FY26 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program
🏛 SMART
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 10, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for state and territorial governments implementing the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Eligible applicants include all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Federally recognized Indian tribes that have elected to implement SORNA may also apply. Funding supports developing and enhancing programs to implement SORNA requirements, including registry maintenance, information exchange, and public website participation.
Applicants must demonstrate their jurisdiction's commitment to SORNA implementation and compliance with federal registration and notification standards. Projects should align with the National Guidelines and Supplemental Guidelines for Sex Offender Registration and Notification. The grant does not require cost-sharing from applicants.
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Program description
General Purpose of the Funding:
The Adam Walsh Act (AWA) Implementation Grant Program assists jurisdictions with developing and enhancing programs designed to implement SORNA. SORNA was enacted to provide a set of comprehensive standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. “Jurisdiction” is defined in SORNA as any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the principal U.S. territories, and federally recognized Indian tribes — to the extent provided by 34 U.S.C. § 20911(10) — that have elected to implement SORNA.
SORNA requires all states, the District of Columbia, the principal U.S. territories, and participating federally recognized Indian tribes to maintain a sex offender registry and sex offenders to register and maintain a current registration in each jurisdiction where the individual lives, works, or goes to school. SORNA also sets forth requirements regarding what jurisdictions must include in their sex offender registries, what information sex offenders and sex offender registries must provide, requires jurisdictions to participate in the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov) and exchange interjurisdictional information, and offenders must provide advance notice when traveling internationally. For more information about SORNA’s requirements, applicants should review the National Guidelines for Sex Offender Registration and Notification, the Supplemental Guidelines for Sex Offender Registration and Notification, the Supplemental Guidelines for Juvenile Registration Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, and Attorney General Rules. These, and other guidance documents, are available on the SMART Office website (SMART.gov).
Applicants should refer to the Application Contents and Format section, Budget and Associated Information subsection for information on allowable and unallowable costs that may inform the development of their project design.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Project Narrative (proposal description and implementation plan)
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational/Agency Documentation
- SORNA Compliance Certification or Status Report
- Proof of Eligible Jurisdiction Status
Program contact
- 👤 SMART
- 📧 AskSMART@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-305-2586
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.750 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$11,049,932
-
$6,804,436
-
$6,740,739
-
$6,202,055
-
$6,048,884
-
$6,033,033
-
$5,927,225
-
$5,310,979
-
$4,998,317
-
$4,565,508
Top States by Funding
- FL 6 awards $20.3M
- MI 4 awards $13.6M
- OH 3 awards $13.4M
- TN 4 awards $12.0M
- MO 3 awards $10.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.750). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $17,052,315 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and federally recognized Indian tribes that have elected to implement SORNA. Must be government entities responsible for sex offender registration.
What can the funding be used for?
Developing and enhancing programs to implement SORNA requirements. This includes registry systems, information exchange infrastructure, and NSOPW participation.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. This grant does not require applicants to provide matching funds or cost-sharing.
When is the deadline?
The application deadline is November 25, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
How much funding is available?
Award amounts reach up to $400,000, though exact amounts vary by jurisdiction and project scope.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the National Guidelines and Supplemental Guidelines for Sex Offender Registration and Notification before developing your project. Align your proposal directly with these standards.
- Clearly describe your jurisdiction's current SORNA implementation status and gaps. Reviewers want to understand why this funding is essential.
- Emphasize how your project will enhance interjurisdictional information exchange and NSOPW.gov participation. Federal coordinators value connectivity.
- Budget carefully for personnel, technology, and training costs. Justify each line item with reference to specific SORNA requirements.
- Include a realistic timeline and measurable outcomes. Specify which SORNA elements your project will improve or implement.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to align project goals with specific SORNA requirements listed in federal guidelines. Submitting vague or overly broad descriptions of registry improvements without measurable objectives. Underestimating timeline or resources needed for system development and staff training.
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