FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Violent Crime: Gangs and Organized Criminal Groups (Domestic and Transnational)
🏛 National Institute of Justice (USDOJ-OJP-NIJ)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 22, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research and evaluation organizations collaborating with or led by law enforcement agencies studying gang and organized criminal group violence.
Eligible applicants typically include research institutions, universities, nonprofit research organizations, and law enforcement agencies. Projects must focus on rigorous evaluation of strategies to reduce violent crime related to gangs or organized criminal groups.
Research can examine domestic and transnational criminal threats, including violence related to firearms, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. Projects should inform law enforcement strategies and operations addressing terrorism and transnational criminal organizations.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Violent Crime: Gangs and Organized Criminal Groups (Domestic and Transnational). This opportunity supports research and evaluation proposals on gang and organized criminal group-related violent crime, including domestic and transnational. Projects funded through this NOFO will study topics that inform law enforcement strategies and operations to effectuate EO 14157, “Designating Cartels And Other Organizations As Foreign Terrorist Organizations And Specially Designated Global Terrorist;” Chapter 4 of the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy, “Global Campaign Against Transnational Criminal Threats;” and other related threats, including those posed by firearm, human, and other trafficking-related violence.
NIJ seeks rigorous evaluations of new or existing strategies intended to reduce violent crime associated with gangs and organized criminal groups or networks and are led by or collaborate with law enforcement agencies. Evaluations should consider how individual, group, organizational, situational, or other relevant contextual factors interact with the strategies being studied.
NIJ encourages evaluation designs such as randomized controlled trials (when feasible), mixed methods research, quasi-experimental designs, matched comparisons, and other appropriate methodologies. Process evaluations should be incorporated to support interpretation of program implementation and outcomes. Outcome evaluations must focus on violent crime measures such as murder, aggravated assault, and robbery along with relevant intermediate and process outcomes. Multi-site and cross-jurisdictional evaluations are encouraged.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supp., Supplement to SF-424
- Research and Evaluation Proposal Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity documentation
- Letters of Support (from law enforcement partners)
- Curriculum Vitae for key personnel
Program contact
- 👤 National Institute of Justice
- 📧 OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-616-5314
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.560 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$18,393,640
-
$13,250,000
-
$12,361,120
-
$6,998,958
-
$5,997,434
-
$5,691,859
-
$4,581,851
-
$4,501,620
-
$4,000,000
-
$3,416,415
Top States by Funding
- NC 10 awards $42.3M
- VA 14 awards $28.8M
- PA 3 awards $14.3M
- CA 8 awards $13.3M
- MA 12 awards $12.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.560). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $57,808,937 | |
| 2025 | $3,183,371 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Research organizations, universities, and law enforcement agencies are eligible. Applicants must have law enforcement partnerships or leadership involvement in the project.
What types of research projects are funded?
NIJ funds rigorous evaluations of strategies to reduce gang and organized crime-related violent crime. Studies must use strong methodologies like randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, or mixed methods.
What outcomes should my evaluation measure?
Focus on violent crime measures including murder, aggravated assault, and robbery. Include intermediate and process outcomes to support interpretation of program implementation.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is November 30, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
How much funding is available?
The total funding pool is $3,000,000. Specific award amounts are not predetermined; contact NIJ for guidance on appropriate budgets.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Partner with law enforcement early. Strong agency collaboration is central to project competitiveness and implementation.
- Design rigorous evaluations using experimental or quasi-experimental methods. Randomized controlled trials are encouraged when feasible.
- Include process evaluations alongside outcome measures. Understanding how programs are implemented matters as much as measuring results.
- Address multi-site or cross-jurisdictional scope when possible. NIJ prioritizes evaluations spanning multiple jurisdictions or law enforcement agencies.
- Align your research to Executive Order 14157 and the 2026 National Drug Control Strategy. Show how your work addresses transnational criminal threats.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak law enforcement partnerships or lack of agency collaboration. NIJ prioritizes projects led by or closely collaborating with law enforcement throughout research design and implementation.
Focusing only on outcome measures without rigorous methodology. Applicants must use experimental, quasi-experimental, or other strong evaluation designs.
Narrow geographic or jurisdictional scope. Single-site evaluations are less competitive; multi-site or cross-jurisdictional studies are preferred.
Similar grants
- OPEN NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Human Trafficking — National Institute of Justice
- OPEN NIJ FY 2026 Crime and Justice Research — National Institute of Justice
- OPEN NIJ FY 2026 Research on Gender Dysphoria and Violent Crime — National Institute of Justice
- OPEN NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Justice System Responses to Illegal Immigration — National Institute of Justice
- OPEN NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Drones as First Responders — National Institute of Justice