O-BJA-2026-172698: BJA FY 2026 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 $1.0 million to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. Applications closed on November 6, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed November 5, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.0 million
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| O-BJA-2025-172507 | March 26, 2026 | Closed May 8, 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 | August 17, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | November 6, 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)
Other Units of Local Government: For the purposes of this notice of funding opportunity, other units of local government include towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other general purpose political subdivisions of a state.; Faith-based Organizations: Religious organizations, faith-based nonprofits, and organizations with religious charters, names, or missions.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative awards averaged $898,947; this notice allows up to $1.0 million 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 is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act (SCA) Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes. This opportunity supports state, local, and tribal governments and community-based organizations to provide education and employment programs for adults and youth leaving prison and jail. The goal of the program is to improve academic and vocational/trade programs available to adults and youth 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-2026-172698 still open?
No. It closed on November 6, 2026.
Who can apply for BJA FY 2026 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 FY 2026 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes?
Closed November 6, 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 $1.0 million 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.
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