FY 2026 Invited to Apply – Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program
🏛 Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations and entities named in the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement for the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2026. Only pre-selected recipients identified in that statement are eligible to apply. This is an invited application process, not open to the public. Eligible applicants must align with OJJDP's mission to prevent juvenile delinquency, improve the criminal justice system, and support crime victims. Contact OJJDP directly to confirm your organization's eligibility status before applying.
Program description
This NOFO will 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).
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Congressional designation confirmation
- Project narrative
- Budget and budget justification
- Organizational qualifications
- Management plan
- Evaluation plan
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 0000000000
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 named in the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement are eligible. This is an invited application, not open to all applicants.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is July 15, 2026. This is a fixed deadline.
What types of projects does this funding support?
Projects that prevent or reduce juvenile delinquency, improve criminal justice system functioning, or assist crime victims (excluding direct victim compensation).
Is cost-sharing required?
No. Cost-sharing is not required for this grant.
What is the typical award amount?
Award amounts vary based on project scope. The total funding pool is approximately $62 million across all invited projects.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your organization is named in the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement before starting. An invited application means only pre-selected entities can apply.
- Align your project narrative directly with OJJDP's statutory mission: preventing juvenile delinquency and improving criminal justice outcomes.
- Document the specific criminal justice problem your project addresses. Use data and evidence to justify the need.
- Connect your organization's experience and track record in juvenile justice or crime victim services.
- Budget clarity matters for federal competitive awards. Justify all proposed costs with project activities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications that don't clearly link project activities to juvenile delinquency prevention or criminal justice improvement. Unclear budgets that don't connect expenses to specific project deliverables. Failing to address how your organization will measure success and report results.
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