FY 2026 Invited to Apply -Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and agencies specifically designated by Congress in the FY 2026 Appropriations Act. Only entities listed in the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement are eligible to apply. Your organization's legal name (or "doing business as" name) in the System for Award Management (SAM) must match the entity name in the Congressional spending table exactly. Contact BJA before applying if you're unsure whether your organization is designated for funding.
Program description
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is committed to advancing work that furthers the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) mission to keep our country safe and secure and uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of American citizens. OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis.
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) FY 2026 Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program. This opportunity seeks to support projects designated for funding pursuant to the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. No. 119-74, Div. A, Title II.) to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, to prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and to assist victims of crime (other than compensation).
The Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act lists the designated projects, which the Act incorporates by reference, as stated in relevant part, below—
• $537,978,926 is for discretionary grants to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, to prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and to assist victims of crime (other than compensation), which shall be made available for the OJP—Byrne projects, and in the amounts, specified in the table titled ‘‘Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending’’ included for this division in the explanatory statement described in section 4 (in the matter preceding division A of this consolidated Act): Provided, That such amounts may not be transferred for any other purpose; (Pub. L. No. 119-74, Div. A, Title II).
Note that this NOFO is only for OJP-Byrne projects to be administered by BJA. Separate NOFOs will be posted and invitations sent for projects to be administered by OJP’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), and Office for Victims of Crime (OVC).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Proof of Congressional designation (list provided by BJA)
- System for Award Management (SAM) registration with current entity information
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Standard federal forms (SF-424, SF-LLL, etc. as applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Bureau of Justice Assistance
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-514-9354
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.753 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$7,400,000
-
$5,000,000
-
$5,000,000
-
$5,000,000
-
$4,999,999
-
$4,600,000
-
$4,500,000
-
$4,500,000
-
$4,347,000
-
$4,316,000
Top States by Funding
- CA 7 awards $27.7M
- AK 6 awards $20.0M
- AZ 6 awards $13.9M
- LA 5 awards $13.8M
- MI 5 awards $13.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.753). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $347,779,170 | |
| 2025 | $749,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only organizations specifically named in the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement for FY 2026. You must be listed in the CJS Appropriations Act's designated projects table.
How do I know if my organization is eligible?
Check the FY 2026 Appropriations designated projects list on BJA's website. Your organization's legal name in SAM must match exactly.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is July 15, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What can grant funds support?
Projects that improve the criminal justice system, prevent juvenile delinquency, or assist crime victims (excluding compensation).
How much funding is available?
The total funding pool is approximately $410 million. Individual award amounts vary based on Congressional designation.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the official Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement before investing application effort. Verify your organization is explicitly listed.
- Match your organization's legal name in SAM exactly to the Congressional designation. Even minor name differences can cause rejection.
- Verify your UEI is current and accurate in SAM before submitting. SAM registration is non-negotiable for federal grants.
- Contact BJA directly if there's any doubt about your organization's eligibility. Don't guess or proceed with a marginal status.
- Focus your project narrative on how your work addresses criminal justice improvements, juvenile delinquency prevention, or victim services.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirming your organization appears in the Congressional designated projects list. Name mismatches between your legal entity in SAM and the Congressional designation. Submitting before SAM registration is fully verified and current.
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