Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that 311 nonprofit and faith-based organizations in California will receive over $43.7 million in federal funding to enhance security against hate-based violence. The funds are provided through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, a federal initiative aimed at bolstering safety measures for vulnerable communities. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is responsible for administering these grants within the state.

"An attack against any community is an attack against our entire state and our values," stated Governor Newsom. "We will protect the ability of every Californian to worship, love, and gather safely without fear of hate or violent attacks."

The funding is part of a larger national allocation of $434.5 million, with California receiving approximately 10% of the total amount—the highest share among all states. This financial support will be used for various security enhancements such as reinforced doors, gates, high-intensity lighting, access control systems, and inspection and screening systems.

Nancy Ward, Director of Cal OES, emphasized California's commitment to safety: "California is dedicated to helping our communities stay safe from violent hate crimes and get access to essential financial funding to support those efforts."

Hate crimes remain a significant issue across the country. Recent data from California indicates an increase in hate crimes targeting Jewish, Muslim, and LGBTQ+ communities in 2023. Anti-Black bias crime events continue to be the most common despite a decrease in overall reported incidents from 2022 to 2023.

This federal funding complements $76 million in state funding announced earlier this year through the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program. Since its inception in 2015, this state program has awarded $152.75 million to 924 community groups.

California has invested more than $230 million since 2019 into improving safety for diverse communities through facility hardening and other physical security measures at high-risk nonprofit organizations. Additionally, about $128 million in federal funds have been allocated for similar purposes under the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

In recent years, Governor Newsom has taken several steps to combat hate violence and discrimination. These include establishing the Commission on the State of Hate, signing an executive order to protect communities further against discrimination, launching CA vs Hate—a multilingual hotline and website—and supporting community services for victims through various state departments.