116 Illinois Nonprofits Given $20 Million In State Security Grants

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Over a hundred nonprofit organizations across Illinois have been awarded grants of up to $450,000 to be spent on security enhancements, state officials announced.

The 116 organizations, including religious, educational and cultural institutions, have been allocated a combined $20 million through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program, according the agency and the governor's office.

The money must be spent on "target-hardening," which can include hiring security staff, conducting active shooter trainings, buying or installing security equipment on the nonprofit's property.

"The 116 non-profit groups will be able to immediately purchase and implement safety measures at their facilities," IEMA Director Alicia Tate-Nadeau. "Security equipment, facility hardening, and other operational actions are just some ways these groups are increasing safety measures for their organizations."

Grant recipients have three years to complete their security enhancements, and only locations occupied at the time of their applications are eligible, according to the state emergency response agency.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement that the safety of the public would always remain his top priority.

"This $20 million investment will provide grantees — from mosques and synagogues to education centers and cultural institutions — the resources they need to enhance safety measures amidst the rising tide of extremism," Pritzker said.

"From Skokie to Peoria, Illinoisans deserve to be able to congregate safely with their communities," the governor added, "and that's exactly what the Nonprofit Security Grant Program achieves."

A dozen Skokie nonprofits are among those to receive grants from the program, the largest of which was Hebrew Theological College, or Skokie Yeshiva, at 7135 Carpenter Road. In other Niles Township municipalities, the Muslim Community Center in Morton Grove and CityLine Bible Church were also awarded security grants.

State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) represents the area. He said he was grateful for those that advocated to for the funding.

"Though we have taken historic steps to make Illinois the most welcoming state in the nation, there has been a rise in anti-Semitism, anti-Asian American hate, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and hate crimes," Villivalam said in a statement. "We must stay vigilant and provide as many tools in the toolbox as possible to root out hate."

According to the governor's office, many of the grant recipients have been "deemed at high-risk of a terrorist attack."

The five nonprofits to receive the maximum amount of grant money are Catholic Bishop of Chicago, Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov Elementary School, Libenu, Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago and Yeshiva Gedola of the Midwest.

When combined, a pair of Planned Parenthood organizations — Chicago-based Planned Parenthood of Illinois and Fairview Heights-based Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri received nearly the maximum amount.

Also in line for security funding from the Pritzker administration: the Waterleaf Women's Center in Aurora, a crisis pregnancy center recommended by Illinois Right to Life and other anti-abortion advocates.

Full list of 2022 Nonprofit Security Grant Program recipients: