Grant News

By Shannon Day, Senior Grants Development Consultant

The criminal justice process is a series of interconnected phases, each with its own unique challenges. In this series, we will break down that process piece by piece. We are starting at the end and working backward, because the ultimate goal for everyone in the field is sustainable crime reduction, which is reached through education, reentry, and recidivism prevention.

At the federal level, there are numerous funding opportunities for state, local, and tribal correctional institutions, nonprofit organizations, and educational entities working towards successful reentry initiatives. The primary source of funding is through the Department of Justice (DOJ), specifically its Second Chance Act suite of grant programs.

By Chris LaPage, Chief Services Officer, & Ashley Schultz, Manager of Community Engagement

For grant professionals, the start of a new federal fiscal year usually brings a familiar sense of déjà vu. We track the process from the President’s initial budget announcement through Congress’s final vote, anxiously anticipating when federal agencies will finally open their competitive and allocation grant cycles.  

However, the 2026 funding landscape will be built upon a vastly different process from previous years. This year’s budgetary cycle was paralyzed by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and further complicated by aggressive executive realignments. Navigating these legislative delays requires grantseekers to cut through the headline noise and pinpoint the actual drivers that will impact their grant funding pipeline. Ultimately, the most successful organizations will be those ready to identify emerging priorities and adapt their programmatic strategies to the realities of the current administration.

This article will outline the major federal budgetary updates from 2026, breaking down how these shifts impact the grantseeking landscape. For more targeted insights, please refer to our sectorspecific breakdowns available throughout this issue.

U.S. Federal Budget Summary: Critical Infrastructure

Federal critical infrastructure grants finance the construction, maintenance, and defense of essential public works across the U.S. While municipal bonds, state highway funds, and ratepayer fees fuel the baseline operations of public utilities and transportation networks, federal discretionary grants provide necessary supplemental capital. These federal dollars tackle a wide array of high-impact projects—from repaving roads and replacing pipes in wastewater networks to modernizing the power grid to handle increased loads and deploying middle- and last-mile broadband to connect unserved areas. Ultimately, this grant funding primarily flows to state, local, and tribal governments, alongside targeted special districts, transit agencies, and port or airport authorities.

U.S. Federal Budget Summary: Nonprofits & Community Services

Federal grants for community development and human services support the underlying infrastructure of the US social safety net. While local tax bases, private philanthropy, and municipal budgets fund the baseline operations of community services, federal discretionary grants provide necessary supplemental capital. These funds finance the construction of affordable housing, facilitate workforce retraining programs, and sustain essential community action initiatives that local municipalities cannot support alone. Ultimately, this capital flows to state and local governments, public housing authorities, and the patchwork quilt of 501(c)(3) organizations that operate these programs on the ground.

Navigating the Grant Landscape Under a New Administration

What Recent Executive Orders and the Review of Federal Financial Assistance Mean for You

**This is a comprehensive blog that covers the key developments, implications, and strategies for grant seekers navigating the landscape of federal financial assistance under the new Administration. Updates to this blog will continue to be made as the situation develops. Blog last updated on March 24, 2026, at 2:47 pm ET**

This blog explores how executive orders and an ongoing review of federal financial assistance under the new Administration are reshaping the grant landscape. It highlights key developments affecting eligibility, compliance, and funding priorities, outlines the potential implications for grant seekers across sectors, and provides strategies to help organizations adapt and remain competitive in securing federal support. With policy changes still unfolding, the blog serves as a living resource that will continue to be updated as new guidance and opportunities emerge.

SUMMARY: The Milbank Foundation was created in 1995 to pursue Jeremiah Milbank’s vision of integrating people with disabilities into all aspects of American life.

SUMMARY: The Hannaford Charitable Foundation provides financial support to nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the communities where Hannaford operates: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.

SUMMARY: The APF Direct Action Visionary Grants seek to fund innovative interventions, based on psychological knowledge, that directly address pressing needs of communities.

