The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today called on Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Office of Emergency Services (CAL-OES) to investigate and address the underrepresentation of Muslim-serving organizations in state nonprofit security grant allocations and ensure these groups receive adequate security funding amid increasing attacks targeting the Muslim community.
On May 22, CAL-OES released its FY 2025 California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP) allocations. CSNSGP is available to nonprofit organizations—including organizations with religious affiliations—that are at high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission. The grant provides support for physical security measures, such as reinforced doors, gates, lighting, and access control systems, as well as the development and enhancement of security plans and protocols.
Of the 343 organizations awarded security grants, only about 6% were readily identifiable as Muslim-serving. Among the Muslim-affiliated awardees, none were identified as Shi’a Muslim-serving organizations. In contrast, approximately 27% were apparently Christian-affiliated organizations, and 35% were apparently Jewish-affiliated organizations.
This discrepancy in funding for faith communities was also evident in previous years. In the FY 2024 CSNSGP allocations, approximately 7% of awardees were Muslim-affiliated organizations, compared to 40% Jewish-affiliated organizations and approximately 27% Christian-affiliated organizations. In the FY 2023 allocations, less than 6% of awardees were Muslim-affiliated organizations, while 52% and 20% were Jewish- and Christian-affiliated organizations, respectively.
California’s religious demographics include an estimated one million Muslim residents, 1.3 million Jewish residents, and more than 20 million Christian residents.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“Amid ongoing violence targeting the Muslim community nationwide—including the recent deadly attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego—the low representation of Muslim-serving organizations receiving CAL-OES’ CSNSGP allocations raises serious and urgent concerns. For the past three years, we’ve seen a troubling pattern of underrepresentation in a program meant to protect vulnerable communities.
“Gov. Newsom’s office must increase outreach to Muslim organizations and conduct an immediate and thorough review to ensure that there is no discriminatory bias in the decision-making process for security grant allocations—especially given the alarming increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric from some elected officials, right-wing groups, and the media, and the baseless scrutiny against Muslim-serving organizations that receive the same public funding as other faith-based groups.”
Last week, CAIR called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to restore Muslim community access to the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) following the recent deadly anti-Muslim terror attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego, warning that Muslim communities, mosques, Islamic schools, community centers, and nonprofit institutions are being deprived of opportunities to enhance their security. In 2025, DHS also reportedly discussed proposals for a “blanket ban” on Muslim organizations receiving security grants.
According to CAIR’s most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship. The organization encourages all mosques, Islamic schools, and community institutions to review their safety plans, remain vigilant, and report any threats, harassment, or suspicious activity to local law enforcement and their local CAIR-CA office.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Director Zaid Hisham, (916) 441-6269, zhisham@cair.com; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, (760) 201-7626, tnizam@cair.com; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, (408) 498-5779, ladam@cair.com