Best Restorative Justice Grants in Minnesota

Minnesota nonprofits, local governments, and Tribal Nations can receive funding for programs serving justice-impacted individuals in Minnesota, including treatment, supervision, and recidivism reduction services. Minnesota Department of Public Safety provides support for chemical dependency and mental health treatment, improved and pretrial supervision, drug court participation, and initiatives that advance criminal justice system reform and restorative practices.

Minnesota nonprofits and 501(c)(3) public charities working on safety, community vitality, workforce development, or environmental sustainability can access funding through Union Pacific Foundation’s Community Ties Local Grants, with awards from US $5,000 - US $30,000. Programs addressing crime prevention, community safety, or support for crime victims may be especially relevant for restorative justice efforts.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Minnesota working on neuroscience-related mental health and criminal justice system programs can seek support for recovery-focused, early intervention, crisis response, and continuity-of-care initiatives. Grants from Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine help fund efforts that address disparities, stigma, and linkages to care for conditions like schizophrenia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease.

U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits running neuroscience-related mental health programs, including in Minnesota, can apply for Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine’s Therapeutic Giving support to improve access to care and patient services. Funding may benefit restorative justice or criminal justice system initiatives addressing schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s, crisis intervention, stigma, or healthcare disparities with measurable outcomes.

Focused on criminal justice system reform, early-career social science faculty in Minnesota and across the U.S. can apply for Russell Sage Foundation’s Pipeline Grants to support one-year research projects. Awards of US $35,000 - US $50,000 fund studies on economic mobility, systemic inequalities, and related topics that may include restorative justice and legal system research.

Researchers with doctorates studying behavioral science and decision making around criminal justice, policing, or related systems in Minnesota and across the U.S. can seek up to US $200,000 for high-quality social science research. With a mission to advance rigorous social science, Russell Sage Foundation provides support for projects on criminal justice system reform and related inequalities that are ready for full-scale investigation.

Researchers and research institutions studying community safety and criminal justice interventions in the U.S., including Minnesota, can apply for up to US $500,000 from Arnold Ventures. Focused on rigorous causal designs using real-world behavioral outcomes, this opportunity favors policy-relevant studies and early-career or previously unfunded investigators working on criminal justice system reform.

Minnesota restorative justice practitioners and organizations working on criminal justice system reform can apply for National Association of Community and Restorative Justice mini-grants to support community and restorative justice projects. Grants from National Association of Community and Restorative Justice help U.S.-based NACRJ members with up to US $500 and added visibility within the restorative justice community.

NACRJ member organizations and individuals in Minnesota can apply for the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice’s Impact Grant, with awards up to US $3,000 for larger-scale restorative justice initiatives, capacity-building, and innovative projects. Criminal justice system reform and restorative justice efforts may benefit from funding, visibility, and networking within the NACRJ community.

Students pursuing criminal justice or first responder studies in Minnesota can receive scholarship support for 2- or 4-year U.S. college programs through CommunityGiving’s Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation Scholarship, with awards of US $2,000. High school seniors, college, and non-traditional students from Benton, Stearns, or Sherburne counties interested in criminal justice system reform may be eligible.

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 or restorative justice in Minnesota, may be eligible for US $25,000 - US $50,000. William T Grant Foundation supports stand-alone or add-on studies and offers capacity-building and peer learning opportunities.

Graduating seniors pursuing degrees in education, criminal justice, or nursing may be eligible for the William T. Maunsell Memorial Scholarship, which supports students from specific Westfield, Massachusetts high schools. Grants from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts help students, including those interested in criminal justice system reform or restorative justice-related studies, with up to US $3,000 for college costs.

Researchers and institutions conducting citizen security and criminal justice reform studies, including restorative justice work in Minnesota, 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 systems, with awards ranging from US $75,000 - US $400,000.

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 higher education in criminal justice, Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation invites students connected to Cattaraugus and Allegany County schools; Minnesota restorative justice programs may find it relevant for future practitioners.

Minnesota students pursuing higher education in forensic science or criminal justice can access scholarship support and related program funding through the Benton Community Foundation’s Robin V. Jensen Memorial Scholarship Fund. This renewable award supports tuition for eligible Bachelor of Science students, benefits the Corvallis Police Cadet program, and advances bicycle safety initiatives, and may interest those focused on criminal justice system reform and restorative justice.

Students pursuing higher education in criminal justice, including those in Minnesota, can apply for the FOP Lodge #88 Criminal Justice Scholarship from the Community Foundation of Washington County Maryland. This scholarship supports individuals preparing for careers connected to criminal justice system reform and may benefit those interested in restorative justice work.

High school seniors planning to study emergency services, criminal justice, fire, police, or EMS can receive scholarship support for higher education, including those in Minnesota. Noble County Community Foundation provides this award for students from specified high schools or homeschools, which may include future practitioners interested in restorative justice and broader criminal justice system reform.

Eligible organizations operating drug courts or providing criminal justice system reform support in Minnesota can apply for the Executive Office of the President’s cooperative agreement, with awards up to US $6,000,000, to deliver training and technical assistance that expands access to evidence-based addiction treatment. Programs using restorative or problem-solving court approaches may be especially well positioned.

Organizations conducting U.S. criminal justice policy research and reform projects, including those relevant to Minnesota, can apply for support to study and improve public policies and programs. Grants from Smith Richardson Foundation help Minnesota criminal justice system reform efforts by funding analysis, evaluations, and ideas that address costs, public safety, and broader domestic policy challenges.

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.

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.