PHILADELPHIA – The Office of Public Safety (OPS) Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) announced the selection of grant awards for its John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC) Winter 2026 Criminal Justice Microgrant Fund (the Fund).
The original goal of the Microgrant Fund was to support local organizations that were advancing the mission of the MacArthur Safety and Justice Challenge to help safely reduce the national prison population. With the intent of offering capacity-building support, DCJ opened one final opportunity to double down on the goal of not just providing short-term funding to mission aligned organizations, but also helping organizations reach deeper sustainability, which is relevant and necessary given current budget realities. As such, DCJ invited eligible microgrant recipients to apply for up to $10,000 in capacity-building support from a preselected consultant. This was an invitation-only grant opportunity, after which the initiative will be merged with the Anti-Violence Community Partnership Grant Program that is run out of the Office of Public Safety.
“Having more community voices and organizations involved in preventing gun violence is a key part of the Parker administration’s strategy to help make Philadelphia neighborhoods safer,” said Adam Geer, Chief Public Safety Director, Office of Public Safety. “We hear what our residents are saying, and we want them to know that more help is on its way. We are thankful to the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety & Justice Challenge for the ability to include more seats at the table and have more community voices heard as part of our overall public safety strategy.”
The Fund supports community-based programs doing innovative work around criminal justice reform that:
- Develop new and creative approaches to criminal justice reform in Philadelphia;
- Engage communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system in the reform effort;
- Provide services to individuals who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system; and
- Are BIPOC-led organizations seeking general operating support.
The City funded the following organizations:
- Ardella’s House
- Beloved Care Project
- Dimplez for Dayz
- Healing Communities Pa.
- I’m Free
- KB Foundation
- Mentor Leaders Produce Mentor Leaders
- PAR – Recycle
- Philly Youth Basketball
- Shoot Basketballs NOT People
“The Division of Criminal Justice is grateful to have rolled out four rounds of microgrants over a 4-year span, 2022-2026, funding and supporting more than 50 passion-fueled community-based organizations across our city, and we are forever thankful to the MacArthur Foundation for helping Philadelphia invest in Philadelphians as they commit to criminal justice reform, and public safety ,” said Kea R. Greene, Communications & Community Engagement Manager, Division of Criminal Justice.
All grantees join the Safety & Justice Challenge microgrant community, a network of agencies with subject matter expertise and experience in ongoing legal system reform efforts.
For questions regarding the Criminal Justice Microgrant Fund, contact MacArthurSJC@phila.gov.
About the MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. More information about the Foundation’s criminal justice reform work can be found at www.macfound.org/criminaljustice.