- Office of Grants and Research
- Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Media Contact for Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $4.75 Million to Protect Nonprofits from Hate Crimes and Terror Attacks
Renee Algarin, Director of Communications
Braintree — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced that 85 nonprofit organizations – including houses of worship, educational institutions, health care providers and other organizations at heightened risk of a hate crime or extremist attack – will receive grant funding to make critical security improvements.
The grants totaling $4.75 million were awarded through the Office of Grants and Research’s (OGR) Massachusetts Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The program utilizes federal funds allocated to the Commonwealth through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). OGR program coordinators will work with award recipients throughout the life of the grant to provide assistance in managing the funds and ensuring projects are completed during the funding period.
“Protecting faith-based and other nonprofit organizations from hate and extremist violence is essential to the safety and security of our communities across Massachusetts. We are deeply committed to ensuring that organizations at risk of hate crimes and violence are protected and supported,” said Governor Maura Healey. “With this funding, nonprofits will receive vital resources to implement security improvements that ensure their ability to safeguard those whom they serve.”
“This grant program is part of our administration’s comprehensive efforts to enhance statewide preparedness, strengthen community resiliency, and protect our communities against acts of hate. We’re grateful to the Legislature for allocating these funds to support our ongoing work to safeguard communities at greatest risk of harm,” said Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll.
“Our faith-based and nonprofit partners are vital to public safety, and we have a critical role in protecting these organizations and the communities they serve. We are committed to ensuring that these organizations are safe from threats and violence as they continue their missions of service,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy.
“Nonprofits are cornerstones of community life, where individuals gather in joy and sorrow, turn for support or services, learn and grow, and find human connection. We are committed to ensuring that these institutions have access to resources to protect their facilities and the community members they serve,” said Kevin Stanton, Executive Director of OGR.
OGR conducted a competitive application process between January 31 and March 1, 2024, allowing 501(c)3 organizations at high risk of a hate crime or terror attack to request grant funding through the Massachusetts Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Each eligible application was assessed by a team of reviewers. In addition to the reviewers’ scores, additional factors were weighed, including whether an applicant has received prior nonprofit security grant funding, alignment with programmatic priorities, and availability of funds.
FY24 Massachusetts Nonprofit Security Grant Program Award Recipients
| Grant Recipient | Community | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Agudas Achim Synagogue | Attleboro | $74,998.00 |
| Al-Noor Academy, Inc. | Sharon | $75,000.00 |
| Anna Maria College | Paxton | $55,000.00 |
| Annunciation Parish | Gardner | $74,657.45 |
| Arlington Catholic High School | Arlington | $50,046.03 |
| Association of Islamic Charitable Projects | Revere | $70,870.67 |
| Attleboro Norton YMCA | Attleboro | $51,000.00 |
| Bishop Fenwick High School | Peabody | $53,000.00 |
| Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity | Florence | $75,000.00 |
| Boroughs Islamic Society Inc. | Westborough | $74,985.00 |
| The Boston Synagogue | Boston | $75,000.00 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford | New Bedford | $75,000.00 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Marshfield | Marshfield | $75,000.00 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs Boston | Boston | $52,345.00 |
| Cardinal Spellman High School | Brockton | $75,000.00 |
| The Center for Hope and Healing, Inc. | Lowell | $12,650.00 |
| Central Catholic High School | Lawrence | $39,892.47 |
| Chabad Torah Center, Inc. (DBA Chabad of Sharon) | Sharon | $75,000.00 |
| Commonwealth Land Trust, Inc. | Boston | $32,645.00 |
| Congregation Beth Elohim | Acton | $33,300.00 |
| Congregation B'nai Israel | Northampton | $73,594.80 |
| Congregation Chai Odom | Boston | $75,000.00 |
| Congregation Shaarei Tefillah | Newton | $34,042.00 |
| Crispus Attucks Children's Center | Dorchester | $75,000.00 |
| Daughters of Israel Mikvah | Brighton | $75,000.00 |
| Downtown Boston Partnership, Inc. (Subsidiary of Downtown Boston BID) | Boston | $74,800.00 |
| East Boston Social Centers | Boston | $70,262.00 |
| Eisner Camp | Great Barrington | $45,000.00 |
| First Church of Christ in Sandwich | Sandwich | $74,986.84 |
| Fontbonne Academy | Milton | $21,597.00 |
| Friends of the Franklin County Fairgrounds | Greenfield | $56,775.00 |
| Greater Lawrence Educational Collaborative | Andover | $35,000.00 |
| Hampshire College | Amherst | $68,454.00 |
| Hampshire Regional YMCA | Northampton | $75,000.00 |
| HarborCOV | Chelsea | $20,000.00 |
| Hebrew College | Newton | $75,000.00 |
| Hevreh of Southern Berkshire | Great Barrington | $75,000.00 |
| Hillel Foundation of Cambridge, Inc. | Cambridge | $75,000.00 |
| Holy Name School | Fall River | $28,782.00 |
| Islamic Cultural Center of Medford, Inc. | Medford | $75,000.00 |
| Islamic Society of Boston | Roxbury | $44,580.66 |
| LASA Foundation, Inc. | Lowell | $44,945.93 |
| Lighthouse Holyoke | Holyoke | $22,000.00 |
| Lowell Community Health Center | Lowell | $64,820.00 |
| The Mission, Inc. | Springfield | $72,000.00 |
| New England Center for Arts & Technology | Boston | $31,080.00 |
| Open Sky Community Services, Inc. | Worcester | $43,043.25 |
| Old South Union Church UCC | Weymouth | $74,870.24 |
| Our Lady of the Assumption School | Lynnfield | $19,702.00 |
| Our Lady's Church and School | Waltham | $47,111.32 |
| Pope John Paull II Catholic Academy | Milton | $75,000.00 |
| Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction, Inc. | New Bedford | $23,300.00 |
| Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield | Springfield | $57,800.00 |
| Sacred Heart School | Roslindale | $70,000.00 |
| Saint Bridget School | Framingham | $74,427.66 |
| Saint Catherine of Siena School | Norwood | $36,208.00 |
| Saint Francis of Assisi Parish | Dracut | $30,000.00 |
| Saint Michael’s School | Fall River | $71,387.17 |
| Saint Paul's Choir School | Cambridge | $41,450.00 |
| Saint Peter School | Cambridge | $42,973.24 |
| Saint Pius V School | Lynn | $41,000.00 |
| The Saints Academy | Beverly | $75,000.00 |
| Saint Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Greater Boston | Watertown | $41,800.00 |
| The Satanic Temple, Inc. | Salem | $65,000.00 |
| Self-Realization Fellowship Church | Somerville | $50,000.00 |
| Sephardic Congregation of New England | Brighton | $74,966.66 |
| St. Aloysius Catholic School | Gilbertville | $74,968.80 |
| St. Anthony of Padua and St. Barbara of the Woburn Catholic Collaborative | Woburn | $55,413.41 |
| St. Bernard's Elementary School | Fitchburg | $75,000.00 |
| St. James St. John School | New Bedford | $8,730.11 |
| St. John Paul II School | Hyannis | $35,000.00 |
| St. John the Evangelist Parish | Townsend | $37,470.00 |
| St. Paul's Church | Warren | $49,000.00 |
| St. Stanislaus Church | West Warren | $36,500.00 |
| St. Stanislaus School | Chicopee | $58,880.60 |
| St. Thomas Aquinas School, Inc. | Warren | $52,000.00 |
| Temple Beth Israel | Waltham | $15,000.00 |
| Temple Sinai of Swampscott and Marblehead | Marblehead | $75,000.00 |
| Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center | Boston | $24,247.68 |
| Trinity Catholic Academy, Inc. | Brockton | $70,390.01 |
| Trustees of Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley | $74,800.00 |
| Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester | Worcester | $65,000.00 |
| Ursuline Academy | Dedham | $75,000.00 |
| West End House | Allston | $54,450.00 |
| Worcester Natural History Society (DBA EcoTarium) | Worcester | $75,000.00 |
| Total | Statewide | $4,750,000.00 |
In addition to the Massachusetts Nonprofit Security Grant Program, OGR manages additional state- and federally funded programs supporting organizations at risk of a hate crime or terror attack. With the grant awards announced today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded more than $12.5 million in state and federal grant funds to support nonprofit security this fiscal year.
EOPSS and its agencies are committed to supporting vulnerable communities at risk of hate crimes through multiple programs.
Nonprofit Security Grant Program: As the State Administrative Agency (SAA) for grant funding received from FEMA, OGR manages and administers the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program in Massachusetts. In September 2023, OGR awarded $4,013,340 through the program to 32 Massachusetts nonprofits at risk of a terror attack. The 2024 application period closed on June 3. Awards are expected to be announced this Fall.
Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program: The state-funded Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program awards grants annually to help nonprofits and faith-based organizations enhance their facility’s physical security to protect against a potential hate crime or terror attack. This year, OGR awarded $3,500,000 to 66 nonprofits through the program.
Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant Program: OGR introduced the Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Personnel Grant Program in 2023. The state-funded program awards funds to help at-risk nonprofits hire security personnel to protect the safety and security of their facilities and all who gather there. OGR awarded $300,000 to 14 nonprofits for security personnel this year.
Faith-Based Organizations Safety and Security Seminar: The Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center hosted its fifth annual security summit for faith-based organizations at Gillette Stadium in December 2023, bringing together public safety and security officials with faith leaders to promote safety in houses of worship and other facilities.
Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team (HART): Massachusetts State Police launched HART in November 2023 to reinforce the statewide response to hate crimes and hate-based incidents.
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Media Contact for Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $4.75 Million to Protect Nonprofits from Hate Crimes and Terror Attacks
Office of Grants and Research
