Best Restorative Justice Grants in New Jersey

Organizations advancing criminal justice system reform and related research in New Jersey can seek support for projects that inform U.S. public policy and public understanding. Grants from Smith Richardson Foundation help U.S. policy-focused groups evaluate existing policies, explore fiscal practices, improve education and post-secondary outcomes, and examine cost-effective criminal justice strategies that protect public safety and opportunity.

New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofits 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 organizations addressing conditions like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, or Alzheimer’s disease, including crisis intervention, early intervention, relapse prevention, and programs at the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits running neuroscience and 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. New Jersey organizations working on criminal justice system reform, crisis intervention, or stigma reduction around mental illness may be eligible.

Focused on criminal justice system reform, early-career social science faculty in the U.S. can apply for Russell Sage Foundation’s Pipeline Grants to fund one-year research on economic mobility, systemic inequality, and related topics. New Jersey scholars examining restorative justice, legal system inequities, or neighborhood and labor market impacts may be eligible for US $35,000 - US $50,000 in support.

Researchers with doctorates studying behavioral science, decision making, and justice-related systems can apply for Russell Sage Foundation core research grants of up to US $200,000. With a mission to advance rigorous social science, the foundation provides U.S.-based scholars with support for work on criminal legal systems, racial equity, housing, employment, and immigration, which may inform restorative justice efforts in New Jersey.

Researchers and research institutions studying community safety and criminal justice policies in the U.S., including New Jersey, can apply for causal research funding from Arnold Ventures, with awards up to US $500,000. Projects must use rigorous causal designs and measure real-world outcomes, and may include work on restorative or broader criminal justice system reforms.

Organizations and individuals working on community and restorative justice projects in New Jersey may be eligible for mini-grants supporting program activities. Grants from the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice help U.S. members advance criminal justice system reform and restorative practices. Awards up to US $500 are offered twice yearly.

Organizations and individuals leading community or restorative justice projects in New Jersey can apply for the NACRJ Impact Grant, which offers up to US $3,000 for larger-scale initiatives, capacity-building, and innovative efforts. This National Association of Community and Restorative Justice funding may benefit groups advancing criminal justice system reform and restorative practices.

Students pursuing criminal justice or first responder studies can receive US $2,000 for higher education through scholarships from CommunityGiving; this national program is based in Minnesota. New Jersey organizations supporting restorative justice or criminal justice system reform may help eligible students in their programs apply.

Researchers studying how to improve the use of research evidence in criminal justice, juvenile justice, or related youth systems in the U.S., including New Jersey, can apply for William T Grant Foundation’s Officers’ Research Grants. Awards of US $25,000 - US $50,000 support 1–2 year projects plus capacity-building, networking, and learning community opportunities.

Graduating seniors pursuing criminal justice, education, or nursing who attend specific Westfield, Massachusetts high schools and plan to study in the U.S. can receive up to US $3,000 for college costs. Grants from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts help students with average grades cover tuition, fees, room and board, and related educational expenses.

Organizations and research institutions conducting criminal justice system reform and citizen security studies, including those in New Jersey, can apply for Innovations for Poverty Action’s Citizen Security Research Initiative. Focused on rigorous research, it offers US $75,000 - US $400,000 for impact evaluations, pilots, infrastructure, and foundational studies that inform safer communities and stronger justice systems.

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

New Jersey organizations supporting students in forensic science or criminal justice may be eligible for the Robin V. Jensen Memorial Scholarship Fund, which aids higher education pathways in these fields. Administered by Benton Community Foundation, this renewable scholarship also benefits police cadet initiatives and bicycle safety efforts connected to criminal justice system reform.

Students pursuing higher education in criminal justice, including those in New Jersey, can apply for scholarships from the Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland. This award supports college or career-focused criminal justice studies and may benefit individuals interested in restorative and criminal justice system reform work.

Noble County Community Foundation provides New Jersey criminal justice system reform students with a US $500 scholarship toward higher education in emergency services fields. High school seniors planning to study criminal justice, fire, police, or EMS may be eligible, including those interested in restorative justice-related careers at any accredited college or university.

The BJA FY 2026 Smart Reentry Demonstration Program aims to support state, local, and tribal governments in implementing effective reentry strategies for individuals transitioning from correctional facilities back to their communities. This program encourages comprehensive interventions designed to reduce recidivism by addressing various reentry needs, as outlined in the Second Chance Act. Applications are due by October 1, 2026, at 8:59 PM ET, and are submitted through JustGrants.

Individuals such as lawyers, advocates, organizers, journalists, artists, and filmmakers working on criminal justice system reform in the U.S., including New Jersey, can receive US $100,000 - US $140,000 for full-time projects. Open Society Institute’s Soros Justice Fellowships support 12–18 month efforts that spur debate, inform the public, and catalyze policy or practice change, including restorative justice initiatives.

Nonprofit and mission-driven for-profit organizations developing early-stage projects in criminal justice reform, including restorative justice in New Jersey, can receive up to US $175,000 in flexible funding. The J.M. Kaplan Fund provides multi-year cash awards plus project support and peer-learning opportunities to pilot game-changing ideas with scalable social impact across the U.S.

The Phoebus Criminal Justice Initiative Grant, provided by the Bread & Roses Community Fund, supports organizations engaged in community organizing for criminal justice reform. It aims to address pressing issues such as police accountability and racially biased sentencing. By fostering collective action among marginalized communities, the initiative empowers groups to create sustainable change within the criminal legal system. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a commitment to justice and community leadership, ensuring long-term impact and engagement.

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.