Grants for Released Prisoners

Last updated October 22, 2026

Grantable tracks 102 active grants for released prisoners in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 54 list an award amount, with a median of $147K.

Grants tracked: 102; from 84 funders
Median award: $147K; middle half $10K–$908K
Total listed funding: $38.2M; across 54 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 4; 3 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Executive Clemency (Pardon) Application and Guidelines Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services · State Not published · Varies Executive Clemency (Pardon) for person(s) convicted of a crime in the State of Maryland. There is no fee for this service.	Not published	Varies
Francie Heller Scholarships College Unbound · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Peer Support & Community Care Grant Black Emotional and Mental Health Collec · Foundation Not published · $7K – $15K The Peer Support & Community Care Grant supports organizations implementing peer-led healing, community care, and mental health support initiatives for Black and marginalized communities.	Not published	$7K – $15K
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Grant Program California Board of State and Community Corrections · Foundation Not published · Up to $1.5M The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Grant Program, funded by the California Board of State and Community Corrections, aims to enhance local governments' ability to provide substance use disorder treatment for incarcerated…	Not published	Up to $1.5M
Soular Sistas Support Group The College and Community Fellowship Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A supportive community group for CCF members focused on wellness, personal growth, and empowerment.	Not published	Varies
Michigan Justice Fund Re-Entry and Workforce Development RFP Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · Foundation Not published · Varies _Note: Applications will be accepted through the Community Foundation's Fluxx portal.	Not published	Varies
Prisoner Reintegration Program Grant Wisconsin Department of Health Services · Foundation Not published · $125K The Prisoner Reintegration Program, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, aims to assist individuals transitioning from incarceration in Milwaukee County.	Not published	$125K
Dream the Future: Green Career Scholarship Dreamorg · Foundation Rolling · Up to $4K A scholarship program offered by Dream.Org in partnership with Frontline Gig that invests in the next generation of climate leaders by providing up to $3,500 to help underrepresented talent access training and careers in sustainability and…	Rolling	Up to $4K
Youth Workforce Development Program Grant District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services · Foundation Not published · Up to $300K The Youth Workforce Development Program by the District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services aims to prepare justice-involved youth for successful transition into adulthood.	Not published	Up to $300K
Adult Reentry Grant (CA) California Board of State and Community Corrections · Foundation Not published · Up to $4.5M The Adult Reentry Grant (ARG) Program, funded annually by the California Budget Act, provides essential support to community organizations delivering reentry services for formerly incarcerated individuals.	Not published	Up to $4.5M
Justice Fellows Policy Program The Education Trust Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Justice Policy Fellowship elevates the voices of individuals directly impacted by the legal system.	Not published	Varies
Access to Jobs Grant District of Columbia Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens Affairs · Foundation Not published · Up to $75K The Access to Jobs Grant aims to support organizations in hiring returning citizens in Washington, D.C. Employers can receive funding to hire up to ten individuals for a minimum of 8 weeks, with subsidies covering 40% of the minimum wage…	Not published	Up to $75K
Rising Scholars The Foundation for Santa Barbara City College · Foundation Not published · Varies The Rising Scholars program supports formerly incarcerated or systems-impacted students at SBCC. The program receives support from the SBCC Foundation each year and empowers students to become active, responsible, and lifelong learners.	Not published	Varies
Ava’s Grace Scholarship Grant The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K Ava’s Grace Scholarship, founded in 2010, provides vital educational support to students with incarcerated parents or caregivers in Missouri and parts of Illinois. Offering scholarships up to $5,000 annually, it renews through graduation.	Not published	Up to $5K
Community Affiliates Network (CAN) Mini-Grants Woodson Center · Foundation Not published · $5K – $10K The Woodson Center awards mini-grants through its Community Affiliates Network (CAN) to support local grassroots organizations and social entrepreneurs addressing urgent community problems.	Not published	$5K – $10K
Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation Grant Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Gardiner Howland Shaw Foundation Grant, established in 1959, seeks to address crucial issues in criminal and juvenile justice systems, particularly in Massachusetts.	Not published	Varies
MCHEP (Mississippi Consortium for Higher Education in Prison) - Mellon Foundation Grant Listed by Woodward Hines Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1M	Not published	$1M
Cash for Health Equity 4-CT Corp · Foundation Not published · $400 4-CT partners with healthcare providers to distribute cash assistance to promote positive health outcomes for individuals. Program addresses poverty and income volatility as social determinants of health.	Not published	$400
PEN Prison Writing Awards Grant Pen American Center Inc · Foundation Not published · $75 – $300 The PEN Prison Writing Awards, initiated after the 1971 Attica Prison Riots, invites incarcerated writers in the U.S. to submit unpublished works across various genres including Poetry, Fiction, and Memoir.	Not published	$75 – $300
Request for Proposal- Reducing Barriers to Accessing and Completing Workforce Training in Philadelphia Grant The William Penn Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The William Penn Foundation invites proposals to reduce barriers to accessing and completing workforce training in Philadelphia.	Not published	Varies
Ed and Linda Berger Scholarship Grant Tulsa Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Ed and Linda Berger Scholarship, offered by the Tulsa Community Foundation, provides financial assistance to graduating seniors from Tulsa Public Schools.	Not published	Varies
Adult Education and Literacy Basic Grants Illinois Community College Board · Foundation Not published · $50K – $450K The Adult Education and Literacy Basic Grants, provided by the Illinois Community College Board, aim to enhance literacy and education for eligible adults, including incarcerated individuals.	Not published	$50K – $450K
Community Impact Fund Community West Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Community Impact Fund unites donors to tackle critical issues like homelessness and food insecurity.	Rolling	Varies
The Nachman Justice Award (Student Leader Scholarship) Swipe Out Hunger · Foundation Not published · $1K The Nachman Justice Award honors Marissa Nachman's leadership at Swipe Out Hunger and recognizes individual student leaders in the Swipe Out Hunger network who exemplify core values of justice, compassion, equity, accountability, and…	Not published	$1K

Showing 73–96 of 100

About grants for released prisoners

Grants for reentry support help formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives through employment, housing, education, and behavioral health services. The Department of Justice's Second Chance Act is the primary federal funding source, with additional support from DOL, HHS, and foundations committed to criminal justice reform.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for released prisoners award?

Of the 102 grants for released prisoners Grantable lists as of October 22, 2026, 54 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $147K, and the middle half fall between $10K and $908K. The largest is $7.5M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for released prisoners?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are The College and Community Fellowship Inc (7), Nextgen Climate America Inc (3), 4-CT Corp (2), Bank Of America Charitable Foundation Inc (2), and California Board of State and Community Corrections (2). In all, 84 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for released prisoners due?

Of 102 grants listed, 4 accept applications on a rolling basis, 3 have a published upcoming deadline, 25 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 70 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

What services do reentry grants typically fund?

Common funded services include job training and placement, transitional housing, substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, family reunification services, education and GED programs, mentoring, legal services, and transportation assistance. The most effective grants fund comprehensive, wrap-around services rather than single interventions.

Can faith-based organizations get reentry grants?

Yes. Faith-based organizations are major providers of reentry services and are eligible for federal Second Chance Act grants and DOL reentry programs. The White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships supports this work. Many faith-based organizations partner with government-funded programs to provide mentoring, housing, and support services.

What foundations fund criminal justice reform?

Major funders include Arnold Ventures, the Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Charles Koch Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation (Safety and Justice Challenge). The Vera Institute of Justice and the Council of State Governments Justice Center are both funders and technical assistance providers in the reentry space.

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