CAIR Calls on Muslim Institutions to Apply for Nonprofit Security Grants

CAIR Calls on Muslim Institutions to Apply for FY2026 Nonprofit Security Grants Grant applications are due by July 24 or sooner depending on state deadlines.   The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced that it has sent a follow-up letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin seeking clarification regarding the FY2026 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which is now open to mosques, Islamic schools, Muslim nonprofits, and other eligible faith-based institutions.    SEE: FY2026 NSGP Funding Opportunity   According to the FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity, nonprofit organizations must apply through their State Administrative Agencies rather than directly to FEMA. As a result, state-level application deadlines may occur before the federal July 24 deadline.   REPORT YOUR NSGP APPLICATION TO CAIR: CLICK HERE!   CAIR is encouraging eligible Muslim institutions to apply for NSGP funding for security needs, including cameras, doors, gates, lighting, access controls, vulnerability assessments, emergency preparedness, and security training. To help track community participation and identify any challenges applicants may encounter, CAIR has launched an FY2026 NSGP Applicant Tracking Form and encourages organizations to report when they have submitted an application and to voluntarily share information regarding their experience with the process…   In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:   "Mosques, Islamic schools, and Muslim nonprofit institutions facing security threats should strongly consider applying for available NSGP funding to help protect their congregants, students, staff, and visitors.   "We appreciate that the FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity appears to exclude the immigration-cooperation condition that raised concerns among stakeholders in previous funding cycles. At the same time, DHS should provide clear assurances that participation in unrelated DHS initiatives plays no role in grant decisions and that Muslim institutions will not face discrimination or additional scrutiny because of their faith or First Amendment-protected advocacy."   In its letter, CAIR notes that the FY2026 NSGP remains focused on helping vulnerable nonprofit organizations strengthen physical security and preparedness. The organization also acknowledges that the current funding opportunity appears not to include the DHS immigration-cooperation condition that previously raised concerns among some community stakeholders.    However, CAIR is seeking clarification regarding references in the Notice of Funding Opportunity to broader DHS and FEMA priorities involving fusion centers, information sharing, suspicious activity reporting, homeland security task forces, border-security initiatives, and related activities. CAIR asks DHS to clarify whether participation in any such programs plays any role in the evaluation, scoring, ranking, administration, monitoring, or continuation of NSGP awards.