Grants for Reentry Education and Employment Programs
Summary
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has announced a funding opportunity for FY25, offering grants to support reentry education and employment programs for individuals leaving jail and prison. The program aims to improve job readiness, employment attainment, and reduce recidivism through marketable skills development and workforce alignment. Applications are due by May 4, 2026.
What changed
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its FY25 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes program. This initiative provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments, as well as community-based organizations, to establish or enhance education and employment programs for individuals transitioning from incarceration. The goal is to improve job readiness, increase employment rates, and ultimately reduce recidivism by aligning vocational training with local job markets and leveraging technology.
Eligible entities include various levels of government, educational institutions, small businesses, for-profit organizations, and non-profit organizations. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects that develop marketable skills and build capacity for digital economy engagement. The application deadline is May 4, 2026, with award minimums of $900,000 and maximums not specified. Interested parties should apply through Grants.gov.
What to do next
- Review eligibility criteria for the BJA FY25 Second Chance Act funding opportunity.
- Develop and submit grant applications through Grants.gov by the May 4, 2026 deadline.
- Align proposed projects with the goal of improving reentry education, employment outcomes, and reducing recidivism.
Source document (simplified)
BJA FY25 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes
Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance
Assistance Listings: 16.812 -- Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative
Last Updated: March 26, 2026 View version history on Grants.gov
Description
This NOFO supports state, local, and tribal governments and community-based organizations to provide education and employment programs for people leaving jail and prison. The goal of the program is to improve academic and vocational/trade programs available to people in prisons and jails and expand workforce development and career pathways that result in improved job readiness, employment attainment, and retention thereby improving employment prospects and reducing recidivism. Applicants may consider proposing projects that develop marketable skills, leverage technology, and build capacity to align with their local job market and engage in the digital economy.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Government
- County governments
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- State governments
Education
- Public and state institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Independent school districts
Business
- Small businesses
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Nonprofit
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
- Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
Miscellaneous
- Other
Additional information
Units of local government
Grantor contact information
Description
OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
OJP.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
Documents
No documents are currently available.
Link to additional information
https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/o-bja-2025-172507
Closing: May 4, 2026
Application process
This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates. View on Grants.gov
Award
$--
Program Funding
--
Expected awards
$--
Award Minimum
$900,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
O-BJA-2025-172507
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
No Funding instrument type:
Grant
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
-- Category of Funding Activity:
Humanities
Category Explanation:
--
History
Version:
1
Posted date:
March 26, 2026
Archive date:
--
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