Strategic Initiatives Grants

Strategic Initiatives Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: State Justice Institute
Last Updated: March 17, 2026

Summary

The Strategic Initiatives Grants (SIG) program, managed by the State Justice Institute (SJI), offers flexible funding to tackle pressing national court issues. This innovative initiative encourages collaboration between SJI and its grantees to develop effective solutions for state courts across the U.S. Applicants are urged to reach out to SJI for guidance on their concept papers, ensuring a tailored approach to addressing critical judicial challenges.

Overview

NOTE: Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact SJI prior to submitting a concept paper for guidance on this initial step. Strategic Initiatives Grants The Strategic Initiatives Grants (SIG) program provides SJI the flexibility to address national court issues as they occur, and develop solutions to those problems. This is an innovative approach where SJI is actively addressing these critical issues. In this way, SJI uses its expertise and the expertise and knowledge of its grantees to address key issues facing state courts across the United States. Selection Criteria In addition to the criteria detailed below, SJI will consider whether the applicant is a state or local court, a national court support or education organization, a non-court unit of government, or other type of entity eligible to receive grants under SJI’s enabling legislation; the availability of financial assistance from other sources for the project; the diversity of subject matter, geographic diversity; the level and nature of the match that would be provided; reasonableness of the proposed budget; the extent to which the proposed project would also benefit the federal courts or help state or local courts enforce federal constitutional and legislative requirements; and the level of appropriations available to SJI in the current year and the amount expected to be available in succeeding fiscal years, when determining which projects to support. SIG applications will also be rated based on the following criteria: Goals and objectives of the proposed projectDemonstration of need for the projectDegree to which the project addresses a current national court issueLevel of innovation in addressing the identified needPotential impact on the court communityQualifications of the consultant(s) engaged to manage the project

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.