Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Kate Stewart announced on Friday, April 4, that $1.2 million would be granted to help nonprofit and faith-based organizations boost security and deter hate crimes in the County.
The grants are part of Montgomery County’s FY25 Nonprofit Security Grant program, for local facilities who have experience or are at high risk of experiencing hate crimes. Funds support security personnel, security planning, training, and equipment. Since FY19, the County has committed more than $4.1 million toward the grant program, with this year being the second in a row with the award amount being $1.2 million.
The Montgomery County Department of Police 2024 Annual Report on Bias Incidents illustrates the need for this grant. In 2024, the following statistics were reported:
- 45% of the bias incidents reported involved some type of verbal intimidation
- 11% involved written intimidation
- 11% involved simple assault
- 75% 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; 53 of those incidents involved anti-Israel/pro-Palestine language or imagery
- 7 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
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.
From the County’s announcement on the grants,
“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.”
