School safety grants: How to apply and use funding for security improvements

Available grants for school safety 

There are a large number of federal grants for school safety and charitable school grants open for applications in 2026. Educators can use the School Safety Grants Finder Tool to search for available funding options based on their unique needs and requirements. We’ve also provided some basic information on popular grants below to speed up your search.

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

The Homeland Security Grant Program is an annual funding opportunity available to state, local and territorial governments as well as non-profit organizations. HSGP funds can be used to update and enhance measures to prevent, protect against and respond to terrorist attacks.

Schools may leverage HSGP awards through local government agencies to improve existing or develop new security systems. Schools must contact the local state governments to request application deadlines for their state.

• Source of funds —Homeland Security Grants for School Safety
• Funding amount — No max award limit, $1.008 billion total funding for FY25
• Eligibility — State, local and territorial governments, non-profit organizations

COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)

In accordance with the Stop School Violence Act (STOP) 2018, the COPS Office can award grant funds to states, local governments and nation tribes to improve school security through evidence-based safety programs and technology. SVPP grants can be applied for through COPS to help fund metal detectors, locks, panic buttons and other deterrents, as well as law enforcement officer training.

It should be noted that the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act – federal legislation passed in 2022 that aims to address gun violence, improve mental health services and enhance school safety – had a direct impact on the SVPP. The grant initially had a funding level of $50 million. As a result of the Act, funding increased to $73 million annually through Fiscal Year 2026. 

• Source of funds — Department of Justice; State General Funds; COPS
• Funding amount — $73 million annually through Fiscal Year 2026 
• Eligibility — K‑12 primary and secondary schools, with needs assessed based on the application.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP)

NSGP funding offers grants for school security to improve physical security systems and provide security and safety training for school officials. Funds are awarded via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and can be used to purchase security technologies such as security cameras, cloud-based access control devices and locking systems, as well as fund preparedness training exercises.

• Source of funds — Homeland Security Grants for School Safety; FEMA
• Funding amount — Up to $274.5 million is available in total funding for FY2025, with no local cash match
• Eligibility — Awards made to State Administrative Agencies to be passed on to nonprofits

State-specific funding opportunities, such as the Arizona Nonprofit Security Grant Program, are also available, but requirements, scope and available funds may differ. Preparation for the 2026 application cycle should commence in late 2025. State program openings for each fiscal year generally occur between February and April, with closing deadlines typically set between April and June.

Ohio schools safety grants

For fiscal year 2026, Ohio school leaders can apply for numerous grant awards. To be eligible, applicants must satisfy the requirements outlined in the NOFO or RFP for each specific program.

Available grants include: 

• Ohio Attorney General’s FY26 Program-Based School Safety Grant
• Ohio Attorney General’s FY26 Formula-Based School Safety Grant
• Ohio School Bus Safety Grant Program 
• BWC Safety Grants Program FY26
• The State of Ohio Security Grant 

Arkansas DESE School Safety Grant

The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education School Safety Grant is a funding opportunity for Arkansas schools intended to support the implementation of measures and equipment that facilitate and maintain safe learning environments for students.

Examples of allowable expenses include school visitor management and emergency alert system improvements, as well as staff training.

• Source of funds — Arkansas Department of Education
• Funding amount — $35 million total funding
• Eligibility — Arkansas public school districts, open-enrollment public charter schools

Colorado Preventing School Violence Grant (PSV)

The Preventing School Violence Grant is an award issued by the National Bureau of Justice to eligible schools in Colorado. The grant’s purpose is to strengthen safety plans and training programs to help staff prevent and respond to acts of violence and aggression in schools.

PSV awards can be used to finance the employment of School Resource Officers (SROs), mental health professionals and training programs related to school violence prevention, as well as tools and technologies to assist faculty members in addressing violent altercations. 

• Source of funds — Colorado Department of Education
• Funding amount — $16 million total funding
• Eligibility — Colorado public schools and education providers

Indiana Secured School Safety Grant (SSSG)

The Indiana Secured School Safety Grant was established in 2013 to improve school safety in the state. School corporations, accredited non-public schools, charter schools and coalitions of school corporations operating in Indiana can apply for dedicated state funding for school security upgrades through this program for cash-match grants.

Funds awarded through this grant for school security can be used to finance a wide range of safety and security upgrades, from practical measures such as the employment of SROs and the delivery of staff security training programs, to the purchase of equipment used to improve access security, visitor management and security responses.

• Source of funds — Indiana Department of Homeland Security
• Funding amount — $35,000 at 25% cash match to $100,000 at 100% cash match
• Eligibility — Indiana school corporations, non-public schools and charter schools

Missouri Stronger Connections Grant (SCG)

The SCG school security grant, part of the wider Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), is a government initiative offering $14.7 million in funding to Missouri schools to create safer and healthier learning environments via practical, organizational and technological solutions.

Permitted expenses through the SCG program include violence prevention and early threat detection training, as well as the development of safety screening, threat detection and early warning technologies used to help identify and provide specialist support to at-risk students.

• Source of funds — Missouri Department of Education
• Funding amount — $14.7 million total funding
• Eligibility — Missouri schools and educational institutions

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)

The PCCD is a region-specific grant that aids the state of Pennsylvania to benefit from a comprehensive suite of school safety grants. These grants are designed to enhance the safety and security of students and staff in educational institutions across the state. 

The funding supports a range of initiatives, including violence prevention programs, mental health services and physical security upgrades. By investing in these areas, Pennsylvania schools can create safer learning environments that are more conducive to education and overall student well-being. 

• Source of funds – State budget allocations, federal grants and special funds created by Pennsylvania legislation and local contributions
• Funding amount – An initial $60 million, consistently receiving significant state resources
• Eligibility – Open to public schools, charter schools and technical centers in Pennsylvania. Non-public schools may also qualify under specific conditions.

