Prison Reform and Ex-Offender Programs Grants for Nonprofits

GrantStation’s exclusive database features 187 active funding opportunities giving towards this area of interest, all accepting requests from new grantseekers!

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Independence Public Media Foundation

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Application Deadline:
  • Community Voices Fund: September 18, 2026
  • Local Filmmaker Fund: February 27, 2026

The Independence Public Media Foundation connects creators, industry experts, community organizations, and philanthropists to support community-driven media-making and storytelling.

The…

The Fund for Change

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Application Deadline:

Letters of intent: none
Proposals: March 1 and September 1, annually
Average Grant: $10000 - $25000

The Fund for Change primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Baltimore, MD, area. (Statewide organizations in Maryland and national organizations are occasionally supported.)

The…

Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice

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Application Deadline:
  • Spring and Fall Grant program: March 1 and October 1, annually
  • Emergency Grant program: none
Grant Range: $500 - $4000

The Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice serves grassroots social justice and peace groups in western Massachusetts.

Through the Spring and Fall Grant program, the Fund provides awards…

Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis

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Application Deadline:
  • Congregation Mini-Grants: Rolling/accepted throughout the year
  • Lutheran Education Mini-Grants: March 1, annually
  • Regular Grants: June 1 and December 1, annually
     
Grant Range: $10000 - $200000

The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis provides support to Christian churches and nonprofit organizations in the St. Louis, MO, area who are working to improve the physical, mental, and spiritual…

Kenneth King Foundation

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Application Deadline:

March 1 and September 1, annually
Grant Range: $2000 - $200000
Average Grant: $23101

The Kenneth King Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Colorado that help people gain the opportunity for dignity, self-sufficiency, and wealth creation under the American free enterprise…

HealthComp Foundation

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Application Deadline:

March 1 and September 1, annually
Grant Range: $10000 - $117183
Average Grant: $31109

The HealthComp Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a healthy community in northeast Ohio, particularly in the counties of Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina,…

The Abell Foundation

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Application Deadline:
  • Small Grants: Rolling deadline
  • Regular Grants: January 1, March 1, May 1, July 15, and October 1, 2026
Grant Range: $188 - $300000
Average Grant: $34168

The Abell Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of the quality of life in Maryland, with a particular focus on Baltimore. Support may be provided throughout Maryland for efforts to preserve…

The Steele-Reese Foundation

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Application Deadline:
  • Idaho and Montana Grant Program letters of inquiry: January 13, 2026 (latest expired date)
  • Appalachian Kentucky Grant Program applications: March 3, 2026
  • Deadline will be updated when a new funding cycle is announced
Grant Range: $5000 - $70000
Average Grant: $24535

The Steele-Reese Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations and government agencies in Idaho and Montana and Appalachian Kentucky.

The Foundation maintains a focus on the unique…

The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. There is thus a notable demand for work in both the fields of prison reform as well as ex-offender programs. There are many nonprofits that take up these kinds of missions, supported by generous funding provided by prison reform grants. 

These grants can be used for all kinds of purposes. This can include job training and mentorship for prisoners reentering the general population, or policy advocacy efforts for prison reform, as well as legal aid and civil rights support. 

There are many different organizations that might provide these kinds of grants. This includes many private foundations, such as the MacArthur Foundation or the Public Welfare Foundation. 

When drafting prison reform grant proposals, it's essential to use data to back up your claims. You need to prove there is a distinct need within your targeted community, that your nonprofit is uniquely suited to address. Relevant statistics could include information on recidivism rates, incarceration and the demographics of prisoners. Good places to start looking for this kind of information could include the Bureau of Justice Statistics or the National Reentry Resource Center. 

If you need more information on drafting great grant proposals, then make sure to check out our comprehensive guide on the topic. You can also browse a selection of prison reform grants right here, all open for applications.