The Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, working with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), and key officials at the Department of Justice — including Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon — spearheaded the creation of this brand-new $7.7 million DOJ grant program to help faith-based institutions and local law enforcement protect houses of worship against hate-motivated crimes.
“For too long, Jewish communities have been forced to pay out of pocket for extra security to keep synagogues, schools, and other Jewish communal institutions safe in the face of rising antisemitism. This new DOJ grant program will support local police and relieve the financial burden on our communities.” — Nathan Diament, Executive Director, OU Advocacy
What the Program Funds
Category 1 — Security Camera and Evidence ($4M total, up to $200,000 per award): Grants to faith-based organizations to acquire professional-grade security camera systems, cloud storage with law enforcement access, and staff training. Eligible applicants: Faith-Based Organizations.
Category 2 — Law Enforcement Protection ($3.7M total, up to $150,000 per award): Grants to cover law enforcement overtime costs for uniformed security presence at houses of worship during services, events, and high-risk periods. Eligible applicants: State, County, City, Township, and Tribal Governments.
Key Dates
- Grants.gov deadline: September 2, 2026
- JustGrants deadline: September 9, 2026
- Anticipated award notification: September 30, 2026
How to Apply
- Submit Application for Federal Assistance at Grants.gov
- Complete required materials at JustGrants.gov — including proposal narrative, MOU with project partners, and budget documentation
View the full grant guidance and apply here →
Questions?
Contact RothJ@ou.org