O-BJA-2025-172507: BJA FY25 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Bureau of Justice Assistance notices from 2026.
Bureau of Justice Assistance offered grants of up to $900,000 to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. Applications closed on May 8, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed May 7, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$900,000
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| O-BJA-2026-172698 | August 17, 2026 | Closed November 6, 2026 | Closed |
| O-BJA-2024-172135 | May 16, 2024 | Closed July 11, 2024 | Closed |
| O-BJA-2023-171535 | January 30, 2023 | Closed April 6, 2023 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | March 26, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | May 8, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 14 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Units of local government
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative awards averaged $898,947; this notice allows up to $900,000 per award.
- Most of the program's money (59% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
This NOFO supports state, local, and tribal governments and community-based organizations to provide education and employment programs for people leaving jail and prison. The goal of the program is to improve academic and vocational/trade programs available to people in prisons and jails and expand workforce development and career pathways that result in improved job readiness, employment attainment, and retention thereby improving employment prospects and reducing recidivism. Applicants may consider proposing projects that develop marketable skills, leverage technology, and build capacity to align with their local job market and engage in the digital economy.
Who has won Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative (16.812) awarded $402 million across 447 grant awards, an average of $898,947 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Council of State Governments LTD. | Kentucky | 6 | $23.7 million |
| American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences | Virginia | 3 | $12.4 million |
| Impact Justice | California | 4 | $11.4 million |
| The Soulfisher Ministries | Missouri | 3 | $5.7 million |
| Vera Institute of Justice, Inc. | New York | 3 | $4.5 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is O-BJA-2025-172507 still open?
No. It closed on May 8, 2026.
Who can apply for BJA FY25 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes?
Bureau of Justice Assistance accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for BJA FY25 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes?
Closed May 8, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $900,000 each.
Who has won Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The Council of State Governments LTD., American Institutes for Research in the Behavioral Sciences, Impact Justice. The program made 447 awards worth $402 million in that time.