Security grants in Wisconsin: federal NSGP through WEM and the state school mapping grant

Status on October 16, 2026

Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM), a division of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), runs FEMA's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) in Wisconsin. WEM's page names DMA as the designated State Administrative Agency (SAA). NSGP questions go to NSGP@widma.gov. The state's school grants are run by a different agency, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety.

Federal NSGP through WEM

Nonprofits apply to their state, not to FEMA (FY2026 NOFO). WEM's FY2026 release says, "The deadline to apply for the 2026 NSGP is July 15, 2026." It gives no time of day, so a future applicant should ask WEM for one rather than plan on midnight. FEMA later moved its own deadline for state agencies to 5 p.m. ET on July 31, 2026 (Information Bulletin 579); WEM's release still shows July 15 for nonprofits. NSGP deadlines compares Wisconsin with other states.

Two status messages on one page

The WEM NSGP page contradicts itself. Its banner says, "Application packages are not being accepted at this time," and adds, "we anticipate the application window will open in the Spring for NSGP 2027." Lower on the same page, a press-release excerpt still says the NSGP application period "is now open," without naming a year. The banner matches the July 15 deadline, so we treat the program as closed. WEM's spring 2027 expectation is WEM's statement, not a published date; FEMA had not issued an FY2027 notice when we checked.

How WEM took FY2026 applications

Applications went by email: "Completed applications should be submitted to NSGP@widma.gov" (WEM release). There was no application portal. The NSGP page says WEM uses an eGrants system with its 2025 award recipients, after award. The release requires a written vulnerability or risk assessment. The NSGP page says packages are "likely to require" three items:

• The Investment Justification, in its original format and specific to the funding year. WEM points applicants to Grants.gov for the FY2026 form.
• A vulnerability assessment.
• The mission statement on the organization's letterhead.

WEM's page links SAM.gov instructions for getting a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), including the account, entity registration and notarized letter steps. It states no extra Wisconsin registration step. SAM.gov can take weeks, so registration or renewal should start well before the next window opens.

WEM held four FY2026 webinars, on July 2, 8, 10 and 13, 2026, with no registration required (WEM release). We found no posted slides. The release describes eligible uses as "planning, exercises, training, contracted security personnel, and the acquisition and installation of security equipment," and limits eligibility to nonprofits at risk of terrorist attack because of ideology, beliefs or mission that operate a facility in Wisconsin. WEM listed no Wisconsin-only scoring or completeness rules for FY2026, so the NOFO's rules govern. The how-to-apply guide covers the federal package.

Which stream a site uses

Wisconsin has one FY2026 urban area, the Milwaukee Area (NOFO, Appendix B). Sites inside it apply under NSGP-UA, and every other site applies under NSGP-S.

These are total federal allocations. Each includes WEM's 5% for management and administration (M&A), so the amount for nonprofit subawards is lower: $517,739 for the Milwaukee Area and $2,850,000 for NSGP-S. The state lookup table uses the same total basis. In FY2026 an organization could ask for up to $200,000 per site and up to three sites per stream, with a combined limit of $600,000 in Wisconsin. The NSGP program guide explains eligibility and scoring.

After the window

FEMA announced FY2026 awards on September 28, 2026 (FEMA). The WEM pages don't say whether WEM pays subawards in advance or by reimbursement, so ask before planning cash flow. A selected organization should not sign contracts before its subaward is signed; see after the award.

The Act 109 digital mapping grant for schools

The Wisconsin DOJ Office of School Safety runs the "Wisconsin Act 109 Digital Mapping of School Buildings - 2022" grant. 2021 Wisconsin Act 109 let schools file digital maps of their buildings in place of blueprints, and the grant pays for that mapping with state money. The grant announcement says it buys site-specific critical-incident mapping data "to enhance security and increase situational awareness for first responders." It does not pay for cameras, locks, doors or other security hardware.

Who can apply

The announcement says: "Eligible applicants are limited to K-12 public, private, charter, or tribal school in Wisconsin." The DOJ grants page describes applicants as "school boards, governing bodies of private schools, charter schools and tribal schools." Virtual schools, Department of Corrections schools and juvenile detention centers are not eligible. The announcement sets no accreditation test for private schools.

A school doesn't have to meet 2017 Wisconsin Act 143 to apply. The DOJ page says, though, that "All applicants must be 2017 Wisconsin Act 143 and 2021 Wisconsin Act 109 compliant before the conclusion of the grant period." A school that applies before it is compliant takes on that obligation.

Limits, timing and payment

• Award limit. Up to $5,000 per building. The announcement says the earlier $200,000 cap per applicant was removed on January 31, 2025. No match is required.
• Period. The announcement lists the project period as July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2028, after DOJ extended the end date on March 20, 2026 from June 30, 2026.
• Order of review. Schools that had never filed maps got priority in the first 14 business days of the 2022 round. Since then, the announcement says, review has been first come, first served, and "Application approval subject to availability of funds."
• System. Applications go through DOJ's WebGrants system, which needs a MyWisconsin ID.
• Payment. The DOJ page describes the grant as "reimbursed funds for digital mapping data." Plan to pay the mapping vendor first and confirm the claim process with DOJ.

Whether money remains

The announcement lists $6,028,341.03 allocated. The DOJ page says the grant has gone to 397 schools and districts and that "Total funds awarded for this opportunity are now more than $6,200,000." The two figures don't reconcile, and neither source says how much is left. We could not confirm that funds remain. Before spending staff time on an application, email schoolsafetygrants@wisdoj.gov and ask whether the grant can still fund new buildings.

Other Wisconsin school and faith-based funding

The DOJ grants page also lists Critical Incident Stabilization Funds, which provide "funding to schools and school districts that need additional resources" to respond to or recover from a critical incident. It gives no amount or deadline and doesn't say whether private schools qualify. The same page lists the Speak Up, Speak Out materials grant as closed.

In 2025 the Legislature considered Senate Bill 41, which would have created a competitive DOJ grant for school building safety and security. The Senate passed an amended version on June 18, 2025, but on March 23, 2026 the Assembly record shows it "failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1." It did not become law (bill history). There is no SB 41 program to apply to.

This review was limited to federal and statewide programs. The synagogue, church and mosque guides cover federal rules, and private and religious school security grants covers NSGP for schools.

Programs compared

The two programs pay for different things, and neither source addresses holding both. A school that maps its buildings with the DOJ grant shouldn't include the same mapping cost in an NSGP budget; see reimbursement requests.

Official documents

If WEM or DOJ posts 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 WEM's NSGP page and FY2026 release, the DOJ Office of School Safety grants page and Act 109 announcement, the 2025 SB 41 history, and FEMA's FY2026 NOFO, Information Bulletin 579 and September 28, 2026 announcement.

• October 2026: Page published. FY2026 NSGP closed in Wisconsin July 15, 2026; WEM expects the next window in spring 2027; Milwaukee Area footprint not published by WEM. Act 109 mapping grant listed as open through June 30, 2028, subject to funds; funds remaining unconfirmed.