FY26 Community Policing Development (CPD) Accreditation Program

The Community Policing Development Accreditation Program is administered by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services within the U.S. Department of Justice. The COPS Office is responsible for advancing community policing practices across the United States and supporting law enforcement agencies at the state, local, territorial, and tribal levels through funding and technical assistance. This funding opportunity is designed to expand and strengthen accreditation efforts among law enforcement agencies by supporting the development and sustainability of accreditation bodies that operate at the state or regional level. The primary purpose of this program is to increase the number of law enforcement agencies that achieve accreditation by removing financial and operational barriers and enhancing the infrastructure that supports accreditation systems. Funding may be used to establish new accreditation bodies where none currently exist or to expand the capacity of existing organizations. Activities supported under this program include providing technical assistance to agencies pursuing accreditation, offsetting accreditation costs, improving customer service and outreach, and developing accessible policy templates that agencies can adopt. Applicants are required to demonstrate a clear need for financial support and provide a detailed project plan that outlines how their proposed activities will contribute to expanding accreditation. They must also include an outreach strategy, particularly focused on engaging small and rural law enforcement agencies, and a sustainability plan describing how the accreditation body will continue operating after the grant period ends. Projects that only maintain current operations without measurable improvements or expansion are considered out of scope, as are proposals focused on non-law enforcement accreditation or submissions from national-level accreditation entities. Eligibility for this program is broad and includes government entities at the state, county, city, and tribal levels, as well as nonprofit organizations, for profit entities, institutions of higher education, and community or faith based organizations. However, organizations that have already received funding under this program in the two previous fiscal years are not eligible to apply. Additionally, law enforcement agencies themselves are not eligible if they are seeking funding solely to obtain accreditation. The application process requires submission through a two step system. Applicants must first complete and submit the SF-424 form through Grants.gov, followed by a full application submission through JustGrants. Required components include a proposal abstract, detailed budget, budget narrative, project timeline, and responses to program specific questions. Additional supporting documents such as resumes for key personnel and letters of support may also be required or recommended depending on the project scope. Applications are reviewed based on their alignment with program goals, the quality and feasibility of the project plan, and the potential impact on increasing accreditation among law enforcement agencies. Successful applicants will be expected to deliver measurable outcomes, including increased numbers of accredited agencies, enhanced outreach efforts, and comprehensive reporting on project activities. The award period is expected to last 24 months, with funding decisions anticipated on or after October 1, 2026. Key deadlines for this opportunity include an initial submission deadline through Grants.gov followed by a final application deadline in JustGrants. Applicants are encouraged to participate in pre-application webinars and utilize available support resources, including help desks and program contacts, to ensure successful submission. The program operates on a single cycle for this funding opportunity, and no recurring schedule is indicated in the source material.

Focus on demonstrating measurable expansion of accreditation capacity strong outreach to small and rural agencies and clear sustainability beyond grant period