Best Restorative Justice Grants

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 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.

The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) supports Ohio nonprofits through grants awarded twice a year to address critical legal needs. With over $16 million allocated since 1992, these grants foster the development of legal resources, websites, and community initiatives. OSBF focuses on project-based funding, enabling organizations to create impactful programs that serve the public and enhance access to justice across Ohio.

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 Community Foundation of Howard County offers General Grants to support various programs and services across the community. These grants focus on health and medical initiatives, social services, education, cultural affairs, civic engagement, and community beautification. Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations benefiting Howard County residents are eligible, while certain requests, such as those for individual support or prior costs, are ineligible. This program aims to enhance community vitality and support nonprofit capacity building.

The Envisioning Justice Grants by Illinois Humanities support nonprofits using arts and humanities to foster justice and community engagement. With a focus on mass incarceration, these grants prioritize projects that are regional and partnership-oriented, benefiting vulnerable populations. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to applicants across Illinois, particularly from areas with significant incarceration rates. Accessibility and media funds are also offered to enhance project outreach and inclusivity.

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 Michigan Justice Fund Rapid Response Grant Program aims to support Michigan-based advocacy and service organizations with urgent funding needs. Grants between $1,500 and $10,000 are available for time-sensitive projects that enhance justice reform efforts. There is no application deadline, and decisions are made within 30 days. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing, or fiscally sponsored organizations, located in Michigan.

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.

The Saint John’s Cathedral Grant Program supports Colorado-based nonprofit organizations addressing critical issues like mental health, homelessness, food insecurity, and advocacy for immigrants. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 and prioritize inclusion and social justice. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations or have a fiscal sponsor. The program aims to make a meaningful impact in the community while aligning with the cathedral's mission of service and support.

The Betterment Fund Grant provides financial support ranging from $10,000 to $35,000 annually, aimed at enhancing education, health, conservation, and community support in Maine. The fund prioritizes systemic community initiatives that address essential human needs while favoring projects with a proven track record in grant management. Special attention is given to projects in the Western Mountains region, although broader applications that meet their criteria may also be considered.

The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation focuses on improving the lives of underserved individuals in the DC area through grants in five key areas: Arts and Humanities, Community Services, Education, Environment, and Health & Wellness. The Foundation supports organizations that demonstrate cultural competence and systemic change, aiming for self-sufficiency and holistic well-being for all community members. Grants emphasize access to resources and equitable opportunities to foster meaningful community engagement.

The Community Ties Giving Program by Union Pacific Foundation offers local grants aimed at enhancing community well-being through diverse funding priorities. These include safety initiatives, workforce development, community vitality, and environmental sustainability. The program emphasizes supporting organizations that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to create impactful projects that resonate with Union Pacific's heritage and mission. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Union Pacific communities and demonstrate a clear need and capacity to deliver effective programming.

The California Environmental Grassroots Fund Grant empowers small, local organizations in California to advance climate resilience and environmental justice. Prioritizing historically marginalized communities, this grant supports initiatives addressing issues like pollution, sustainable agriculture, and urban sprawl. With a focus on community engagement and strategic vision, grantees work to create sustainable solutions that benefit both local ecosystems and impacted populations, fostering an inclusive environmental movement for a healthier future.

The California Watershed Protection Fund Grant supports projects aimed at enhancing water quality and protecting watersheds throughout California. With grants ranging from $10,000 to $40,000, eligible applicants include 501(c)3 organizations and governmental entities. Priority is given to initiatives that engage impacted communities and uphold principles of equity and environmental justice. The fund emphasizes hands-on activities that yield tangible benefits for surface water quality, fostering community-based stewardship in response to fluctuating watershed needs.

The Idaho and Montana Grant Program, managed by the Steele-Reese Foundation, focuses on supporting rural communities through educational, health, conservation, and arts initiatives. Grants are available exclusively to federally tax-exempt organizations serving these areas. The Foundation prioritizes projects that directly benefit low-income and underrepresented populations, emphasizing sustainable community development. Interested applicants should ensure their projects align with the Foundation's criteria, as only select proposals will be funded.

The LA County Arts & Culture Community Impact Arts Grant (CIAG) program provides funding between $5,000 and $20,000 to support exemplary arts projects by municipal and nonprofit organizations outside of the arts. This initiative aims to enhance access to arts and culture, recognizing its role in civic problem-solving and community development. Emphasizing cultural equity, it promotes diverse participation in arts, fostering mutual respect and understanding across Los Angeles County's communities.

The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation focuses on promoting health and mental health, as well as strengthening public education in Baltimore. Through its health initiatives, the foundation seeks to enhance access to mental health services and advocate for systemic changes. In education, it supports efforts to improve leadership and teaching quality in public schools, aiming to create equitable opportunities for Baltimore youth. This foundation prioritizes innovative programs that engage communities in meaningful ways.

Learning from Abroad to Reimagine Health Knowledge Systems for Equity and Wellbeing Grant

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to dismantling structural racism and eliminating barriers to health equity by working alongside communities, practitioners, and institutions. One way we support this mission is by investing in the knowledge of historically marginalized communities and deepening the relationships that build community power, evidence, and systems of change. Another way we do this is by looking beyond the U.S. borders. The Global Ideas for U.S. Solutions team looks abroad for ideas to improve health equity, justice, and wellbeing in the U.S.  

