Best Grants for Criminal Justice in North Dakota

Crime victim service agencies in North Dakota can seek funding to sustain and enhance direct services for victims and survivors of crime. North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supports crime and justice programs by reimbursing eligible personnel and operational expenses that provide direct services to crime victims across the state.

Catholic dioceses and parishes expanding pastoral or social outreach ministries, including those serving people impacted by crime or incarceration, may be eligible in North Dakota and other approved Extension Dioceses. With a mission to strengthen Catholic pastoral and social ministry, Catholic Extension provides support for catechesis, family ministries, media outreach, liturgy, social outreach, and post-disaster ecclesial services.

Researchers and institutions conducting citizen security and criminal justice studies, including those relevant to North Dakota, can seek US $75,000 - US $400,000 from Innovations for Poverty Action’s Citizen Security Research Initiative. Funding supports impact evaluations, pilots, infrastructure, and foundational research on crime prevention, organized crime, drug trafficking, and strengthening law enforcement and justice systems.

Eligible organizations operating or supporting drug courts in North Dakota can apply for Executive Office of the President funding; awards up to US $6,000,000 for national training and technical assistance to expand evidence-based addiction treatment in criminal justice settings. Programs addressing substance use disorders and criminal justice system reform may be competitive.

Organizations and individuals improving criminal or civil justice systems in North Dakota can receive US $15,000 awards for proven, innovative programs, reforms, or models. The Foundation for Improvement of Justice provides U.S. crime and justice changemakers with national recognition, a cash award, and travel to an Atlanta awards banquet; nominations are accepted year-round.

The Smith Richardson Foundation's Domestic Public Policy Grant supports initiatives that help address critical challenges in the U.S. It funds research and evaluations of public policies while promoting innovative solutions to enhance education, fiscal practices, and the criminal justice system. The Foundation aims to foster effective policies that improve economic opportunities and public services, ensuring a prosperous future for all citizens.

High school seniors planning to study criminal justice or emergency services can receive scholarship support for accredited colleges, including students in North Dakota. Noble County Community Foundation provides this funding, with a preference for West Noble High School seniors, to help future professionals in fire, police, EMS, and related emergency service fields.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing criminal justice, education, or nursing who are from specific Westfield, Massachusetts schools and planning postsecondary study can receive up to US $3,000 for college costs. Grants from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts help students nationwide, and those interested in criminal justice system reform may be especially relevant to this listing.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on criminal justice responses to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in North Dakota can seek project funding to improve outcomes for people with serious mental illness. The Sidney R Baer Jr Foundation supports efforts such as pre-arrest diversion, law enforcement training, specialized legal services, and reentry programs across the continental U.S.

Students pursuing an education in criminal justice in North Dakota can apply for the FOP Lodge #88 Criminal Justice Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland. This scholarship supports higher education and career preparation in the criminal justice field, and North Dakota residents planning related college studies may be eligible.

Benton County high school students pursuing forensic science or criminal justice degrees can receive renewable tuition support, plus funding for related local programs. North Dakota criminal justice organizations may be interested in this Benton Community Foundation scholarship model, which also benefits the Corvallis Police Cadet program and bicycle safety initiatives in Benton County.

North Dakota 501(c)(3) nonprofits running neuroscience-related programs can seek funding to improve mental health outcomes and systems. Grants from Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine help organizations addressing Alzheimer’s, major depression, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder through recovery, early intervention, crisis response, or mental health–criminal justice initiatives, with emphasis on measurable outcomes and reducing health disparities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in North Dakota working on neuroscience-related mental health, including criminal justice system connections, can apply for Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine’s Therapeutic Giving support. Funding backs programs improving access to care, early intervention, crisis response, stigma reduction, and recovery-focused services for Alzheimer’s, major depression, schizophrenia, and related conditions at a national level.

Focused on criminal justice system reform and related social inequalities, Russell Sage Foundation invites early-career U.S.-based social science faculty to pursue one-year research projects. Eligible assistant professors, lecturers, and adjunct assistant professors, including those in North Dakota, can request US $35,000 - US $50,000 for studies on economic mobility, systemic barriers, and civic and political engagement.

Doctoral-level researchers studying behavioral science, decision making, and criminal justice contexts in the U.S., including North Dakota, can seek up to US $200,000 for social science research projects. With a mission to advance rigorous social science, Russell Sage Foundation provides support for work on policing, criminal legal systems, and related institutional practices.

