Security grants in Maine: federal NSGP and the new state ME-NSGP

Status on October 16, 2026

The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), part of the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, is the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). It also runs the state-funded Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program (ME-NSGP). Questions on both go to hsgrants.maine@maine.gov or 207-624-4400. MEMA's federal NSGP page also offers a booking link for a one-on-one technical assistance meeting.

Federal NSGP through MEMA

MEMA's FY2026 subapplicant notice set the deadline at "11:59PM (EST)" on July 16, 2026, and said late or incomplete submissions would not be accepted. The state wrote "EST" during daylight time, so treat the deadline as 11:59 p.m. Eastern. FEMA later moved its own deadline for SAAs to 5 p.m. ET on July 31, 2026 (Information Bulletin 579). We found no MEMA notice moving the nonprofit date. NSGP deadlines compares Maine's date with other states'.

How MEMA took FY2026 applications

Applications went by email to the grants inbox. The notice required the subject line "FEMA FY26 NSGP, (organization name)." The Investment Justification (IJ) was the fillable form posted on MEMA's NSGP page. Scanned IJs and prior-year forms were disqualifying.

The notice called for four documents:

1. An IJ for each site.
2. A site-specific vulnerability or risk assessment.
3. The organization's mission statement.
4. Short bios and resumes for the organization's leaders and board members, with names, business addresses and entity type. MEMA posted a template.

The bios requirement and the related instruction on foreign nationals come from the federal FY2026 NOFO. It says subapplicants "should not include foreign nationals or noncitizens" or must vet them properly, and that "Resumes are subject to approval." Maine's notice repeats both. Collect board bios before the window opens, since each member has to supply one.

Registrations and identifiers

The notice requires an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID (UEI), an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and Login.gov and Grants.gov accounts. SAM.gov registration is free. Check the registrations before the next notice. The how-to-apply guide covers SAM.gov and the federal forms.

Stream, allocation and limits

Maine has no FEMA-designated urban area in FY2026 Appendix B, so every Maine site applies under NSGP-S. Maine's FY2026 total federal allocation is $1,950,000 (NOFO, Appendix C). That total includes up to 5% MEMA may keep for management and administration (M&A); the amount for nonprofit projects is $1,852,500. The state lookup table uses the same total-allocation basis.

In FY2026 an organization could request up to $200,000 per site for up to three sites, with a $600,000 limit in Maine (NOFO). MEMA's notice gives a period of performance of September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2029. The notice doesn't say how MEMA pays federal subawards, so ask before planning cash flow. The NSGP program guide explains eligibility and scoring nationally.

After the window

FEMA announced FY2026 awards on September 28, 2026 (FEMA), but an announcement isn't a signed subaward. Plan around the executed subaward, not an expected date.

A selected organization should not sign contracts or start work before its own subaward is signed and environmental review is cleared; see after the award.

The Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program

ME-NSGP comes from Public Law 2025, chapter 728 (L.D. 2107), which enacts 37-B M.R.S. section 748. The Governor approved it on April 16, 2026 (L.D. 2107 status). MEMA's documents call the first round "2026," "FY 2027" and "FY26-27." All three labels refer to the same round.

How much money, and why the figures differ

The enacted law appropriates $200,000, one time, from the General Fund for fiscal year 2026-27. A portion may pay for administration, and unspent money carries forward. The ME-NSGP notice of funding opportunity lists $190,000 available. MEMA hasn't explained the $10,000 difference.

The $1.5 million figure in some reports came from an earlier committee amendment. Later amendments replaced it with $200,000, the amount in the enacted law.

Who could apply

The statute requires an organization exempt under section 501(c)(3) that can show it or its facilities are at high risk of a hate crime or terrorist attack. The notice reads more broadly: nonprofits located in Maine and described under 501(c)(3), "or otherwise recognized by the State as nonprofit organizations serving the public interest." It names religious institutions, community centers, and educational, cultural, advocacy and human services nonprofits. The two texts differ, and the law controls. An organization that isn't a 501(c)(3) should ask MEMA before relying on the broader wording.

