Progress report. After ranking each completed (not all were) application, New York’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NY DHSES) submitted a record 283 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) files (Investment Justifications) to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for final review. Nationally, there will be a total of $10 million in grants this cycle.

According to Rob Goldberg of the Jewish Federation of North America’s Washington office, DHS could announce the grant award results as early as June 29th. After the results are released it could take as long as 90 more days, or until September 30th, before all of the project requirements are in place and satisfied and the funds are approved for release to the nonprofit applicants. NY DHSES cannot officially notify applicants based on the original announcement, but will do so after they receive the official paperwork. We will stay in touch with the JFNA, DHS and NY DHSES officials and provide updates on the timing.

Prospects for 2013. Last year, the NSGP (along with other DHS local grant programs) took a significant hit, reducing the total NSGP funding to $10 million, nationally (down from $19 million). Once again, the upcoming federal budget battles will create challenges for the program. Fortunately, due to Rob Goldberg’s Herculean efforts, the Senate provision specifically allocates $13 million for the NSGP (a $3 million increase over FY2012). The weaker House provision includes no specific funding for NSGP, which would leave the program vulnerable to being zeroed out or further diminished in FY2013. Similar language in FY2012 left a number of state and local grant programs without funding.

Kudos to the movers and shakers. The fact that there is a FY2012 program and there might be one in FY2013 is due to the ongoing work and incredible professionalism of a coalition, led by The Jewish Federations of North America/JFNA (with JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation playing active roles) and its Senior Director, Legislative Affairs, Rob Goldberg. The JFNA Washington Office, directed by William Daroff, is the lynchpin in this process and deserves our collective thanks. Jarrod Bernstein, Director of Jewish Outreach at the White House, has been helpful above and beyond the call of duty.

We owe a special debt of gratitude to those dedicated public servants who actually administer the grants and answer our questions at the NY DHSES, especially Shelley Wahrlich, Steve Tierney and Valerie Bloomer. This program could not be successful without their dedication, patience and expertise.