School safety has become a public focus in the United States. Students and educators today have grown up in an era where on-campus safety threats are an ongoing reality and the subject of frequent, often difficult, discussions.
While safety is rising as a priority, budgets have not been as fast to respond to accommodate campus upgrades that maximize safety and assist schools, students, teachers and families affected by violence. In this gap, many private safety grants for schools and federal funding programs have emerged.
We’ve rounded up details on school security grants and funding available to public and private schools. These funds can be used to assist schools with infrastructure upgrades and provide assistance to students, staff, and families recovering from school-based emergencies. While some of these grants are currently paused, this list can serve as a valuable reference, as many may reopen in the future.
School Safety Grants & Funding for Public & Private Schools
School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)
This Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant provides up to 75% funding for the following school safety measures for K-12 schools:
- Coordination with law enforcement
- Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self
- Metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures
- Technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency
- Any other measure that the COPS office determines may provide a significant improvement in security
Status: Applications open! Submission part one is due June 18, 2025, at 4:59 pm ET; part two is due June 26, 2025, at 4:59 pm ET.
NRA School Shield Grants
From the NRA Foundation, NRA School Shield Grants are given to K-12 public and nonprofit private schools for projects and activities focused on improving school security. Examples of past awards include funds to support perimeter fencing updates and repairs, secured visitor entry systems (door buzzers with security cameras and intercoms), DVR and camera systems, window safety/security film, immediate response systems/panic buttons, communications systems, training, and emergency kits.
Status: Applications open! Submission deadline is June 20, 2025.
Walmart’s Spark Good Local Grants
From Walmart, Spark Good Local Grants support local organizations that meet the needs of their communities. Each year, Walmart U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs and Distribution Centers award local cash grants ranging from $250 to $5,000. All K-12 public or nonprofit private schools, charter schools, community/junior colleges, state/private colleges, and universities are eligible. Institutions must have a NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) number or 501c3 tax status and be verified with Deed.
Status: Applications open and accepted on a quarterly basis. The next submission deadline is July 15, 2025. Applications also will be accepted between August 1 and October 15, 2025; and November 3 and December 31, 2025.
Walmart Grant Information Here
Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV)
This Department of Education grant provides funding to short-term education-related services for local educational agencies and institutions of higher education to help them recover from a violent or traumatic event in which the learning environment has been disrupted.
Status: Unknown; see contact information at link below
STOP (Students Teachers Officers Preventing) School Violence Program
This Bureau of Justice Assistance (Department of Justice) grant provides funding to improve school safety by providing students, teachers and staff with tools to recognize, respond quickly to and prevent acts of violence. Solutions include school-based behavioral threat assessments and/or intervention teams to identify school violence risks among students, technological innovations that are shown to increase school safety such as anonymous reporting technology, and other school safety strategies that assist in preventing violence.
Status: Applications closed; previously open between April and June 2024
OJJDP Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence
From the U.S. Department of Justice, the Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, this program provides funding to communities to help children and their families who are exposed to violence build resilience, restore their safety, heal their social and emotional wounds, and prevent future violence and delinquency. Funding can be used to develop and or enhance direct support services for children exposed to violence to reduce the adverse impact of violence on youth, families, and communities, and to help family-serving organizations better recognize and help families at risk for exposure to violence.
Status: 2025 applications closed in March; next application period could be announced in January 2026
Rotary Foundation District Grants
Rotary Foundation District Grants can be used to fund a variety of district and club projects and activities, including:
- Humanitarian projects, including service travel and disaster recovery efforts
- Youth programs, including Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Rotaract, and Interact
Applicants must partner with a local Rotary Club.
Status: Deadlines are district-specific; contact your local Rotary Clubs
Nonprofit Security Grant Program National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS)
A FEMA grant from the Department of Homeland Security, this federal grant for school safety provides funding support for facility hardening and other physical security enhancements and activities to nonprofit organizations that are at high risk of terrorist or other extremist attack. The intent is to integrate nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state and local preparedness efforts. All NSGP-NSS activities must be linked to enhancing the security and safety at the physical site of the nonprofit organization.
Please note: A State Administrative Agency (SAA) is the only entity eligible to apply for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program on behalf of sub applicants. Some state application windows may only be open for a limited time or have additional requirements. Any interested sub applicants should reach out to their respective SAA contact for state-specific application information.
Status: 2025 applications closed in January; next application period could open in October 2025
NSGP-NSS Grant Information Here
State-Specific Grants for School Security
In addition to national funding opportunities, many states fund their own grant programs to support school safety initiatives. Exploring your state’s available grants for school security systems can help your school secure funding that makes it easier to take meaningful action at the local level.
TEXAS: 2024-2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant
For Texas education systems only, this Texas Education Agency grant allows local education agencies (LEAs) who have certified they are NOT in compliance, to implement the adopted safety standards applicable to Chapter 61, Sub-chapter CC, 61.031 of Commissioner’s Rules. Funds will assist LEAs in meeting the adopted school safety standards. LEAs already in compliance with the adopted safety standards will be able to utilize grant funds for other security measures.
Status: Applications closed; previous deadline was June 2024
TEXAS: Urban Area Security Initiative Federal Fiscal Year 2025–Regular Projects (UASI-R)
The Texas Public Safety Office (PSO) is soliciting applications for projects that support state and local efforts to prevent terrorism and other catastrophic events and prepare for the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to the security of Texas citizens. PSO provides funding to implement investments that build, sustain, and deliver the 32 core capabilities essential to achieving a secure and resilient state. Per Congressional mandate (911 Act), twenty-five percent (25%) of the combined Homeland Security Grant Program funding must be spent on Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA). FEMA has increased this requirement to 35%. The purpose of this solicitation is to assist high-threat, high-density Urban Areas in efforts to build and sustain the capabilities necessary to prevent terrorist attacks and support critical prevention and protection activities. All LETPA investments must be consistent with capability targets set during the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) process, and gaps identified in the State Preparedness Report (SPR).
Status: 2025 applications closed in April; next application period could open in March 2026
TENNESSEE: Charter School Program (CSP) Grant
Funding for this grant comes from the U.S. Department of Education through the Tennessee Department of Education. The grant purpose is to provide funding for post-award planning and design of the educational program, including refining results (standards) and measurements (evaluation) of progress toward those results, which includes:
- Research-based professional development for teachers and other staff that includes national staff development standards
- Initial implementation of the charter school including:
- Informing the community about the school
- Acquiring necessary equipment and educational materials and supplies,
- Acquiring, developing, or aligning curriculum
- Other initial operational costs
Status: 2025 applications closed May 1; next application period could open in March 2026
Leverage Grants for School Safety Equipment, Technology, Security Systems & Other Programs
Private and government grants for school safety can play a vital role in helping school districts create safer environments and support communities affected by violence. We encourage school leaders, district administrators, and community advocates to explore these school safety and security grants, stay informed about application windows, and advocate for continued investment in school safety funding. By tapping into available resources, schools can take meaningful steps toward prevention, preparedness, and healing.
Many of the grants listed can be used to fund solutions like Life Check, a school security system that ensures school doors are checked and locked on schedule, and stay locked, everyday. For schools seeking to enhance everyday safety and accountability, Life Check is a powerful and affordable option that aligns with the goals of many funding programs.