Frankel announces $1.3 million in funding to safeguard local organizations
Rep. Dan B. Frankel March 12, 2026 | 3:29 PM
PITTSBURGH, March 12 – State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, announced today that more than $1.3 million in nonprofit security funding has been awarded in his district to help protect organizations that serve vulnerable populations.
“The institutions that bring neighbors together—places of worship, community centers and service organizations—should never have to choose between their mission and basic security,” Frankel said. “It’s in all of our interests to keep these locations protected.”
Frankel worked with Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, after the 2018 attack on the congregations in the Tree of Life building to create the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program, which provides funding to Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organizations who principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single-bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s 2017 Hate Crime Statistics publication. The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry; religion; sexual orientation; disability; gender; and gender identity.
“I am pleased to announce the recipients of this round of Nonprofit Security Grant Funds alongside my friend and fellow longtime champion of this program, Rep. Dan Frankel,” Costa said. “Pennsylvanians deserve to gather, learn, pray, dance and volunteer free from fear. Alongside my colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus and the House Democratic Caucus, I will continue to fight for funding that delivers on this key value. I look forward to building on this momentum in our budget process, in our communities, and beyond.”
The grants can be used for safety and security planning, purchasing safety equipment or technology, training and threat assessments, or other safety-related projects.
This is the eighth cohort of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which has authorized $35 million in funding to more than 700 applicants and 530 unique organizations since its inception. Based on reported data of the number of people who visit these facilities, it is estimated that up to 7 million people across the Commonwealth have been impacted by this funding to date.
The following organizations in the 23rd District were awarded funding:
- Aleph Institute Inc. - $25,000
- Chabad of Carnegie Mellon University Inc. - $75,000
- Chabad of Squirrel Hill - $25,000
- Church of the Redeemer - $55,355
- Community Day School - $150,000
- Congregation Beth Shalom - $150,000
- Congregation Dor Hadash - $17,000
- Congregation Kether Torah - $25,000
- Congregation Poale Zedeck - $25,000
- Jewish Home and Hospital for Aged - $25,000
- Lubavitch Center - $25,000
- Machon Schneerson Chabad - $25,000
- National Council of Young Israel, Young Israel of Greater Pittsburgh - $25,000
- Our Giving Kitchen Pittsburgh - $25,000
- Pittsburgh Kollel Bais Yitzchok - $25,000
- Rodef Shalom Congregation - $150,000
- T of L Inc. - $150,000
- The Jewish Spark - $75,000
- Tzohar Arts - $25,000
- Yeshivath Achei Tmimim of Pittsburgh - $150,000
- Young Men & Womens Hebrew Association & Irene Kaufmann Centers - $53,000
- Young Peoples Synagogue - $13,200
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