By Meghan Jacobsen, Grants Development Associate

The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is a highly sought-after funding opportunity for nonprofits that lack the security resources needed to protect their people and property from domestic or foreign terrorist threats. As someone who works closely with nonprofit organizations, NSGP season is the busiest time of year for me, and 2025 was no exception. After reviewing and editing countless NSGP applications, I have identified several mistakes I often see nonprofits make. This guide outlines best practices that will allow your organization to avoid the most common pitfalls when drafting your application.

SUMMARY: The foundation favors capital projects that will have an ongoing impact, such as the construction or purchase of new facilities; building renovations and improvements; purchase of capital equipment and furnishings; and/or other one-time capital needs.

SUMMARY: The Continuum of Care (CoC) Program is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; to provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, states, and local governments to quickly re-house homeless individuals, families, persons fleeing domestic violence, and youth while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused by homelessness; to promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and to optimize self-sufficiency among those experiencing homelessness.

SUMMARY: Centene believes that successful corporate citizenship is defined by investments in community-based institutions and organizations that address the needs of communities while advancing initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person, and community development.

By Dr. Liz Shay, Senior Grants Development Consultant

Nonprofit organizations have been an integral part of society for centuries, but the modern sector largely took shape after the Tax Reform Act of 1969. Today, there are more than 1.8 million active nonprofits, spanning a wide range of categories, including:

• 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, foundations, and religious entities
• Social welfare organizations and civic leagues (classified as 501(c)(4) entities)
• Chambers of commerce, trade associations, and other business leagues (classified as 501(c)(6) entities)
• Social clubs (classified as 501(c)(7) entities)
• Political organizations (tax-exempt under section 527)

SUMMARY: The Social Impact Fund represents a high-priority strategy for the Association to drive equitable health and well-being for all, specifically through the lens of adverse social determinants of health and related structural inequity. Investments through these funds are designed to address the needs of communities within the communities themselves.  

SUMMARY: The Hearst Foundations support well-established non-profit organizations that address important issues within the foundation's major areas of interest, which are: Education, Health, Culture, and Social Services.

SUMMARY: The Jobs Plus Initiative is a HUD discretionary grant program that provides funding to public housing authorities to partner with local organizations to improve access to employment training, financial literacy, and job placement for residents.

SUMMARY: The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Division of Public Programs is accepting applications for the Public Humanities Projects program. This program supports projects that bring the ideas and insights of the humanities to life through in-person exhibitions and historic site interpretations.

SUMMARY: The Sexual Assault Services – Community-based Services Program (SAS CSP) supports nonprofit organizations that aim to enhance access to services for all survivors by providing community-based services in culturally specific communities. Applicants must have documented organizational experience in the area of sexual assault intervention or partner with an organization having such expertise.

SUMMARY: The purpose of the Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Grant Program is to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning by assisting states, cities, counties/parishes, Native American Tribes or other units of local government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing populations. In addition, there is Healthy Homes Supplemental funding available that is intended to enhance the lead-based paint hazard control activities by comprehensively identifying and addressing other housing hazards that affect occupant health in homes with lead-based paint hazards being treated under the grant.

SUMMARY: The Sexual Assault Services – Community-based Services Program (SAS CSP) supports nonprofit organizations that aim to enhance access to services for all survivors by providing community-based services in culturally specific communities. Applicants must have documented organizational experience in the area of sexual assault intervention or partner with an organization having such expertise.

SUMMARY: This program is focused on community-driven projects designed to grow local economies, strengthen Native American families, including the preservation of Native American cultures, and decrease the high rate of current challenges caused by the lack of community-based businesses, and social and economic infrastructure in Native American communities.

SUMMARY: Through funds from the American Relief Act, the Disaster Supplemental Grant Program will award investments in regions experiencing severe economic distress or other economic harm resulting from hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, floods, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. This program is administered by the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

SUMMARY: The Legal Services for Veterans (LSV) program aims to increase access to legal services to eligible Veterans through the award of grant funds and by promoting Medical Legal Partnerships and VA-affiliated legal clinics throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

SUMMARY: The Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) offers grants to projects that assist in the development, coordination, and expansion of domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community‐supported agriculture (CSA) programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer‐to‐consumer market opportunities.

