NY specific guidance. For further information contact Dov Horwitz at horwitzd@jcrcny.org. Note that all of this information is tentative. The JCRC webpage (www.jcrcny.org/securitygrants) will have ongoing guidance.