This funding opportunity invites organizations to learn and produce solutions to build a more inclusive and equitable health knowledge system, inspired by other countries that have faced or are currently facing similar health equity challenges. It allows organizations to learn from efforts outside of the U.S. to reimagine and rebuild the health knowledge system in ways that can withstand systemic threats while advancing health equity and wellbeing for the future. Among many other characteristics yet to be identified, our learnings to date suggest that the following contribute to this reimagined version of the health knowledge system:  

• The experience of people most affected by health inequities is centered in the generation of data and evidence and in policymaking;
• Health is more than the absence of disease. It is about individual and collective healing and wellbeing;
• Mis- and disinformation are eliminated and public trust in science and evidence is restored;
• History, culture, and language are preserved and protected, and ecological and biomedical sciences are braided with Indigenous, traditional, holistic, and community frameworks; and
• Cross-sector approaches and global learning networks break down siloes and allow for more effective and equitable solutions. They leverage lessons from resistance movements and connect artists, researchers, public health, and civil society.

The purpose of this CFP is to support organizations in pursuing action-oriented projects that leverage learning from outside the U.S. to create a more durable and equitable health knowledge system in the U.S. These efforts will advance health equity, justice, and wellbeing through community-driven knowledge generation, preservation, and narrative. Together, these actions lay the foundation for a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient health knowledge system in times of crisis and beyond. 

Total Awards

Type of Award: Awards will be structured as grants and will be made to organizations, not to individuals.

• Number of Awards: Up to 15 awards will be funded.  
• Amount of Award: Awards will be up to $500,000 each. Please request only what is necessary to allow us to fund as many recipients as possible. We expect larger awards to correspond with more distributed funding (e.g., multiple people’s salaries or multiple activities). See more information on RWJF budget categories and allowable costs here.  
• Award Duration: Awards will be up to 36 months.  

The Doheny Foundation Grant Program supports nonprofit organizations in Greater Los Angeles that align with its mission and four focus areas: Social Welfare, Health and Wellness, Education, and Religion. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations and can only apply once per year. The Foundation emphasizes initiatives that enhance the lives of vulnerable populations and promote economic self-reliance, while avoiding funding for specific exclusions such as political activities or work outside the U.S.

The Doheny Foundation Capital Grant focuses on enhancing social welfare, health, education, and religious initiatives in Los Angeles. It supports nonprofits that empower underserved communities through vital services like food, shelter, healthcare, and education. The foundation seeks to fund projects that align with its mission, especially those benefiting vulnerable populations and promoting economic self-reliance. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) registered, and funding is generally limited to the Los Angeles area.

The Stray Dog Institute Grants aim to transform food systems by providing funding and support to nonprofits focused on animal welfare, environmental advocacy, and food justice. With grant amounts typically ranging from $2,500 to $10,000, the Institute prioritizes pragmatic solutions that foster dignity, justice, and sustainability. By addressing systemic issues in food production, they promote a compassionate approach that respects both people and animals. This initiative seeks to create a sustainable future for all stakeholders in the food system.

The Sparkplug Foundation Grant supports innovative projects from early-stage organizations and established non-profits in education, community organizing, and music. The foundation emphasizes community-led initiatives that address systemic injustices and engage marginalized populations. Grants are available for one year and prioritize projects with small budgets that lack extensive funding sources. The foundation encourages applications from diverse communities, particularly those led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQ individuals, fostering equitable access to resources.

The Preserving Black Churches Grant Program, managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, aims to support the preservation of historic Black churches. Grants range from $50,000 to $500,000 and fund various projects, including restoration, capacity building, and community engagement. The program encourages applications from active and non-active congregations, nonprofits, and public agencies, emphasizing the importance of these churches in their communities. This initiative seeks to strengthen heritage and foster cultural connections.

The Community Reinvestment Program Grants aim to support communities in New York State that have been adversely affected by past drug policies. Grants will fund essential services for young people aged 0-24, including mental health, workforce development, and housing initiatives. This program is financed through 40% of cannabis tax revenue, directed towards fostering equity and resource allocation in historically underserved areas. Nonprofit organizations can apply for funding to enhance community well-being and opportunities.

The WE Initiative Grant, part of the Walter and Elise Haas Fund's Social Well-being program, seeks nonprofit organizations dedicated to fostering belonging and community cohesion in the Bay Area. With a focus on cultural identity and collective action, grantees will receive $100,000 annually for five years to support collaborative projects aimed at uplifting diverse voices and driving community-led change. This initiative promotes connection, creativity, and healing to address social fragmentation and empower marginalized communities.

The Impact100 Houston Grant Program empowers women to become philanthropists by providing transformative grants of at least $100,000 to nonprofit organizations across five focus areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Family, and Health & Wellness. The program aims to support initiatives that create measurable impacts within the community, emphasizing the importance of financial transparency and timely fund utilization within 12 months of the award.