Help Keep Nonprofits Safe

No community in our state should have to choose between gathering and feeling safe. Houses of worship and nonprofits across Maine have faced skyrocketing security needs, and many have already been forced to divert scarce resources toward guards, cameras, and other protective measures.

MANP is proud to stand with a broad and interfaith coalition of nonprofits and houses of worship in support of LD 2107, An Act to Establish the Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which successfully passed both the Maine House and Maine Senate last week.

Speak Up for Safety

The bill has one last major hurdle—getting past the Appropriations committee, where legislators will determine the amount allocated to the security fund. If this committee determines this bill is not enough of a priority to fund, it will effectively die.

Your voice will make a difference. The best and most effective thing is for legislators to hear from a diverse set of organizations, urging them to fund LD 2107 to its full amount of $1.5 million. The federal Nonprofit Security Grant program already supports churches, synagogues, mosques, hospitals, community centers, and other nonprofits in Maine—LD 2107 will allow even more organizations to access security funds at a crucial moment.

Template Email

Honorable Members of the Appropriations Committee,

I am writing as a Mainer [FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OR LEADERSHIP ROLE] to respectfully request that you fully fund LD 2107, An Act to Establish the Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program, at $1.5 million.

No community in our state should have to choose between gathering and feeling safe. Houses of worship and nonprofits across Maine have faced skyrocketing security needs, and many have already been forced to divert scarce resources toward guards, cameras, and other protective measures. Other states—including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Texas—have all passed similar nonprofit security grant programs at the state level. Nebraska, a state with a comparable but slightly larger population than Maine, funded their state nonprofit security grant program in 2024 with $11.4 million. LD 2107 only asks for $1.5 million to protect lives. LD 2107 also supplements the Federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which historically has had a <50% acceptance rate and faces an uncertain future. 

[OPTIONAL - ADD A PERSONAL NOTE OR LINK ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES AFFECTING YOUR COMMUNITY]

This bill protects all Mainers. It is not about one faith or one institution. It is a commonsense public safety measure that would help protect people of all backgrounds as they gather for worship, education, service, and community life. At a time when too many institutions feel vulnerable, the Legislature should give them a responsible tool to improve safety and preparedness.

I respectfully ask you to fund LD 2107 to its full amount of $1.5 million.

Thank You,

[YOUR NAME & ORGANIZATION]

Legislator Contact Information

Appropriations Committee (alphabetical by last name)

• Rep. Amy Bradstreet Arata (R) — Amy.Arata@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 333-1817
• Sen. Susan Bernard (R) — susan.bernard@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 287-1505
• Rep. Mark John Blier (R) — Mark.Blier@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 712-5705
• Rep. Michael F. Brennan (D) — Michael.Brennan@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 939-6462
• Rep. Deqa Dhalac (D) — Deqa.Dhalac@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 613-5390
• Rep. John “Jack” E. Ducharme III (R) — Jack.Ducharme@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 431-0775
• Rep. Kenneth Wade Fredette (R)— Kenneth.Fredette@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 287-1440; (207) 368-5562
• Rep. Drew Gattine (D) — Andrew.Gattine@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 409-3477
• Rep. Ann Higgins Matlack (D) — Ann.Matlack@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 691-1474; (207) 594-4831
• Rep. Ambureen Rana (D) — Ambureen.Rana@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 350-5081
• Sen. Cameron Reny (D) — cameron.reny@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 287-1515
• Sen. Peggy Rotundo (D) — margaret.rotundo@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 784-3259; (207) 287-1515
•  Rep. Holly B. Stover (D) — Holly.Stover@legislature.maine.gov — (207) 633-5979