Pennsylvania nonprofits are being invited to apply for grants of $5,000 to $150,000 to improve their security and guard against hate crimes.
The state has $5 million available to distribute through the Non-Profit Security Grant Program, $4.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, and $500,000 left over from the previous round of allocations.
To be eligible, organizations must serve populations covered by one of the FBI's hate-crime categories, which include race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
"I encourage any group that faces bias to apply," Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement. "We will not tolerate hate here."
In 2021, three Lancaster County organizations received funding totaling $52,880 through the program: The Congolese Community of Central Pa. ($15,100); Temple Beth El ($12,898) and Islamic Community Center of Lancaster ($24,882).
According to state police data, hate crimes have ticked upward recently, from an average of 88 from 2016 through 2019 to 111 in 2020 and 219 in 2021.
Funding can be used for security equipment and upgrades, training, threat assessments or similar expenses.
For full information or to apply, click here. The deadline is March 2, and grants will be announced in late March.
