National Institute of Justice · Department of Justice
NIJ FY 2026 Crime and Justice Research
In short: National Institute of Justice expects to make 9 awards of up to $5 million. Open to many kinds of groups. See who can apply.
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Nov 16, 2026 · 37 days left
- Award size
- Up to $5M
- Total available
- $5.5M · about 9 awards
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Special district (utility, fire, etc.), State government, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), City or town government, Private college or university, County government, Small business, Public college or university, Tribal organization, Tribal government, Larger business, School district, and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Loudon County (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 10
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/6d68341b-871e-42e4-9a65-073ccc3f9857 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/39563bf4-431f-4acc-8b7a-d3b758b6e9a3
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct10
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Oct26
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Nov9
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Nov14
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Nov16
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Loudon County facts with citations.
See how others wrote it
The agency posted these examples. Read them for structure and level of detail. Don't copy their words: funders treat copied text as plagiarism, and requirements change from year to year, so follow the current notice.
- NIJ research and evaluation grants
Funded applications
4 funded applications (PDF), under "Sample Applications", with NIJ's guidance for applicants · Link checked Oct 7, 2026 - Any OJP grant (sample for a rural police department)
Sample budgets
A sample budget summary and budget narrative. Not a full application · Link checked Oct 7, 2026 - NIJ research and evaluation grants
How applications are reviewed
How NIJ peer reviewers and panels score applications · Link checked Oct 7, 2026
Who in Tennessee has won this program
8 awards to Tennessee groups in 3 counties since 2021 · 0 in Loudon County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $450K spent that year | 2025 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $396K | 2023 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $303K | 2022 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, Rutherford County | $279K | 2021 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $200K | 2024 |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro, Rutherford County | $100K | 2024 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | Harrogate, Claiborne County | $3,969 spent that year | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | $3,499 spent that year | 2024 |
Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse; USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 2 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Loudon County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | Colorado State University | $51K | 2023 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | Colorado State University | $29K spent that year | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
More from National Institute of Justice
- NIJ FY 2026 Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) · Due Nov 16, 2026 · 37 days left
- NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Human Trafficking · Due Nov 16, 2026 · 37 days left
- NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on Justice System Responses to Illegal Immigration · Due Nov 16, 2026 · 37 days left
- NIJ FY 2026 Research on Gender Dysphoria and Violent Crime · Due Nov 23, 2026 · 44 days left
- NIJ FY 2026 Research and Evaluation on School Safety · Due Nov 23, 2026 · 44 days left
About the federal program
National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants
Program number 16.560 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs · Project grant, technical information
How applications are judged
In each year's official notice: read this year's.
Match
None required (federal program listing).