Bullying Prevention Grant Program

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, or ICJIA, is seeking proposals under the Bullying Prevention Notice of Funding Opportunity, NOFO 2118-0202. The solicitation is supported with State of Illinois fiscal year funding and makes a total of $700,000 available for bullying prevention projects. ICJIA describes bullying as intentional and repeated conduct occurring within an imbalanced power relationship that inflicts or attempts to inflict injury or discomfort. The notice addresses traditional bullying, including physical aggression, verbal threats and insults, and exclusion, as well as cyberbullying conducted through text messages, email, websites, social media, and other electronic means. ICJIA identifies bullying as a form of youth violence and an adverse childhood experience associated with negative physical health, mental health, educational, and long-term opportunity outcomes. The program is intended to address bullying through both prevention and supportive intervention. Primary prevention activities may address risk factors before violence occurs through school climate or community-level efforts. Secondary and tertiary prevention may focus on youth at greatest risk for violence and youth already involved in bullying. The solicitation identifies higher reported rates of bullying among certain groups, including LGBTQ youth, Native American or American Indian and multiracial youth, youth across Illinois counties, and middle school youth. ICJIA also notes the relationship between bullying and outcomes such as sadness, hopelessness, suicidal ideation, school climate concerns, and antisocial behavior. Funded activities may include bullying prevention and pro-social campaigns and events, education and awareness activities, student or youth groups such as youth leadership and gay-straight alliances, planning to determine necessary school-based bullying prevention policies and procedures, implementation of school bullying prevention policies and procedures, and implementation of evidence-informed bullying prevention programs. Supportive services may include staff who support students in the community, classrooms, groups, or individually. Services may range from early intervention through clinical supports and may provide education and awareness for youth who have been bullied and youth who have used bullying behaviors. Supported activities may also address related mental health challenges, including suicide prevention. Schools and community-based organizations may apply. Agencies must be registered through the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act Grantee Portal to become eligible to apply and must be in good standing with all GATA pre-qualification requirements before the application deadline. Approval of the current Internal Control Questionnaire is required before execution of a grant agreement. Applicants may request a minimum of $65,000 and a maximum of $75,000. The notice does not state a required applicant cost share or matching contribution. Awards and resulting agreements remain contingent on the availability of funds. The performance period is October 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, providing approximately nine months for funded activities. Completed applications were required to be submitted through AmpliFund by 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2026. Applications were not accepted by email, mail, fax, or in person, and incomplete applications were not reviewed. Required application materials included the Uniform State Grant Application, Budget and Budget Narrative, Performance Metrics, Fiscal Information Sheet, and Implementation Schedule. A required technical assistance webinar recording was available beginning at 5:00 p.m. on February 2, 2026. The NOFO was posted February 2, 2026, questions were due by 5:00 p.m. on March 6, 2026, and applications were due March 12, 2026. Budget Committee review and approval of recommended designations was scheduled for August 2026. The source does not state that this solicitation recurs annually or on another regular schedule. Recipients must submit periodic financial reports and periodic performance reports, as well as final financial and performance reports and a calendar year-end financial report in accordance with CFR Part 200 Uniform Requirements. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld when reports are delinquent. Questions regarding the opportunity were directed to CJA.BullyingPreventionNOFO@Illinois.gov, with Lajuana Murphy identified as the ICJIA contact. Due to the competitive nature of the solicitation, applicants were instructed not to discuss the opportunity directly or indirectly with other ICJIA employees. The opportunity expired on March 12, 2026, and the stated performance period runs from October 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Complete GATA registration and pre-qualification before the deadline; review the required technical assistance webinar recording; submit through AmpliFund only; include every required application component because incomplete applications will not be reviewed; align proposed activities with the identified school climate/community-level activities or supportive services.