$700M in Grants to Support Law Enforcement
- Ty Boone
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
The Department of Justice just released nearly $700 million in grant funding through its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. While these awards are directed primarily at law enforcement agencies, established nonprofits, public health organizations, community development corporations, and faith-based institutions operating in the public safety ecosystem need to understand where federal priority dollars are moving. Organizations with wraparound services, violence prevention programming, mental health partnerships with law enforcement, or school safety infrastructure may have pathway opportunities worth a serious evaluation. If your programs touch any of these areas and your infrastructure is not yet built to compete or serve as a subaward partner, that is the conversation we need to have.
Grant Breakdown
COPS Hiring Program
Provides direct funding to state, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to hire career law enforcement personnel and expand community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.
Funding Amount: Up to $158M available
STOP School Violence Prevention Program
Supports evidence-based school safety programs to improve security at schools and on school grounds. Organizations with established K through 12 school partnerships and documented safety programming should pay attention to this one.
Funding Amount: Up to $73M available
Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program
Funds improvements to mental health and wellness service delivery for law enforcement and their families through peer mentoring, training, and wellness program implementation. Nonprofit mental health organizations with law enforcement partnerships are well positioned to explore subaward and partnership opportunities here.
Funding Amount: Up to $9M available
Preparing for Active Shooter Situations Program
Scenario-based training funding for officers, deputies, and first responders. This cycle targets training at least 20,000 first responders through multi-disciplinary classes.
Funding Amount: Up to $10M available
COPS Office Anti-Heroin Task Force Program
Supports statewide law enforcement collaboration targeting the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and prescription opioids. Funds go directly to state law enforcement agencies.
Funding Amount: Up to $34M available
COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program
Targets investigation of methamphetamine manufacture and distribution networks, including precursor diversion, lab detection, and trafficking interdiction.
Funding Amount: Up to $13M available
COPS Technology and Equipment Program
Congressionally designated funding for law enforcement technology, equipment, and interoperable communications infrastructure. This is not a competitive NOFO.
Funding Amount: $400M allocated by Congress
More information: https://cops.usdoj.gov/grants
Competitive funding at this level requires more than a strong narrative. Funders evaluate your data systems, your compliance history, and whether your infrastructure can absorb and steward an award of this size. If your organization is not yet positioned to compete or partner at this level, that assessment is exactly where we start.