Best Restorative Justice Grants in Maine

Betterment Fund provides Maine community-focused organizations with grants for education, health, conservation, economic development, and community support initiatives. Grants of US $10,000 - US $35,000 prioritize systemic, regional approaches, especially in Western Maine, and may support programs addressing criminal justice system reform and related restorative justice efforts that benefit Maine residents.

High school seniors planning to study emergency services, criminal justice, fire, police, or EMS can receive scholarship support for accredited colleges through the Hutsell, Alan Scholarship Fund. Grants from Noble County Community Foundation may benefit students interested in criminal justice system reform or restorative justice careers, including those who later work in Maine.

Students pursuing an education in criminal justice in Maine can apply for the Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland’s FOP Lodge #88 Criminal Justice Scholarship, which supports higher education in this field. Programs and initiatives focused on criminal justice system reform or restorative justice may benefit when they help such students advance their studies.

Maine organizations supporting students in criminal justice or forensic science, or running related education programs, may be eligible for the Robin V. Jensen Memorial Scholarship Fund, which benefits Benton County, Oregon. This Benton Community Foundation fund supports higher education, the Corvallis Police Cadet program, and bicycle safety efforts connected to criminal justice system reform.

Graduating high school seniors planning to study criminal justice can apply for the Deputy Wayne and Carol Krieger Scholarship, with preference for BOCES criminal justice students. Focused on criminal justice system reform, Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation invites students, including those from Maine interested in restorative justice careers, to pursue higher education support.

Researchers and institutions conducting criminal justice system reform and citizen security studies, including those connected to Maine, can apply for Innovations for Poverty Action’s Citizen Security Research Initiative. Focus areas include crime and violence prevention, organized crime, drug trafficking, and strengthening law enforcement and justice institutions, with awards of US $75,000 - US $400,000 for rigorous evaluations and related research.

Graduating seniors pursuing education, criminal justice, or nursing who are interested in criminal justice system reform may be eligible for this scholarship, including students in Maine. Grants from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts help students with average grades access up to US $3,000 for college costs through the William T. Maunsell Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Researchers studying how to improve the use of evidence in criminal justice, juvenile justice, or related youth-serving systems in Maine and across the U.S. can apply for William T Grant Foundation’s Officers’ Research Grants, awarding US $25,000 - US $50,000. Projects that inform restorative justice efforts for ages 5–25 may be especially relevant.

Students pursuing criminal justice or first responder studies from Benton, Stearns, or Sherburne County in Minnesota can receive scholarship support for 2- or 4-year U.S. college programs. CommunityGiving’s Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation Scholarship may benefit those interested in criminal justice system reform or restorative justice careers, including future police, fire, or EMT professionals.

Organizations and individuals advancing community and restorative justice in Maine can apply for the NACRJ Impact Grant, with awards up to US $3,000 for larger-scale initiatives, capacity-building, and innovative projects. National Association of Community and Restorative Justice members working on criminal justice system reform may benefit from funding, visibility, and networking opportunities.

Organizations and individuals working on restorative or community justice projects in Maine can apply for mini-grants up to US $500 to support meaningful initiatives. Grants from National Association of Community and Restorative Justice help members across the U.S. advance criminal justice system reform, with added visibility and networking in the restorative justice community.

Researchers and research institutions in Maine studying community safety and criminal justice policies can apply for up to US $500,000 from Arnold Ventures to conduct rigorous causal research. Focused on criminal justice system reform, this opportunity supports studies of U.S.-based policies or interventions that measure real-world outcomes and may inform restorative justice efforts.

Researchers with doctorates studying behavioral science, decision making, and criminal justice system contexts can seek up to US $200,000 for social science research in the U.S. With a mission to advance rigorous social science, Russell Sage Foundation provides Maine restorative justice and criminal justice reform scholars with support for projects on policing, legal processes, housing, employment, immigration, and related inequalities.

Early-career social science faculty researching criminal justice system reform and related inequalities in the U.S., including Maine, can apply for Russell Sage Foundation’s Sheldon Danziger Pipeline Grants. Focused on economic mobility, structural barriers, and systemic inequality, this program offers US $35,000 - US $50,000 and mentorship to support one-year, innovative research projects.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits running neuroscience-related mental health programs can apply for Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine’s Therapeutic Giving support to improve access to treatment, advance health equity, and strengthen frontline workforces. Maine organizations working on criminal justice system reform, crisis intervention, or stigma reduction around mental illness may be eligible, especially with measurable, recovery-focused or early intervention outcomes.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine running neuroscience-related mental health programs can seek support to improve access to care, advance health equity, and strengthen frontline workforces. Grants from Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine help initiatives addressing conditions like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, or Alzheimer’s, including crisis intervention and programs at the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system.

Organizations conducting research or policy projects on criminal justice system reform and related public policy in Maine and across the U.S. may be eligible for support. Grants from Smith Richardson Foundation help Maine criminal justice reform efforts by funding analysis of existing policies, evaluations, and new ideas that inform public debates and policymakers’ decisions.

Individuals such as lawyers, advocates, organizers, journalists, and artists working on criminal justice reform projects in Maine and across the U.S. can receive US $100,000 - US $140,000 for 12–18 month, full-time fellowships. Open Society Institute’s Soros Justice Fellowships support projects that inform the public, spur debate, and catalyze change in the criminal legal system.

Nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit innovators in the U.S. can receive up to US $175,000 for early-stage projects in environment, heritage conservation, or social justice. The J.M. Kaplan Fund provides three years of flexible funding and capacity-building support; Maine organizations advancing criminal justice reform or restorative justice may be strong candidates.

The Foundation for Improvement of Justice Awards recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to improving the civil and criminal justice systems in the U.S. Nominations are accepted year-round, with winners receiving a Paul H. Chapman Medal, $15,000, a certificate, and an expenses-paid trip to the awards banquet. This initiative aims to encourage continued innovation in justice practices. Eligibility includes unique improvements to justice systems, while future project grants and past awardees are ineligible.

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.

The State Justice Institute's Curriculum Adaptation & Training Grant aims to empower courts and national associations to tailor educational programs to local needs. With funding up to $40,000 for 12 months, it encourages innovative training for judges and court personnel. Applicants must provide a 50% match, including at least 20% in cash. Selection criteria focus on project goals, the necessity of funding, and the effective integration of new curricula into existing court systems, ensuring impactful judicial education.

The Strategic Initiatives Grants (SIG) program, managed by the State Justice Institute (SJI), offers flexible funding to tackle pressing national court issues. This innovative initiative encourages collaboration between SJI and its grantees to develop effective solutions for state courts across the U.S. Applicants are urged to reach out to SJI for guidance on their concept papers, ensuring a tailored approach to addressing critical judicial challenges.

The Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence program aims to enhance the application of research findings for young people aged 5-25 in the U.S. It offers major grants ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 over 2-4 years, focusing on impactful studies and capacity-building for researchers. The foundation encourages collaboration among scholars and practitioners to strengthen research practices and evidence use in various settings.