ASIS Foundation awards more than 120 COVID-19 support grants

Alexandria, VA—ASIS International, the world’s largest association for security management professionals, announced that the ASIS Foundation has awarded more than 120 COVID-19 Support Grants to its global membership since the launch of the program in November 2020. This is a major component of the association’s efforts to address the global economic climate and those security communities hit hardest by the pandemic.

The ASIS Foundation Board of Trustees approved $100,000 in grants to be awarded to ASIS members in need, encouraging individuals who had been financially impacted by the pandemic to apply for a grant to renew their ASIS membership free of charge or to receive a complimentary online certification study program. This program will continue through March 2021. Grant applications are reviewed by ASIS staff and all application materials remain confidential.

“Giving back to the security community is what the ASIS Foundation does best,” said Brian Allen, CPP, Chair, ASIS Foundation Board of Trustees. “We recognize that security professionals around the world have faced unprecedented challenges and need support. I thank my fellow ASIS Foundation board members for their agility in addressing the challenges faced by our members throughout the world.”

Highlights from the program thus far include:

124 grants awarded to date, to recipients in 27 countries

76 percent of grants received were used for the renewal of ASIS membership

50 percent of grant recipients are located outside of the United States

24 percent of grants received were used for certification review courses

Recipients’ stories range from those who got COVID-19 themselves and now face high medical bills, to those who have endured pay cuts up to even 50 percent, those who have been furloughed for a month or more, or those who have lost their jobs all together. Applicants come from a variety of positions, from frontline to senior level and business owners. Many worked in event security, hotels, airlines, and other industries that have been very hard-hit by the pandemic.

“This is a great example of ASIS leaving no security professional behind during these challenging times,” said John Petruzzi, Jr, CPP, President, ASIS International. “On behalf of our members in 158 countries, I would like to thank the leadership of the ASIS Foundation for their support of our global network of security professionals.”