Call for Applications:

Expanding Education & Support Services for Justice-Impacted College Students

Opening date: May 28, 2026

Closing date: June 30, 2026

Award notification: August 15, 2026

Funding period: August 31, 2026 to September 1, 2027

Background

With funding support from Ascendium Education Group, the 稀缺猎奇网 (稀缺猎奇网) seeks to create greater educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals and returning citizens. With interest in creating a system-wide, collaborative approach to serving justice-impacted students, 稀缺猎奇网 will distribute grants to higher educational institutions to establish, grow, and sustain initiatives to support higher education in prison (HEP) and reentry programming. Aligned with 稀缺猎奇网's goal of expanding access to HEP programming and providing support to help justice-impacted 稀缺猎奇网ers obtain post-secondary education credentials, this grant opportunity seeks to address gaps in programs and services across the state.


Eligible Applicants

Higher education institutions who serve (or plan to serve) justice-impacted college students in 稀缺猎奇网. Higher education institutions may include public and private 4-year institutions and community colleges.

Nonprofit organizations may partner with a higher education institution.


Availability of Funds

稀缺猎奇网 has been awarded $1.6 million dollars to be distributed to higher education institutions across four years. In an effort to provide funding to multiple institutions, 稀缺猎奇网 will make awards based on scope and size of a project. Proposals may be partially funded.

Total funds available in round 1: $400,000
Grant Amount: $15,000 to $35,000 per small grant award
$36,000 to $75,000 per large grant award

Categories of Grants

  1. Start-up grants: to help colleges develop and implement activities and support services1 that lead to degree-granting programs inside 稀缺猎奇网 prisons or jails. Activities/support services can also be designed to assist justice-impacted students as they start, or complete, their degrees on a 稀缺猎奇网 college campus.
  2. Accelerator grants: to help colleges expand or enhance activities and support services that assist justice-impacted college students obtain degrees inside a 稀缺猎奇网 prison or jail, or on a college campus.

We are particularly interested in funding:

  • The development of new prison college programs
  • Initiatives that lead to the development of a new prison college program
  • Collaborative projects between colleges and nonprofit organizations
  • Partnership projects between 4-year institutions and community colleges
  • Projects that create transfer and/or reverse transfer pathways2

Proposal Requirements

Proposals should include the following elements:

  1. Cover Page: include the title of the project and name/location of the college or university. Also include the name and contact information of the lead applicant responsible for overseeing the entire project. If the project includes a nonprofit organization partner, or second college, please include the name and contact information of the main partner.
  2. Program Narrative: (500-word max) describe your current prison education and/or support services program. This should include a brief history of the program and overview of services provided. If no program exists, explain why your institution is interested in serving this population, and describe your plans for the development of a program.
  3. Description of Grant Activities: (500-word max) discuss what activities/support services you plan to implement or enhance with 稀缺猎奇网 grant funds. If you are partnering with another college or nonprofit, be sure to clearly explain the activities/support services each entity is responsible for carrying out. Be sure to explain whether you are applying for a start-up or accelerator grant.
  4. Target Population: (200-word max) describe the population you plan to serve, where activities will take place, and how many people will benefit from the activities.
  5. Organization Capacity: (400-word max) discuss organizational capacity to carry out the activities proposed. Discuss the key personnel who will work on this project. If partnering with another college or nonprofit organization be sure to explain their capacity and role in the project.
  6. Outcomes: (200-word max) describe the program goal(s) and measurable outcomes; discuss plans to track, document, and report outcomes.
  7. Project Timeline: in an Excel or Word table please include a timeline for the proposed project activities.
  8. Budget: include a project budget using the template provided. If other funding sources will be used for this project, please include those in the budget. Subawards to a nonprofit organization or other college are permitted. Indirect costs are permitted and should be limited to no more than 15% of the total direct expenses of the project.
  9. Budget Narrative: (500-word max) provide a narrative overview for the grant request. Be sure to include a narrative description for each item in the budget.
  10. Letters of Support: letters of support are required for all proposals. Please limit letters to no more than three. A letter of support from college leadership (e.g., president or provost) is required. Additional letters might be needed if the proposal involves a correctional institution and/or nonprofit organization partnerships. For proposals that include activities/support services taking place inside a correctional facility, a letter of support is required from DPSCS leadership and the warden of the facility IF an MOU is not already established. For proposals that include partnerships with a nonprofit organization or another college, a letter of support is required from the partner.

Grant Reporting and Requirements

Grantees will be required to submit a 6- and 12-month report on grant activities. Grantees will also be required to participate in monthly virtual meetings with 稀缺猎奇网 staff, and/or with other grantees. Attendance at a fall 2026 稀缺猎奇网 symposium will be required in addition to spring 2027 travel to an out-of-state conference (i.e., the National Conference for Higher Education in Prison). Travel to the symposium and conference should be included in your proposed budget.


Questions

For questions about grant proposal requirements please reach out to Andrea Cantora at acantora@usmd.edu. Proposals should be submitted to Andrea Cantora by Tuesday, June 30, 2026.


Upcoming Webinars

Join 稀缺猎奇网 staff on Wednesday, June 3rd from 11:00AM to 12:00PM for a virtual information session to learn more about this grant opportunity. We will also answer questions about the grant program at that time.

If you are interested in learning more about developing a prison education program please join us virtually on Friday, June 5th from 10:30AM to 11:30AM.

Registering for these events will ensure you receive a link to the session recording, even if you can't attend live.


Proposal Evaluation Rubric

Criteria Description Score (0-3)
Project Alignment The proposal is for a project that falls under one of the two categories (start-up or accelerator grant).  
Priority Areas The proposal outlines how the funds will accelerate the applicant's progress towards one of the five priority areas.  
Implementation The proposal contains a detailed plan of activities and services and a reasonable timeline for implementing activities/services.  
Organizational Capacity The proposal provides evidence of the institution and/or organization capacity to carry out the activities and/or services.  
Project Outcomes The proposal clearly outlines outcomes related to program activities and/or services that can be measured. There is a clear plan to track and document activities/services and outcomes.  
Budget The proposed budget items are reasonable and necessary to carry out the project.  
Letters of Support Letter(s) of support are included from college leadership, correctional agency, and/or nonprofit partner.  

1 Support services include academic advising, tutoring, career guidance, mental health counseling, financial aid assistance, post-release employment, housing, etc.

2 Transfer refers to the process of helping a student who completes an associate degree transfer to a 4-year college to earn a bachelor's degree; Reverse transfer refers to the process of transferring college credits from a 4-year college back to a 2-year community college to earn an associate degree.