The ME-NSGP FAQ says churches, mosques and synagogues need no IRS determination letter. It also says an organization may apply for both ME-NSGP and federal NSGP "if permitted by program guidance," provided there is no duplicate funding for the same project or cost and all other funding is disclosed.

Limits, uses and scoring

• Limits. $25,000 per site, up to three sites, $75,000 per organization. Each site needs its own application and its own vulnerability assessment. No match is required.
• Allowable. The notice lists planning; equipment and installation, such as doors, gates, lighting, locks, alarms, cameras, access control, window film and screening; and contract security. The guidance packet also allows training.
• Not allowable. Equipment for contract security; supplanting current security spending; weapons and ammunition; general operating costs; routine maintenance; construction not tied to security; ongoing salaries; entertainment; lobbying. The guidance packet adds guards on the organization's payroll, internal security overtime, and any cost incurred before the state award is signed.
• Scoring. 65 points: background 5, risk 15, facility hardening 10, milestones 10, impact 15, and 10 points for not being a previous federal NSGP recipient. The notice says priority may go to organizations with threats or incidents, vulnerable populations, limited resources, or strong coordination with public safety.

Documents and registrations

The notice required the application form with the IJ, a vulnerability or risk assessment, an IRS determination letter or other proof of nonprofit status, and a mission statement with an organizational overview. The guidance packet adds two conditions: the assessment may be no older than three years, and the applicant needs proof of State of Maine vendor registration, which it says takes "up to two weeks." A UEI is needed only before award. Selected organizations sign conflict-of-interest forms for board members. "Incomplete applications will not be reviewed."

Dates, payment and the rules after award

MEMA released the notice on July 1, 2026. The deadline was 11:59 p.m. ET on August 9, extended to August 23, 2026. The period of performance starts October 1, 2026.

MEMA pays ME-NSGP by reimbursement after a signed grant agreement. The organization pays its vendors first and claims the cost, so it needs the cash to carry each purchase. Recipients file quarterly financial and progress reports. The notice says there are no extensions and no scope changes after submission. It also says the grant "will not be extended and will not be eligible for continuation unless additional state funds are made available."

Conflicts MEMA hasn't resolved

MEMA's ME-NSGP documents disagree with each other, and we found no MEMA correction:

• End date. The notice's header gives a period of 10/01/2026 to 04/30/2028. Its Section 4 gives 10/01/2026 to 03/31/2028, followed by a liquidation period from 04/01/2028 to 05/15/2028.
• Submission route. The notice says to submit "through the State's grant application system link found on MEMA's NSGP page," but the FAQ and guidance packet say email, with the subject "FY26-27 ME NSGP, (organization name)." The ME-NSGP page showed no portal link.
• Eligibility. The statute requires 501(c)(3) status; the notice also admits organizations "otherwise recognized by the State."
• Security personnel. The statute names the cost of security personnel. The notice allows contract security. The guidance packet excludes guards on payroll.

Until MEMA resolves them, a recipient should plan to finish spending by the earlier end date, March 31, 2028. Ask MEMA in writing about any other point that affects your project. The executed grant agreement controls.

Schools, congregations and local programs

We found no other statewide Maine program in scope. A limited local search, including Portland, found no county or city program. A nonprofit private or religious school may fit NSGP and ME-NSGP; see private and religious school security grants. Congregations will find their federal options in the church, synagogue and mosque guides.

Programs compared

Official documents

If MEMA issues a newer notice, form or instruction than these, the newer document controls. MEMA's pages are also published at www.maine.gov; we link the www1.maine.gov copies, which opened when we checked.

Last checked and change log

Last checked: October 16, 2026, against MEMA's federal NSGP and ME-NSGP pages, the FY2026 subapplicant notice, the ME-NSGP notice, FAQ and guidance packet; Public Law 2025, chapter 728, the L.D. 2107 status page, committee amendment and fiscal note; and FEMA's FY2026 NOFO, Information Bulletin 579 and September 28, 2026 announcement.

• October 2026: Page published. FY2026 NSGP closed in Maine on July 16, 2026; no Maine award list found. First ME-NSGP round closed August 23, 2026; $200,000 appropriated and $190,000 listed in the notice; no award notice or second round found.