Community Policing Development (CPD) Accreditation Program
🏛 Community Oriented Policing Services (USDOJ-OJP-COPS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 21, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies seeking to establish or support accreditation bodies. Eligible applicants include for-profit and nonprofit organizations, public governmental agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, faith-based organizations, and community groups. Prior funding recipients from FY2024 or FY2025 are ineligible. Projects focus on technical assistance, accreditation cost support, customer service improvements, and policy development.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing and the Administration’s priority of Making America Safe Again by supporting the nation’s state, local, territorial and Tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.
The COPS Office seeks to expand law enforcement accreditation through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Community Policing Development – Accreditation
Under this funding opportunity, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is seeking to establish new and support existing accreditation bodies in states or territories. Funding will focus on such activities as providing technical assistance to agencies, defraying or underwriting accreditation costs, improving customer service and marketing, and developing user-friendly policy templates.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative and Timeline
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity/Experience Documentation
- Letters of Support from Law Enforcement Agencies
- Proof of Nonprofit Status (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Community Oriented Policing Services
- 📧 AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov
- 📞 800-421-6770
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.710 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$10,958,667
-
$10,492,902
-
$10,469,448
-
$9,789,763
-
$9,784,130
-
$9,544,040
-
$9,000,000
-
$8,547,000
-
$8,245,000
-
$6,323,580
Top States by Funding
- TX 13 awards $84.4M
- VA 11 awards $53.1M
- CA 8 awards $36.6M
- NJ 7 awards $26.1M
- FL 6 awards $24.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.710). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2012 | $151,572,278 | |
| 2013 | $166,436,731 | |
| 2014 | $169,289,196 | |
| 2015 | $168,217,132 | |
| 2016 | $167,422,943 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
For-profit and nonprofit organizations, public agencies, federally recognized tribes, colleges, faith-based organizations, and community groups can apply. Prior FY2024 or FY2025 awardees are not eligible.
What activities are funded?
Technical assistance to agencies, underwriting accreditation costs, improving customer service and marketing, and developing policy templates are all supported.
What is the award amount?
Awards reach approximately $350,000, though the total funding pool is $2.5 million across multiple awards.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is fixed for August 27, 2026. Plan ahead as this is a federal grant.
What type of agreement is used?
This is a Cooperative Agreement, which means ongoing partnership and communication with COPS Office throughout the project period.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate existing relationships with law enforcement agencies or prior accreditation experience to strengthen competitiveness.
- Clearly describe how your organization will improve customer service and accessibility for agencies seeking accreditation.
- Include detailed plans for developing policy templates that address real gaps identified by agencies in your region.
- Show sustainable revenue models beyond grant funding to ensure accreditation body continuity.
- Connect your proposal to COPS Office's "Making America Safe Again" priority and community policing best practices.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing accreditation support without demonstrating existing relationships with local or state law enforcement agencies. Vague descriptions of technical assistance that lack specific, measurable outcomes. Failing to address how you'll market accreditation to agencies and overcome barriers to participation.
Similar grants
- OPEN Young Trilateral Leaders (YTL) Summit — U.S. Mission to South Korea
- OPEN Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network — National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- OPEN FY26 Safer Outcomes Program — Community Oriented Policing Services
- OPEN Leveraging Academic Institutions and Judicial Professional Bodies to Document TNR — Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
- CLOSING SOON Advancing Civilian Nuclear Power in Türkiye — Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation