Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 25 June 2026

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Fiscal Year 2026 Nonprofit Security Grant Program

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the availability of approximately $1.5 billion in federal preparedness and security funding to help communities prevent terrorism, strengthen emergency preparedness, and protect critical infrastructure across the United States. The funding will support a range of programs focused on enhancing state, local, tribal, and territorial capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist threats and other hazards. FEMA emphasized that the grants will help communities improve cybersecurity, safeguard critical infrastructure, enhance information sharing and intelligence capabilities, strengthen emergency management operations, and increase the security of vulnerable public spaces and nonprofit organizations. The investment is intended to empower local partners to address evolving threats while building long-term resilience and preparedness nationwide.

Analyst Comments: For faith-based organizations and houses of worship, this funding is particularly significant because programs such as the Nonprofit Security Grant Program can help offset the costs of security improvements, including access control systems, surveillance equipment, cybersecurity enhancements, security training, and emergency preparedness planning. As threats against religious institutions continue to evolve, these resources provide opportunities for houses of worship to strengthen both their physical and cyber security posture while improving coordination with local emergency management and law enforcement partners.

Resources to Mitigate the Risk of Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, & Wrongful Detention

The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) published a resource package designed to help organizations and individuals reduce the risks associated with hostage-taking, kidnapping, and wrongful detention while operating overseas. Developed in coordination with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the U.S. Department of State, and the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell (HRFC), the resource includes a comprehensive playbook that provides guidance on prevention, preparedness, response, and post-incident support for organizations facing these threats abroad. The package also contains country- and region-specific “placemats” that outline key threat actors, tactics, and commonly targeted individuals in high-risk locations, including Afghanistan, Haiti, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and West Africa. These resources are intended to help organizations better understand local threat environments and strengthen their security planning and crisis management capabilities before an incident occurs.

Analyst Comments: For faith-based organizations, mission groups, humanitarian workers, and religious personnel operating internationally, these resources provide valuable insight into regions where kidnapping, hostage-taking, or wrongful detention risks are elevated. Houses of worship that sponsor overseas missions, disaster relief efforts, or international partnerships can use the playbook to enhance travel security procedures, conduct risk assessments, establish emergency communication plans, and prepare leadership teams to respond effectively during a crisis. The country-specific threat profiles are particularly useful for organizations planning travel to higher-risk regions, helping them make informed decisions about personnel safety and operational security.