Researchers and research institutions studying U.S. community safety and the criminal justice system can apply for causal research funding from Arnold Ventures, with awards up to US $500,000. Focused on strong designs and real-world behavioral outcomes, projects in areas like crime and justice or criminal justice reform in North Dakota may be eligible.

Researchers and institutions studying how to improve the use of research evidence to benefit U.S. youth ages 5–25, including those focused on criminal justice system reform in North Dakota, can apply for William T Grant Foundation’s Officers’ Research Grants, awarding US $25,000 - US $50,000. Funding supports stand-alone or complementary studies plus capacity-building and peer learning.

Organizations and individuals practicing community or restorative justice in North Dakota can apply for up to US $500 to support small projects, if they are members of the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice. Grants from the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice help advance criminal justice system reform initiatives across the U.S., including North Dakota-focused work.

Organizations and individuals working on community and restorative justice in North Dakota can apply for the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice’s Impact Grant, with awards up to US $3,000 for larger-scale initiatives and capacity-building projects. Eligible applicants must be current NACRJ members; recent 2024 grantees must wait until 2026.

Students pursuing criminal justice or first responder studies at U.S. colleges can use this scholarship for tuition or related educational costs, with awards of US $2,000. CommunityGiving supports high school seniors, college, and non-traditional students from Benton, Stearns, or Sherburne County in Minnesota, which may interest North Dakota programs mentoring future criminal justice professionals.

The Soros Justice Fellowships support innovative individuals dedicated to reforming the U.S. criminal justice system. These fellowships, available in two tracks, offer funding for 12 or 18 months to projects that inspire dialogue, influence policy, and drive change. Track I is aimed at emerging leaders, while Track II is for seasoned professionals. With grants of $100,000 and $140,000 respectively, the program emphasizes collaboration and aims to foster a network of leaders committed to addressing injustice and inequality.

The J.M.K. Innovation Prize, awarded by The J.M. Kaplan Fund, supports early-stage social innovators tackling critical issues in environment, heritage conservation, and social justice. With up to $175,000 in funding and tailored support over three years, it empowers organizations to pilot transformative solutions. The Prize fosters collaboration among awardees, providing resources and mentorship to enhance their impact. Open to both non-profit and mission-driven for-profit entities, it addresses the funding gap for innovative, high-potential projects.

Graduating high school seniors planning to study criminal justice, particularly those in Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties, can use this scholarship for higher education costs. Focused on criminal justice studies, Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation invites students, including those in BOCES criminal justice programs, to apply; North Dakota students in similar pathways may review details for fit.

The SC Ministry Foundation provides annual grants aimed at supporting nonprofit organizations aligned with the mission of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. These grants can be used for core programs, planning, and program expansion. Eligible organizations must demonstrate financial sustainability and avoid duplication of services. The application process starts with a pre-application survey, and funding decisions are typically made by June 30. Priority is given to projects in education, healthcare, and social services.

We are living in a time of intensified state violence and mass criminalization. The current political climate has doubled down on surveillance, policing, incarceration, and the criminalization of protest, migration, and mutual aid. For directly impacted communities, the trauma is relentless — and those of us committed to resistance are feeling the weight of outrage fatigue.

But we know: the antidote to outrage fatigue is movement response. The expansion of state violence and mass incarceration often forces organizations to respond quickly to unanticipated events despite lacking the necessary resources or capacity.

The Strategic Opportunities Support (SOS) Fund-CJI’s rapid-response fund-is designed to support bold, strategic, and immediate actions by grassroots organizations on the front lines of resistance. The Fund awards grants up to $7,500 and enables organizations to move quickly and collaboratively in response to emerging threats and seize opportunities to advance justice, healing, and systemic transformation.

The State Justice Institute Project Grant aims to enhance the administration of justice in state courts through innovative projects. It supports education, training, and technical assistance initiatives that demonstrate a need for improvement. Projects are evaluated based on methodology, management capabilities, and potential long-term benefits. Eligible applicants include courts and related organizations, while funds cannot cover routine court operations or salaries of court employees.

The State Justice Institute offers Technical Assistance Grants to state and local courts for expert assistance in addressing operational challenges. Grants can provide up to $75,000 over 12 months, requiring a 50% match from applicants, with 20% in cash. Eligible entities include courts and regional associations, while ineligible expenses cover salaries and travel for court employees. The selection process emphasizes critical needs, sound approaches, consultant qualifications, and budget reasonableness, aiming to enhance court operations and compliance with federal requirements.