OVC FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program

The Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants Program is administered by the Office for Victims of Crime within the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs. The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership and funding to support law enforcement, reduce crime, assist victims, and address public safety challenges such as human trafficking and the opioid crisis. This funding opportunity is authorized under the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2026, and represents a congressionally directed spending initiative in which specific projects are predesignated for funding through the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement. The primary purpose of this grant program is to support projects that improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and assist victims of crime. The program is designed to fund targeted initiatives that align with federal public safety priorities, including supporting law enforcement operations, protecting children, combating violent crime, and providing services to victims. Funding is restricted to the specific projects and amounts identified in the appropriations legislation, meaning applicants must ensure that their proposed activities directly align with the designated project descriptions. Funding under this program totals approximately 61000643 dollars, with an anticipated 83 awards. Individual award amounts are capped based on the amounts specified in the appropriations act for each designated project. The performance period for awards ranges from 12 to 48 months, with projects expected to begin on January 23, 2026, unless a later start date is requested and approved, not exceeding October 1, 2026. Funds must be used strictly for allowable activities, and recipients must ensure all costs are reasonable, necessary, and directly tied to the approved project. Certain activities are explicitly prohibited, including funding programs that violate federal immigration law or civil rights laws, as well as providing security enhancements to entities not engaged in criminal justice or public safety. Eligibility for this program is highly restricted. Only entities that were specifically invited to apply and are listed in the Congressional Joint Explanatory Statement are eligible. Applicants must ensure that their legal entity name matches the name associated with their Unique Entity Identifier in the System for Award Management and corresponds exactly to the designated recipient in the appropriations documentation. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this funding opportunity, and all recipients, including for profit entities, must forgo any profit or management fees. The application process involves a two step submission. First, applicants must complete and submit the SF 424 form through Grants.gov by July 29, 2026 at 1159 pm Eastern Time. Second, the full application must be submitted through the JustGrants system by July 31, 2026 at 859 pm Eastern Time. Required application components include a proposal abstract, proposal narrative, detailed budget, and various financial and compliance documents. The proposal narrative must address the need for the project, goals and objectives, implementation strategy, and organizational capacity. Applications are reviewed by the Office of Justice Programs to ensure they are reasonable, measurable, and aligned with program goals. Invited applications are also evaluated for consistency with the invitation letter and congressional designation. Successful applicants are expected to submit regular performance reports to demonstrate progress toward project goals. Notification of awards is anticipated by September 30, 2026. For questions, applicants may contact the OJP Response Center via phone or email during standard business hours. This funding opportunity does not indicate a recurring cycle and is tied specifically to the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process. Therefore, future availability depends on subsequent congressional appropriations and designations rather than a standard annual grant cycle.

Ensure strict alignment with the congressionally designated project description and demonstrate measurable outcomes tied to criminal justice and victim service goals