Best Grants for Criminal Justice in Nebraska

 Victim of Crimes Act & State Victim Assistance Grant Programs

This Request for Applications (RFA) for the federal Victim of Crimes Act (VOCA) and state Victim Assistance Grant Programs for Nebraska’s State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027. Under this program, Nebraska provides grants to local community-based public, non-profit, and other organizations that provide services directly to crime victims.

The VOCA and Victim Assistance Grant Program support a broad array of programs and services that focus on helping victims in the immediate aftermath of crime, and continuing to support them as they rebuild their lives. All services funded through the VOCA and Victim Assistance Grant Program are provided to individual crime victims at no cost to the victim.

Opportunity Funding

• $6,000,000.00

Nebraska 501(c)(3) public charities working on community safety, crime prevention, or victim support can access funding through Union Pacific Foundation’s Community Ties Local Grants, with awards of US $5,000 - US $30,000. Eligible programs must primarily serve Nebraska communities on the Union Pacific service list and align with the foundation’s safety-focused priorities.

Nebraska organizations running K–12 truancy prevention and intervention programs can seek up to US $115,000 to implement and operate services for youth with excessive absences. Focused on juvenile justice, the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice invites Nebraska crime and justice initiatives to support youth and reduce future system involvement.

Law enforcement agencies and task forces in Nebraska can seek funding to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Task Force solicitation. Nebraska Crime Commission awards US $150,000 to support drug, gang, weapons, or violent crime task forces and related crisis intervention and behavioral health initiatives.

Researchers and institutions conducting citizen security and criminal justice studies in countries including the U.S. can apply for Innovations for Poverty Action’s Citizen Security Research Initiative, with awards from US $75,000 - US $400,000. Focused on crime and justice, it funds impact evaluations and pilots that may inform criminal justice efforts in Nebraska and beyond.

Organizations and individuals improving criminal or civil justice systems in Nebraska can receive recognition and US $15,000 awards for proven, innovative programs. Foundation for Improvement of Justice provides Nebraska criminal justice reform efforts with national awards that highlight successful models in areas like legal reform, crime prevention, child protection, and crime victims’ rights across the U.S.

The Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation offers Criminal Justice Grants aimed at improving the lives of individuals with serious mental illnesses, particularly schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. With an emphasis on effective programs and support services, the foundation seeks to address the challenges faced by mentally ill individuals in the criminal justice system. The foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrate a commitment to making a meaningful impact and improving the quality of life for those affected by these conditions.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Nebraska running neuroscience-related mental health programs can seek funding to improve access to care, advance health equity, and strengthen frontline workforces. Grants from Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine support efforts in areas like schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s, crisis intervention, and mental health–criminal justice education, with preference for measurable, system-improvement initiatives over event-based requests.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits running neuroscience and mental health programs, including work at the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system in Nebraska, can apply for Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine’s Therapeutic Giving: Neuroscience support. Funding backs recovery-focused, early intervention, crisis response, anti-stigma, and access-to-care initiatives for conditions like Alzheimer’s, major depression, and schizophrenia.

Early-career social science faculty researching criminal justice, economic mobility, or systemic inequality in the U.S., including Nebraska-focused work, can seek US $35,000 - US $50,000 from the Russell Sage Foundation. Focused on rigorous, innovative studies using diverse methods and data, the program prioritizes underrepresented scholars and projects addressing structural barriers and justice system outcomes.

Researchers with doctorates studying behavioral science and decision making in criminal justice contexts in Nebraska and across the U.S. can seek up to US $200,000 for social science research projects. With a mission to advance rigorous social science, Russell Sage Foundation provides scholars with core research grants supporting work on policing, criminal legal systems, and related institutional practices.

Researchers proposing causal studies of U.S. community safety and criminal justice policies can apply for Arnold Ventures’ RFP, with awards up to US $500,000. Focused on rigorous designs and real-world outcomes, this opportunity may benefit Nebraska crime and justice scholars examining policies with clear paths to state or federal adoption.

Nebraska organizations and individuals engaged in community and restorative justice projects can access funding through the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice; awards up to US $500 for member-led initiatives. Grants from the association help U.S. criminal justice system reform efforts, and Nebraska-based NACRJ members may be especially interested in these mini-grants.

Nebraska organizations and practitioners engaged in community and restorative justice projects 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, capacity-building, and innovative efforts. NACRJ members across the U.S. working on criminal justice system reform may be eligible.

High school seniors, college, and non-traditional students pursuing criminal justice or first responder programs at U.S. colleges can receive scholarship support, including those from listed Minnesota schools. CommunityGiving provides this $2,000 award, which may benefit students interested in criminal justice careers similar to those served by Nebraska-focused organizations.

Nonprofit or academic research teams 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, can apply for US $25,000 - US $50,000. William T Grant Foundation supports projects that may inform Nebraska crime and justice programs and related reforms.

Graduating seniors pursuing criminal justice, education, or nursing who attend specific high schools in Westfield, Massachusetts, can receive up to US $3,000 for college costs. Grants from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts help students nationally, and Nebraska programs in crime and justice may note this student-focused support model when exploring scholarship-style opportunities.

Graduating high school seniors in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties planning to study criminal justice can receive scholarship support through the Deputy Wayne and Carol Krieger Scholarship. Focused on higher education in criminal justice, Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation gives preference to BOCES criminal justice students, which may benefit Nebraska programs preparing youth for justice-related careers.

Nebraska students pursuing higher education in forensic science or criminal justice may be eligible for this renewable scholarship supporting tuition and related programs. Benton Community Foundation’s Robin V. Jensen Memorial Scholarship Fund focuses on academically solid, sports- and community-service–active high school students, and also benefits police cadet and bicycle safety initiatives, which may interest criminal justice–oriented applicants.

Students pursuing higher education in criminal justice, including those in Nebraska, can apply for the FOP Lodge #88 Criminal Justice Scholarship from Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland. This scholarship supports college or career preparation in criminal justice fields and may benefit those focused on crime and justice or criminal justice system reform studies.

High school seniors planning to study criminal justice or related emergency services may be eligible for the Hutsell, Alan Scholarship Fund, which offers US $500 toward higher education. Administered by Noble County Community Foundation, this scholarship supports students entering fields connected to crime, policing, EMS, and broader justice system work.

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.

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 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.