Security grants in Arkansas: federal NSGP through ADEM, and two state programs

Status on October 16, 2026

The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM), part of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), publishes Arkansas's instructions for FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) and handles the state's applications. Questions go to HSGP@ADEM.Arkansas.gov, the address on ADEM's NSGP page.

Federal NSGP through ADEM

Nonprofits apply through the state, not to FEMA (FY2026 NOFO). ADEM's page describes NSGP as "a competitive grant program" for "501c3 non-profit organizations and houses of worship." The NSGP program guide covers eligibility and scoring nationally.

The federal FY2026 cycle is over. FEMA moved its own deadline for states to 5 p.m. ET on July 31, 2026 (Information Bulletin 579), and announced more than 1,600 awards on September 28, 2026 (FEMA). ADEM's state deadline came earlier, but its page doesn't show the date and we couldn't confirm it. NSGP deadlines tracks state dates as agencies publish them.

What ADEM asks for

ADEM's page says each application "MUST include" three items:

• a mission statement or the application on letterhead;
• a current vulnerability or risk assessment specific to each site, for up to three sites (ADEM suggests local, city or county law enforcement, or CISA's house of worship assessment);
• a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which requires registration in SAM.gov.

The application itself is FEMA's fillable Investment Justification, linked from ADEM's page. ADEM says applicants "MUST use Mozilla FireFox when opening" it. The NOFO disqualifies scanned and prior-year forms, so download a fresh form each year. The page names no portal and does not say how to send the finished package; ask ADEM before the next window. The how-to-apply guide covers the federal document list, and the vulnerability assessment guide covers the assessment.

ADEM repeats the federal limits: up to three sites, up to $200,000 per site, and up to $600,000 per organization. Every item must be "listed within the Authorized Equipment List (AEL) and approved for the Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP)." See NSGP allowable costs.

One stream for every Arkansas site

Arkansas has no FY2026 urban area in the NOFO's Appendix B, so every Arkansas site applies to NSGP-S. The FY2026 total federal allocation for Arkansas NSGP-S was $2,550,000 (FY2026 NOFO, Appendix C). That total includes the state's 5% for management and administration, so it exceeds the amount available for nonprofit subawards. The state lookup table uses the same basis.

How ADEM pays: reimbursement after two letters

ADEM's page sets out the payment rules plainly:

"The NSGP is a reimbursement grant." "No reimbursement can be made without first receiving an EHP Approval letter and a Release to Spend letter." "Proof of payment is required."

A selected organization must receive its environmental and historic preservation (EHP) approval and release-to-spend letter before seeking reimbursement. ADEM also requires proof of payment. Subrecipients cannot claim pre-award costs under the FY2026 NOFO.

The Right to Worship Safely grant

DPS ran one Right to Worship Safely Grant Program round in 2024. The agency announcement cited no statute. The Legislative Council approved "$500,000 in state restricted reserve funds" for the program in fiscal 2024 (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, December 7, 2023).

DPS's award announcement of February 13, 2024 lists the eligibility rules. An applicant had to be an Arkansas nonprofit that is ideology-based, spiritual or religious; be designated a 501(c)(3) organization; have received "active terrorist threat(s) and/or extremist attack(s) in the past twelve months"; and show established risk based on threat, vulnerability and consequence. The program funded "physical security enhancement and other security activity projects." Each application covered one facility, and there was no maximum award.

Applications ran January 1 to 15, 2024. DPS received 31 applications requesting $2,139,421, and its announcement lists six awards that add up to $227,792. Organizations that already had federal grant funding were prioritized for state money (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, January 30, 2024).

On October 16, 2026, we found no DPS program page, second-round notice, or later funding approval. A house of worship should ask DPS whether another round is planned before treating this as a funding option.

DESE school safety funds and private schools

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) pays school safety grants under its Rules Governing School Safety, effective January 1, 2024. The private-school language is in section 9.03.1:

"Funding should be made available to each public school district, open-enrollment charter school, and private school with at least fifty (50) students."

The rule says "should," and section 9.04 makes the funds "Subject to appropriations." Section 9.03.2 bases each amount at least in part on enrollment. Section 9.03.3 says "All funds shall be provided on a reimbursement basis for eligible expenses incurred during the fiscal year in which the funds are made available." Expenses must carry out the Governor's School Safety Commission recommendations, and a measure outside them needs the Commissioner of Education's approval.

The 2025 round

DESE's Commissioner's Memo COM-25-048 (January 28, 2025) said "public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools must complete an application." It does not mention private schools. Virtual schools were not eligible. The formula was a $25,000 base per local education agency plus $19 per student, based on October 1, 2024 enrollment. Applications were due February 28, 2025, by email to Safe.Schools@ade.arkansas.gov. Approved districts sought reimbursement through eFinance, and costs before July 1, 2024 could not be reimbursed.

Private schools in practice

Private schools have taken part before. Arkansas Catholic reported in April 2023 that DESE reimbursements "to 26 Catholic schools could total $1,404,371.50," based on enrollment, with a March 31 application deadline (Arkansas Catholic). That is a news report, and DESE's own 2023 memo (COM-23-068) doesn't mention private schools. We could not confirm whether any private school received a 2025 allocation.

No 2026 round has been announced. DESE's COM-26-012 (August 20, 2025) asked superintendents for a school safety assessment survey, saying the data would inform "potential future school safety funding." It promised no money. A private school with at least 50 students should ask the Safe Schools Unit whether it will receive an allocation under section 9.03.1, and how to apply. The private and religious school guide covers the federal route.

Programs compared

Using more than one program

None of the Arkansas sources we read bars an organization from holding NSGP and a state award at once. The 2024 state grant gave priority to organizations with federal funding. No source addresses claiming one cost from two programs, so don't: keep each award's purchases separate by item and invoice, and ask both agencies before budgeting overlapping work.

This review found no city or county security grant for houses of worship in Little Rock, Pulaski County or Fayetteville. It was not exhaustive for local or private funding. Congregations can use the church, synagogue and mosque guides for the federal rules.

Official documents

If ADEM, DPS or DESE issues a newer notice, form or instruction than these, the newer document controls.

Other states' agencies and programs are in the state lookup table.

Last checked and change log

Last checked: October 16, 2026, against ADEM's NSGP page; DPS's February 2024 Right to Worship announcement and two Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports; DESE's Rules Governing School Safety and memos COM-23-068, COM-25-048 and COM-26-012; Arkansas Catholic's April 2023 report; and FEMA's FY2026 NOFO, Information Bulletin 579 and September 28, 2026 announcement.

• October 2026: Page published. FY2026 federal NSGP closed in Arkansas (state date not published); no Arkansas award list found. Right to Worship Safely ran once, in 2024. DESE rule allows funding for private schools with 50+ students; the 2025 memo listed only public districts and charters; no 2026 round found.