BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act (SCA) Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes. This opportunity supports state, local, and tribal governments and community-based organizations to provide education and employment programs for adults and youth leaving prison and jail. The goal of the program is to improve academic and vocational/trade programs available to adults and youth 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. Program Details Bureau of Justice Assistance is a federal agency that offers the BJA FY 2026 Second Chance Act Improving Reentry Education and Employment Outcomes grant program to support social services and workforce. This funding opportunity is available nationally and is administered by Bureau of Justice Assistance through Grants.gov. Organizations seeking funding for social services and workforce should review the details below and confirm their eligibility before preparing an application. Eligibility Eligible applicants include eligible organizations, for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies and municipalities. Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply and to review the full program guidelines before submission. Because eligibility rules and funding priorities can change between cycles, applicants should always confirm the current requirements with Bureau of Justice Assistance or on Grants.gov before investing time in an application. Funding and Timeline Funding available: $0 – $1M. Applications are due by September 24, 2026. Applicants should allow sufficient time to gather required documentation, including organizational information, project descriptions, budgets, and supporting materials as specified in the program guidelines. Submitting a complete application well ahead of the deadline reduces the risk of disqualification on technical or administrative grounds. Program Focus This grant supports social services and workforce. This grant is associated with NAICS industry classifications: 922120, 541611. Organizations operating in these sectors are encouraged to review eligibility. Funded projects are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with the program's stated objectives. Grant recipients may be required to submit progress reports and final evaluations as a condition of the award, and to retain records for audit and compliance purposes. How to Apply Eligible organizations can apply through Grants.gov. Create a free organization profile on GrantRegister to see whether this grant matches your organization's NAICS code, entity type, location, and focus area, and to receive a weekly digest of every open grant you qualify for. GrantRegister maintains a complete, authoritative registry of US federal, state, and foundation grant opportunities — matched automatically to your organization profile and delivered every Monday.

Eligibility

• Funded by BJA

Award details

Award range: $0 – $1M. Applications close on September 24, 2026.

Categories

Social Services · Workforce