Do you know a community-based organization in Philadelphia engaged in reforming the criminal justice system? The city is now offering microgrants to qualifying community-based organizations to carry-out this important work.

Criminal Justice Reform Microgrants: This program will support community-based organizations doing innovative work to further the goals of Philadelphia’s participation in the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC). The SJC in Philadelphia aims to advance safety and racial equity while reducing the size of the local jail population.

  • Criteria: The Criminal Justice Reform Microgrant Program will provide funding to Philadelphia-based programs that 1) advance criminal justice reform from a policy perspective; 2) directly engage Philadelphia’s communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system in the reform work; and/or 3) provide support services to individuals impacted by the criminal justice system.
  • More information: Click here for full program details.
  • Application process: The first step in the process is to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the City’s website. Letters can also be emailed as a PDF document with attachments to MacarthurSJC@phila.gov.
  • Deadline: Applications are due by 5 p.m. on November 6, 2020.
  • Funding: $200,000
  • Number of awards: multiple

Reentry Solutions Microgrants for Community Engagement: This microgranting initiative focuses on soliciting community input to inform how people under county probation and parole supervision can best be supported and connected to services (such as workforce training, adult education, and primary healthcare), and how the City can build a more effective reentry services system. This microgranting is part of the broader work around Neighborhood Resource Centers, and will be managed by HR&A Advisors.

  • Criteria: The City will award microgrants to community-based organizations to implement their own strategies to engage and solicit feedback from Philadelphians who are or have recently been under county supervision and/or have recently returned from incarceration. While proposals may differ in approach, depending on knowledge from local organizations of the best platforms to engage the target communities virtually, proposals are expected to include community engagement forums such as open houses, focus groups, and/or digital surveys. Grant funds must be partially used to compensate community members for leading and/or participating in the community engagement, and proposals from organizations led by people who are directly impacted by the criminal justice system will receive preferential treatment in the selection process.
  • More information: Click here for full program details.
  • Deadline: Proposals are due October 15, 2020, and applicants will be notified by November 23, 2020 regarding whether they are receiving a grant. Projects will be completed by January 22, 2020.
  • Funding: $60,000
  • Number of awards: multiple
Learn more about the Criminal Justice Reform Microgrants