The Nonprofit Security Grant Program will increase from $5 million to $10 million as part of Pennsylvania’s 2024-’25 state budget, according to the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition.
Gov. Josh Shapiro called for the increase in his budget address in February. The program helps synagogues, schools and other houses of worship and nonprofit organizations enhance security measures such as bulletproof windows and cameras.
The increase was supported by the PJC and politicians across the political spectrum. It passed the General Assembly as part of a $47.6 billion budget with overwhelming support, 190-10 in the House and 48-1 in the Senate.
Shapiro signed the budget on July 12, nearly two weeks after the initial June 30 deadline.
During his February address, the governor said, “We’ll also increase nonprofit security grants for places like mosques, churches and synagogues…,” during a portion about addressing gun violence.
The new budget included $100 million for gun violence prevention programs.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency will allocate the grants.
“We need to protect our communities,” PJC Executive Director Hank Butler said.
Pennsylvania lawmakers enacted the grant program in 2019 after the October 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. Since then, it has distributed more than $25 million to synagogues and other nonprofit organizations.
In year one of the program, 67% of such grants went to Jewish groups. By year five last year, only 42% were allocated to Jewish organizations, though that’s because many benefited initially, according to Butler.
The program was reauthorized through 2028-’29 in 2022. Yet it became evident last year that $5 million per budget was not enough.
In 2023-’24, the PCCD got 537 applications for grants. It could only say yes to 93 of them.
“There’s a clear indication that there’s a need for this,” said Butler.
Since Oct. 7, antisemitism has increased locally and nationally. The Anti-Defamation League estimates that the national increase is by a percentage in the hundreds. The ADL’s Philadelphia office tracked more than 100 complaints of antisemitic incidents from Oct. 7 to early December, according to Regional Director Andrew Goretsky.
Even before Oct. 7, the ADL’s well-publicized audit of antisemitic incidents counted 3,697 in 2022. That broke 2021’s record by 36%. (The ADL began conducting the audit in 1979.)
“Given the rise in hate and the rise in issues, the need for funding to secure institutions is important for a community’s safety,” Goretsky said in February after Shapiro’s budget address.
Last year, many synagogues in the Philadelphia area — Beth Chaim Reform Congregation, Old York Road Temple-Beth Am and others — got security grants. Other prominent Jewish organizations in the region — such as the Kaiserman JCC, Kohelet Yeshiva and Perelman Jewish Day School — also received money.
As Kohelet Yeshiva Executive Director Jennifer Groen said in February, the school already had strong security post-Tree of Life. But private assessments showed that the school needed further enhancements.
Rabbi Moshe Brennan said that his Chabad of Penn Wynne, based in Philadelphia, had to “update the stuff we have.” It also needed to train congregants to respond to active security threats.
“God helps those who help themselves,” he said. “We’re not waiting and reacting.”
Butler made a similar point.
“Our reaction was to go from being reactive to more proactive to protect against acts of hate,” he said.
The grant program was initially passed by a Republican General Assembly and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2019. Then it was reauthorized by Wolf and a Republican GA in 2022. But in 2024, it was increased by a Democratic House and governor and a Republican Senate.
Local Jewish politicians praised the increase.
“Now more than ever, we need to find opportunities to work across boundaries and find policies that benefit everyone,” said state Rep. Ben Waxman of the 182nd District in Center City.
“While we all wish it wasn’t the case that houses of worship require increased security, we know in the current climate security improvements are necessary, particularly as we see antisemitic rhetoric on the rise,” added state Sen. Steve Santarsiero of the 10th District in Bucks County.
Butler said politicians often ask him if the program is working, and he says yes. There have been no Tree of Life tragedies since Tree of Life.
“You see bulletproof glass and cameras. It’s definitely working to deter acts of hate,” Butler said.
The PCCD opened the 36-day application process on July 23. Visit pccd.pa.gov to apply.