Tribal Court Improvement Program
🏛 Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB (HHS-ACF-CB)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for tribal courts and tribal nations seeking to improve their court systems and operations. Eligible applicants include Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal courts recognized by the federal government. The program supports planning, capacity-building, training, and implementation activities designed to strengthen tribal judicial systems, improve case processing, enhance child welfare and juvenile justice outcomes, and build tribal court infrastructure. Activities may include staff training, development of court procedures and policies, technology improvements, and strategic planning. The program prioritizes tribal self-governance and self-determination in addressing child welfare and juvenile justice matters within tribal jurisdictions.
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Key dates
- Jul 8, 2026 Applications open
- Aug 7, 2026 Application deadline in 21 days
- Sep 29, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2026 Project start
Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides funding to tribal courts to assess the effectiveness of and support improvements to how these courts and/or legal representation handle American Indian and Alaska Native child welfare cases. This includes cases involving family preservation, family reunification, guardianship, and adoption.
The Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) supports the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) mission to foster health and well-being by providing partnership and effective delivery of human services.
Through this program, ACF partners directly with tribes to strengthen tribal court systems that oversee child welfare matters, helping ensure that children are safe, families are supported, and court proceedings are timely, fair, and legally sound.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement
- Project narrative describing the court improvement plan, goals, and activities
- Detailed budget and budget narrative
- Tribal resolution or authorization letter from tribal leadership
- Letters of support from tribal judicial officers and court staff
- Organizational capacity documentation (court structure, policies, fiscal management)
- Evaluation plan describing how improvement will be measured
- Indirect cost rate agreement (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Catherine Heath
- 📧 cb@grantreview.org
- 📞 888-203-6161
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.586 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$3,018,582
-
$2,733,275
-
$2,116,609
-
$2,109,658
-
$2,095,406
-
$2,074,619
-
$1,884,039
-
$1,853,476
-
$1,838,674
-
$1,832,481
Top States by Funding
- CA 9 awards $14.2M
- TX 9 awards $12.5M
- FL 5 awards $6.4M
- NY 6 awards $6.4M
- WA 7 awards $4.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.586). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $29,000,000 | |
| 2025 | $29,319,245 | |
| 2026 est. | $38,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the Tribal Court Improvement Program?
Federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal courts are the primary eligible applicants. Applications must be submitted by the tribe or an entity authorized to act on behalf of the tribe.
What types of activities does this grant support?
The program supports court improvement activities including staff training, development of court procedures and policies, technology systems, strategic planning, case management improvements, and initiatives to enhance child welfare and juvenile justice court operations.
When is the application deadline?
Specific deadlines vary by funding year and are announced on the ACF website and Grants.gov. Check these sources regularly or contact ACF directly for current deadline information.
How competitive is this grant?
Tribal Court Improvement grants are moderately competitive. Success requires demonstrated need, clear improvement strategies, organizational capacity, and alignment with tribal self-determination goals. Strong applications show partnership with tribal leadership and other court stakeholders.
What is the typical funding range?
Funding amounts vary by year and availability. Typical awards range from $100,000 to $300,000+ depending on the tribe's size, needs, and project scope. Contact ACF for current funding levels.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Secure strong support and partnership from tribal leadership, judicial officers, and court staff. Tribal Court Improvement requires institutional commitment, not just administrative endorsement.
- Focus your application on specific, measurable court improvements. Identify concrete problems (case backlogs, lack of procedures, technology gaps) and propose evidence-based solutions with clear outcomes.
- Demonstrate organizational capacity by documenting your court's current structure, staffing, budget management, and past ability to complete projects. Include letters of support from key tribal officials.
- Connect your court improvement plan to broader tribal justice and child welfare goals. Show how your project advances tribal sovereignty and improves outcomes for children and families in your jurisdiction.
- Build a realistic budget and timeline. Court improvement is multi-year work. Be specific about personnel, training costs, technology, and evaluation. Include matching funds or in-kind contributions when possible to strengthen your application.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack clear connection to tribal leadership support or fail to demonstrate organizational capacity to manage federal funds. Weak applications also tend to be vague about specific court problems being addressed or propose solutions without evidence of effectiveness in tribal or similar court settings.
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