What do grants for school security improvements cover?

The exact details regarding which technologies, systems and equipment will be covered will vary depending on the school safety grant program. Generally speaking, financial aid will be offered to pay or subsidize the costs of technologies schools can reasonably claim are used to improve safety and security. 

Some school security grants are targeted for more specific use cases. For example, the American Rescue Plan (ARP funding for schools) covers most costs associated with social, emotional and mental health. Localized safety grants, such as the Ontario school safety grants, may have more specific stipulations around what the grant covers.

How to apply for 2026 school security grants

When applying for school security grants financed by the U.S. government, administrators will be required to write and submit a detailed grant proposal to a pre-specified local or state authority. A successful proposal will thoroughly outline the intended purpose of the funding.

To apply for 2026 school security grants, school administrators and proposal teams must:

• Review program requirements: Each federal safety grant for schools has an associated document named a Request for Funding Proposal (RFP) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). These outline key requirements such as grant intention, deadlines, registration details, formatting rules and required evidence.
• Identify relevant improvements: Using information provided in the RFP / NOFO, grant teams should identify security improvements that meet school safety grant criteria. Planning can be conducted during School Safety Week or when teams can gather and perform proper research.
• Plan budgets and timelines: Grants for school security improvements will only be awarded to institutions that can demonstrate how equipment/​measures will be financed and delivered. Some grants require a portion of funding to be supplied by the awardee.
• Write a compelling proposal: Alongside technical information like selection criteria, timelines and budgets, proposals for school security grants must contain a compelling narrative argument that demonstrates the school’s need for funding.
• Submit through approved channels: Typically, federal grants are submitted through Grants​.gov and require prior registration through SAM​.gov. Best practices dictate that proposals be sent 5 – 7 days before posted deadlines.

Best practices for securing funding

When it comes to registering for and formulating a final grant submission, there are several best practices that educators should follow, including:

Meeting administrative requirements

A typical school safety grant program will require school officials to register their organization with the US government’s System for Award Management (SAM) database. Officials must check with their chosen grant provider to see whether their application will require additional registration with a secondary administrative system, such as Just Grants, before submitting any proposals. 

Appointing a grant proposal team

To help secure a grant, school administrators must collect and organize relevant data clearly. Assign specific roles to trusted staff to avoid delays, missed deadlines and errors in the proposal development process.

Important positions include:

• Grant Advocate — This individual will be responsible for locating grant opportunities, identifying and voicing grant requirements and selecting who will manage the pre- and post-award processes.

• Project Manager — The project manager must ensure all administrative and registration needs are met, coordinate stakeholders, compile Letters of Intent and oversee the proposal’s submittal.

• Grant Writer — The grant writer will be tasked with developing a narrative for the proposal, collecting data to support this narrative and submitting the finalized grant application.

• Post-Award Manager — This role will involve ensuring that all purchasing requirements and discussed project deliverables are met and reported in line with the grant program’s criteria.

Researching safe schools grants

After identifying needs and developing a strategic grant proposal process, officials must search for grant programs with matching criteria. Methods to achieve this include:

• Grants Databases — Free and fee-based databases can be used to search for new and existing grant programs that match the school’s search criteria.

• State Administering Agency — School officials can register directly with their State Administering Agency to receive updates regarding available state-funded grants for school security.

• Funding Source — All federal school security grants posted by federal agencies will be uploaded to the Grants​.gov online database. From here, admins can search for and apply to grant programs.

Additional documentation

School security grants are typically awarded to organizations with a clear, comprehensive safety plan outlining measurable security improvements across the district. To illustrate this, supporting documents should be prepared, including:

• An emergency management plan

• Site and risk assessments

• Threat assessment procedures

• Implemented training and drills

• Action reports and assessments

Submit a comprehensive application

School security grants are highly competitive, often receiving more applications than available funds. School officials must therefore understand grant-writing requirements and submit a well-researched proposal. School districts can achieve this by:

• Paying careful attention to grant requirements, including deadline dates, registration information, contact details, formatting and supporting evidence.
• Appealing to the selection criteria by comparing the content to the specific criteria outlined in the RFP or NOFA document.
• Requesting a second opinion to ensure that the application is well-structured, easy to understand and answers the questions posed by the awarding body. 

Creative tips for spending grant program funds

Alongside traditional uses of school safety grants for cameras in classrooms, access control systems and trained law-enforcement officers, K‑12 educators may wish to explore a number of creative ways to spend school security funding to maximize the value of their proposals and secure larger awards. Ideas include:

• STEM programs — Grants for school security are focused on negating learning loss amongst students, alongside improving on-site security. Funds can reasonably be spent on educational tools like robotics kits and lab equipment, as well as math and coding programs.
• Environmental sensors — Specialized sensor devices can be deployed to create automated early-warning systems that alert staff of harmful changes in air quality, intruders or loud noises. 
• Communication devices — Grants can fund new communication devices, such as two-way radios, for school safety. This can improve incident and emergency responses by implementing a reliable communication method.
• Flexible classrooms — ARP schools can use grant funding to create modern learning spaces equipped with flexible seating arrangements, variable-height tables and other furniture upgrades to promote interaction and collaboration.

Get help with your school security grants

School safety grants help administrators fund improvements in physical security systems, dedicated school resource officers, staff/​student training and, in some cases, technology and equipment for learning resources and infrastructure. Schools must carefully review eligibility and criteria for grants, ensuring their needs align with the awarding body’s requirements and that their proposal adheres to the RFP or NOFA.

To help secure school security funding, officials need a documented plan and a grant proposal team. The free Avigilon Grant Assistance program aids administrators at any stage, from research to proposal review for physical security solutions. Contact our third-party grant experts today for personalized help.