Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a significant funding initiative aimed at protecting local faith communities and nonprofit organizations in California from hate-motivated violence. The state will distribute $76 million in grants to 347 community groups, marking the largest allocation of its kind to date. This effort is a collaborative venture with the state Legislature.
Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of safety for Californians, stating, “Today more than ever, our state stands together to support our communities. Californians deserve the right to worship, love, and gather safely, without fear of violence.”
The funds come as part of the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program and nearly double previous awards. The program targets organizations at high risk for violent attacks due to their ideology or mission. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and Senator Scott Wiener expressed gratitude towards Governor Newsom for his leadership in securing these funds. They noted, “We have no doubt that this funding will continue to make a major difference in protecting the Jewish community and all communities targeted by hate.”
Out of 347 recipients, 269 are organizations based on ideology or spirituality. The grant application process was highly competitive, with over 1,600 applications requesting more than $325 million in total.
Administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), these grants aim to bolster physical security measures like reinforced doors and access control systems. Since its inception in fiscal year 2015, the program has awarded $228,750,000 to high-risk organizations.
California’s broader efforts against hate include investing over $400 million since 2019 in community resources and security infrastructure for faith-based institutions. This includes initiatives like the Golden State Plan to Counter Antisemitism and CA vs Hate hotline launched in 2023 for reporting hate acts anonymously.
