Montgomery County Executive Elrich and Council President Stewart Announce $1.2 Million in Grant Awards for Hate Crime Prevention and Security
For Immediate Release: Friday, April 4, 2025
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Kate Stewart, Councilmembers and local leaders announced $1.2 million in grant awards to help nonprofit and faith-based organizations enhance security and deter hate crimes.
The grants, awarded through the County’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Nonprofit Security Grant program, are designated for local nonprofit or faith-based organizations located in Montgomery County whose facilities have experienced or are at high risk of experiencing hate crimes. They will help fund security personnel, security planning, training or exercise measures or new security cameras. The County’s $1.2 million commitment to protecting eligible organizations was announced in September 2024.
“Hate has no place in Montgomery County, and it’s our job to make sure that everyone—regardless of their race, religion or background—feels safe in their community,” said County Executive Elrich. “These grants help reduce the burden on nonprofit and faith-based institutions that are being forced to take extra steps to protect themselves. This program is part of our broader commitment to confronting hate in all its forms, supporting those targeted by it and making clear that this County stands for inclusion and respect.”
Since FY19, the County has committed more than $4.1 million toward the security grant program. This is the second year in a row that the County has awarded $1.2 million in funds to help protect nonprofit or faith-based organizations. County Executive Elrich’s proposed FY26 budget continues funding for these grants.
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“County leaders are committed to fostering a climate of inclusion, connection and compassion to ensure that our community remains a safe and welcoming place to live, work, worship and raise a family,” said Council President Stewart. “We cannot allow our places of worship, nonprofit centers and community hubs to become places of fear. It’s our responsibility to do all we can to protect our nonprofit and faith partners from acts of hate and violence. This more than $1 million in funding for security grants is one way we can bolster protection for the community organizations that do so much to uplift residents and provide essential services for our wonderfully diverse community.”
This funding is designed to help them reduce the burden of safety and security enhancements. Recipients can use their awarded funds to:
- Hire security personnel or augment current security personnel
- Pay for a security assessment or plan​
- Conduct security training​
- Develop and execute a security drill​
- Purchase new security cameras for their facility
- New this year – funds can be used to purchase a fususCORE device to enable camera integration with MCPD
“The Nonprofit Security Grant Program is a shining example of how Montgomery County is leading not just with words but with actions, not just with feelings but with funding, to keep our residents and community organizations safe,” said Councilmember Andrew Friedson. “We don’t retreat in the face of hatred and bigotry, we redouble our efforts to combat hate in all its forms so our residents can live, learn and worship freely and safely.”
Statistics detailed in the Montgomery County Department of Police 2024 Annual Report On Bias Incidents reveal why there is a need for this grant. In 2024, 45% of the bias incidents reported involved some type of verbal intimidation, 11% involved written intimidation and 11% involved simple assault. Three out of four of the 192 bias incidents reported were related to religion or race. Out of 94 incidents involving religion, most of those were anti-Jewish in nature. Fifty-three of those incidents involved anti-Israel/pro-Palestine language or imagery. Seven vandalism incidents involved a swastika. There were 49 incidents involving race, with about half including the use of a racial slur commonly associated with persons of color.
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“Montgomery County prides itself on its diversity and protecting our local nonprofits and religious institutions, which are too often targets of hate and bias-related incidents,” said Luke Hodgson, director of OEMHS. “This grant continues to protect against actions that are antithetical to Montgomery County values. We are hopeful that the expansion to include participation in MoCoConnect program will help promote an increased level of security. To complement these grant dollars, OEMHS will continue to provide resources and trainings to help organizations evaluate and better secure their facilities, develop plans for responding to threats and emergencies, and prepare to protect themselves and their communities.”
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The County received 121 applications and 110 projects received funding. The 121 requests totaled more than $1.6 million, significantly exceeding the $1.2 million set aside by the County Executive and County Council. Most grant recipients plan to hire security staff with the funds, often off-duty MCPD officers, and about half of them plan to use funds for security cameras.
Grant recipients who use their funds to buy security cameras can also participate in a new public safety program called MoCo Connect . Participation is not mandatory; however, the grant gives organizations the option to purchase a fususCORE device and integrate their security cameras with the technology of a real-time crime center platform. The device essentially allows non-profit facilities to link their private security cameras with the County’s public safety teams. It helps police respond to critical incidents more efficiently and effectively as they occur to support the safety of vulnerable communities.
“We are thrilled that during this time of great fiscal challenge, that the County Executive continues to prioritize the security of Montgomery County’s diverse communities by providing desperately needed funds to protect their nonprofit institutions,” said Jewish Community Relations Council executive director Ron Halber.
The County also launched a new hate-bias incident complaint portal and a telephone hotline in December. Residents can report a hate-bias incident by visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/report-hate or calling the County’s 311 Call Center which is open from 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Reporting incidents will help Montgomery County track trends in hate-based incidents.
Photos of the announcement are available on flickr .
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Release ID: 25-148
Media Contact: Mark Roper 240-962-1743
Categories: Award , Executive Office , Grants
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=46838