By Dr. Liz Shay, Higher Education

Whether it is through conversations with one of our grants consultants, other grant-seeking efforts, or completely outside of the grants space, organizations often realize that they should consider collaborating with institutes of higher education. These partnerships can open additional avenues to pursue different types of projects and work towards your organization’s mission-driven goals in new ways. Grant makers often favor collaborative efforts as they are seen as having a larger impact on the money invested in the project.

Regardless of why you started considering collaborating with an institute of higher education, navigating these conversations can often seem intimidating or complex. This article is a guide to the basic information you need to feel confident in pursuing partnerships with institutions.

SUMMARY: The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) offers the COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) which is designed to improve security at schools and on school grounds through evidence-based school safety programs and the purchase and installation of certain allowable technologies.

By Dr. Liz Shay, Senior Grants Development Consultant (Higher Education)

Whether it is through conversations with one of our grants consultants, other grant-seeking efforts, or completely outside of the grants space, organizations often realize that they should consider collaborating with institutes of higher education. These partnerships can open additional avenues to pursue different types of projects and work towards your organization’s mission-driven goals in new ways. Grant makers often favor collaborative efforts as they are seen as having a larger impact on the money invested in the project.

Regardless of why you started considering collaborating with an institute of higher education, navigating these conversations can often seem intimidating or complex. This article is a guide to the basic information you need to feel confident in pursuing partnerships with institutions.

By Shannon Day, Senior Grants Development Consultant (Public Safety)

In the nearly five years I have worked with law enforcement agencies in their grant funding pursuits, I’ve often heard, "I'd love our department to apply for more grants, but we just don't have the time." The departments I work with most often are the little guys because small departments don't have the luxury of having a dedicated grant manager on staff, and certainly not an entire grants department. Let's be honest: when considering the priorities for first responders, grants don't often rank high on the list, in part because of their typically complicated processes.

Similar feedback has been heard across all sectors resulting in the bipartisan Streamlining Federal Grants Act of 2023 (H.R 5934). Introduced to Congress in October 2023, this act is currently awaiting a vote from the 119^th Congress. The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proactively begun simplifying the grant process, including streamlining and standardizing application guidance and simplifying grants.gov.

Provides federally recognized Tribes and Tribal consortia an opportunity to develop a comprehensive and coordinated approach to public safety and victimization issues and to apply for funding.  Applicants may apply for funding under the Purpose Area(s) that best addresses Tribes’ concerns related to public safety, criminal and juvenile justice, substance use-related crime, and access to treatment and recovery support, including Tribal healing to wellness courts; and the needs of victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.

Congressionally directed spending (also known as community project funding or earmarks) are line items in the United States federal budget specifically requested by individual legislators. There was a 10-year moratorium on these appropriations, but that ran out in 2021. Proponents of congressionally directed spending argue that it creates a more transparent appropriation process and enables local jurisdictions to more directly request and receive funds for their specific needs. Others believe that congressionally directed spending is wasteful or corrupt. Regardless of how you feel about this type of funding, they are a part of the current federal funding landscape and should be considered carefully when looking for support for your project.

In this article, we will explore the fiscal year 2024 congressionally directed spending landscape. We will evaluate where the funds are going and what types of projects they are predominantly funding. We will also reflect on where we are in the fiscal year 2025 funding congressionally directed spending process.

Last month marked the start of the U.S. federal Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) new set of rules directing the majority of federal grantmaking to nonprofits; education institutions; state, local, or tribal government agencies; and others. These rules, colloquially known as the Uniform Guidance, were first established in December 2013. Originally a consolidation of several federal rulemaking circulars, the Uniform Guidance’s policies have been periodically adjusted over the last 20 years. The most recent of these updates took effect on October 1, 2024.

For many nonprofit organizations, most of their revenue is dedicated to funding the services that support their mission-driven work. Additionally, donors often prefer to contribute directly to these programs, leaving limited resources for other critical expenses, such as physical and cybersecurity. To address this gap, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) was established in 2004, specifically targeting nonprofit organizations at higher risk of domestic or foreign attacks due to their ideology, beliefs, or mission. These organizations may include places of worship, faith-based charities, educational and medical institutions, or any other nonprofit facing increased threats due to their beliefs or purpose.

When browsing through Grants.gov, you find a grant perfectly aligned with what your organization is trying to accomplish. Say you work in a university's criminal justice program and want to research police practices. You find a seemingly perfect grant, but as you read the eligibility…" Only applicants that received an official invitation letter from NIJ are able and eligible to apply." This "invitation-only" status is a common frustration for grant seekers. So, how do you crack that elusive list and get your foot in the door?

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) continues to approve final plans under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This process began in late 2021 when the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law. 56 states and territories have been allocated $42.45 billion to expand internet access through planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption.

In the wake of 9/11, the vulnerability of America's infrastructure became clear. Often symbolic targets or serving at-risk populations, nonprofit organizations lacked the resources to implement proper security measures. Recognizing this need, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) began lobbying Congress for support in 2001. Their years of work paid off in 2004 with the establishment of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP).

Latin America is witnessing a rise in women's entrepreneurship as more women become more independent by taking the reins of their destinies and venturing into the business world. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report for Latin America and the Caribbean, the average women's entrepreneurship rate in the region was 27.9%. Despite facing unique challenges, such as gender biases, women in Latin America are breaking barriers and transforming industries. Women entrepreneurs in Latin America are involved in several types of businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and social enterprises. They are active in diverse sectors such as retail, services, education, healthcare, technology, and agriculture. 

In the world of nonprofit organizations, securing funding is often a crucial part of conducting the mission and initiative of supporting communities. While there are various avenues for fundraising, building strong relationships with foundations is a vital component of the grantseeking process. Foundations exist to support social causes, and establishing meaningful connections with them can lead to successful long-term partnerships. If your organization is new to foundation grants, you may be wondering where to start. Here are a few tips to create lasting and meaningful partnerships with foundations, thus enabling your organization to flourish.

The Tourism Growth Program (TGP) is a key element of the new Federal Tourism Growth
Strategy, which builds on Canada’s inherent strengths and unique qualities while using a whole-of-government approach to realize the full potential of the tourism industry. The program will support Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, small and medium-sized businesses
and not-for-profit organizations in developing local, community-level tourism products and
experiences to help more domestic and international visitors discover all that Canada has to
offer. The TGP will fund projects that provide added value to existing activities in the tourism
industry and focus on business and economic growth. Indigenous tourism is a priority under
the TGP, and approximately 15% of TGP funding will support Indigenous-led tourism initiatives.

To attract visitors and see the number of tourists increase to pre-COVID levels, the Canadian government has decided to act. One of the initiatives implemented is the Tourism Growth Program. This ambitious program aims to boost the dynamism of the country’s tourism sector and launch its potential as a key driver of economic prosperity and job creation. Canada’s regional development agencies[1] will deliver this program as they have the mandate to promote regional economic development across all regions of Canada.

[1] https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canadian-tourism-sector/en/tourism-growth-program

Telehealth has been around for years, but COVID-19 necessitated the use of telehealth services. Before the pandemic, telehealth was not readily accepted by patients, doctors, administrators, insurance companies, and healthcare regulators. With the advancement of technology, a shortage of healthcare providers, practical experience, demonstrated benefits, and increasing acceptance of telehealth by patients and providers, telehealth and its benefits are here to stay.

Libraries are a vital part of every community. They provide access to information, education, and cultural enrichment. However, many libraries don’t always have the budget to expand their programming to best serve their patrons. Fortunately, there are many funding opportunities available for libraries through grants.

Every year in the United States, citizens cast their ballots for the candidates of their choice in federal, state, and local elections. Voters rely on the security of election infrastructure to ensure that they can cast their votes safely and that all votes will be counted fairly. Unfortunately, physical threats against election workers have increased in the past several years, and more must be done to protect these individuals. Making voting facilities safe is important for workers and members of the public who visit to cast their ballots. In the past, states and local governments have implemented procedures and tools to keep the voting process safe and secure. In addition to physical safety measures like door locks, security cameras, and more, investments have also been made in election IT infrastructure to ensure that election information is safe from breaches and cyber threats. This includes investments in the modernization of voting equipment and election-related computer systems. To make further improvements in physical security and cybersecurity, state and local governments have the opportunity to apply for grant funding through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. 

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or BIL) has brought unprecedented funding to support broadband initiatives. To go along with that funding, there are also huge investments being made in digital equity efforts. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is distributing this funding through two main programs: the State Digital Equity Grant Program and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program (for more information on this program. Both programs will support digital equity projects that involve a wide range of organizations. With expected deadlines starting in the next several months and continuing over the next few years, now is an exciting time for your organization to participate in these efforts!

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act include many opportunities for energy-related grant initiatives. In fact, it is overwhelming to consider the sheer volume of programs made available over the past couple of years and will continue to be created as more information is known. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is the federal grantmaker tasked with administering a number of these research and development, demonstration, and deployment programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is another popular grantmaker for energy-specific programs. These funds are available to nonprofits, all forms of government agencies, private businesses, and even individuals.

As for the near future, there are three specific programs worth diving a little deeper into, as they either have firm deadlines or are expected to open in the coming weeks. The first comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and more specifically through the USDA.

Grant-seeking can be an extremely competitive process for K-12 schools, especially if they limit themselves to grants available from their State’s Department of Education or the U.S. Department of Education. To increase the possibilities of success, now is the perfect time to explore various federal grant opportunities outside the Department of Education that could supplement their funding. In this article, I will highlight some federal agencies and grant programs schools can take advantage of from other departments and agencies according to the type of project schools are hoping to fund.

Technology is used across the criminal justice spectrum to streamline processes, ensure compliance, and protect people and their data. Gone are the days of hand-written police reports faxed to the District Attorney’s office.

We all know how important technology is, but equipment ages, technology advances, and sometimes we don’t know how to fund it. Federal and state grantmakers provide funding to help those working within the criminal justice system keep ahead of the curve or at least keep abreast with it.

The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program is designed to provide access to education, training, and healthcare resources for rural Americans. The DLT program provides financial assistance to encourage and improve telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas using telecommunications, computer networks, and related advanced technologies that students, teachers, medical professionals, and rural residents can use. Grants may fund telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment, and related advanced technologies that extend educational and medical applications into rural areas. Grants are intended to benefit end users in rural areas, who are often not in the same location as the educational or health care service source.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act introduced many new grant programs when passed in late 2021. These initiatives ranged from broadband and electric charging to major clean energy and water infrastructure. A handful of these funding projects are classified as smart city adjacent, but one specific program, Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation, or SMART, is the definition of a smart city grant.

The past few years have presented several challenges for K-12 school districts across the country. Many districts reported lower test scores, mental health challenges, attendance issues, and technological shortcomings because of the disruption to learning caused by COVID-19. These challenges present complex issues that demand careful attention, but many teachers appropriately feel the school day is just too short, and school leaders find it difficult to parse out one issue from another and address them accordingly.

ELIGIBILITY: Awards are made to State Education Agencies (SEAs). Local education agencies (LEAs) and nonprofit organizations may apply to states for subgrants.

The Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) PRICE has a goal to preserve and revitalize manufactured housing. Administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), these funds will be disbursed as competitive grants to various entities with grantees having to provide at least a 50 percent match.

ELIGIBILITY: Eligible applicants are federally recognized Indian Tribes (or a consortium of Indian Tribes).