# Missing Children's Assistance (16.543)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/programs/16-543-missing-children-s-assistance/  
Publisher: Well Told Grants. Data: USAspending.gov and Grants.gov, updated November 7, 2026.

Missing Children's Assistance is run by Department of Justice. From fiscal 2021 to 2025 it awarded $398 million in 217 grants, about $1.8 million per award.

## Objectives

Program goal(s) name: Protect missing and exploited children.
Program goal(s) description: Support research, training, technical assistance, and demonstration programs addressing the prevention, investigation and services for missing and exploited children and families, and professionals who work to prevent, recover and assist missing and exploited children, including victims of online and/or commercial sexual exploitation; Establish and maintain a national resource center and clearinghouse dedicated to missing and exploited children issues (NCMEC); and support the AMBER Alert program.
Program objective(s) name: Support task forces, hotlines, and other mechanisms to coordinate resources and information to respond to missing and exploited children.
Program objective(s) description: (1) Support enhancements to law enforcement’s investigative responses to missing and exploited children issues (e.g., the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program); (2) support programs focused on the online and/or commercial sexual exploitation of children; (3) provide a toll-free hotline where citizens can report investigative leads and parents and other interested individuals can receive information concerning missing children; (4) promote information sharing and networking opportunities between regional nonprofit organizations, state missing children clearinghouses, and law enforcement agencies; (5) support the AMBER Alert Training and Technical Assistance Center to increase the capacity of law enforcement to respond to missing, endangered, and abducted children.

## Funding by fiscal year

| Year | Amount | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $35.1 million | 64 |
| 2022 | $141 million | 96 |
| 2023 | $131 million | 94 |
| 2024 | $57.8 million | 14 |
| 2025 | $33.2 million | 52 |

## Largest recipients

| Recipient | State | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children | Virginia | $184 million |
| Fox Valley Technical College | Wisconsin | $47.8 million |
| West Virginia State Police | West Virginia | $5.0 million |
| NW3C, Inc. | Virginia | $4.7 million |
| Department of State Police Michigan | Michigan | $3.9 million |
| City of Los Angeles | California | $3.8 million |
| University of Oklahoma | Oklahoma | $3.7 million |
| Georgia Bureau of Investigation | Georgia | $3.6 million |
| Attorney General of Texas | Texas | $3.6 million |
| City of Dallas | Texas | $3.2 million |
| Seattle Police Department | Washington | $3.1 million |
| Zero Abuse Project | Minnesota | $3.0 million |
| City of Houston | Texas | $2.9 million |
| County of Broward | Florida | $2.9 million |
| County of Delaware | Pennsylvania | $2.8 million |
| State of IL Attorney General | Illinois | $2.8 million |
| Osceola Co Sheriffs Office | Florida | $2.7 million |
| Department of Justice Wisconsin | Wisconsin | $2.7 million |
| City of Knoxville | Tennessee | $2.7 million |
| City of New York Police Department | New York | $2.7 million |

## Open opportunities

- [OJJDP FY 2026 Internet Crimes Against Children On-Line Child Protection System (ICACCOPS)](https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/o-ojjdp-2026-172740-ojjdp-fy-2026-internet-crimes-against-children-on/), closes November 16, 2026