Institute to Innovate (i2i) Capacity Building and Violence Prevention Grant Program

Institute to Innovate (i2i) Capacity Building and Violence Prevention Grant Program is sponsored by Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). Funds capacity-building and violence-prevention initiatives, supporting organizations in enhancing their services and impact.

## LINK TO NOFO Information & Instructions The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is requesting applications for the Institute to Innovate (i2i) Capacity Building and Violence Prevention Grant Program. Up to $3 million in State of Illinois funding is available through this competitive funding opportunity.

Eligible organizations may request up to $250,000 to support projects that strengthen organizational capacity, provide or expand violence prevention activities, or combine both approaches. **Application Deadline: 5:00 p. m.

Central Time, September 17, 2026** The Institute to Innovate (i2i) program invests in organizations working to prevent violence and improve public safety throughout Illinois. The program recognizes that effective violence prevention depends on both strong community-based services and the organizational infrastructure needed to support those services.

Applicants must select one of the following project pathways: * Capacity Building Activities: Projects that strengthen organizational leadership, governance, financial management, workforce, technology, policies, evaluation practices, or other internal systems. * Violence Prevention Activities: Projects that provide or expand eligible community-based violence prevention services.

* Combined Capacity Building and Violence Prevention Activities: Projects that strengthen organizational systems while also providing, expanding, or improving violence prevention services. Organizations selected for funding will participate in required i2i coaching, technical assistance, professional development, and peer-learning activities during the grant period.

Proposed projects must support one or more goals of the Statewide Violence Prevention Plan for Illinois: 2025–2029: 1. Prevent Violence and Promote Health and Safety. 3.

Promote Collaboration. Applicants are not required to address all three goals. Selecting multiple goals will not result in a higher score unless the application demonstrates a clear and meaningful connection between each selected goal and the proposed project.

## Eligibility Information Applicants must be registered through the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal at https://grants. illinois. gov/portal/.

Applicants must be in good standing with all GATA prequalification requirements by the application deadline. Completion and approval of the Internal Controls Questionnaire for the applicable State fiscal year will be required before execution of a grant agreement. Eligible applicants include: * Nonprofit organizations.

* For-profit businesses, including corporations and limited liability companies. * Other legally organized entities authorized by ICJIA and the applicable funding source. Applicants must be legally organized in Illinois or authorized to conduct business in Illinois and must be registered and in good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State when applicable.

Individuals are not eligible to apply. Sole proprietors are not eligible unless specifically authorized by ICJIA. ## Program-Specific Eligibility Requirements Regardless of entity type, applicants must: * Be located in Illinois or propose a project that will provide services or a public or community benefit within Illinois.

* Have an annual organizational operating budget of $2 million or less at the time of application. * Have successfully completed a structured organizational capacity-building or technical-assistance program before the application deadline. * Have completed a comprehensive organizational assessment administered, facilitated, validated, or formally reviewed by a qualified independent third party.

* Submit an organizational assessment dated within the 12 months preceding the application submission date. * Not have received a direct ICJIA grant award during the 24 months immediately preceding the application deadline. * Propose eligible capacity-building activities, violence prevention activities, or a combination of both.

* Meet all applicable GATA registration and prequalification requirements. * Maintain an active registration in SAM. gov and an active Unique Entity Identifier, as required.

* Be eligible to enter into and comply with an ICJIA grant agreement. Participation in an ICJIA-sponsored capacity-building program, organizational assessment, training, technical-assistance activity, or application process does not constitute prior direct ICJIA grant funding. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding.

## Deadline and Submission Completed application materials must be submitted through Euna no later than **5:00 p. m. , Central Time on September 17, 2026**.

Applications will not be accepted by email, mail, fax, or in person. Euna will not permit late submissions. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the eligibility or submission requirements will not proceed to merit-based review.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications at least 24 to 72 hours before the deadline to allow time to address possible technical difficulties. For assistance with the Euna system, visit the Euna Support Site. Up to $3 million in State of Illinois funding is available through this solicitation.

Applicants may request up to $250,000. Grant agreements and continuation funding are contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

The anticipated Period of Performance is: January 4, 2027, through June 30, 2027 Applicants should propose activities, milestones, expenditures, and performance measures that can be completed during this period. Subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance, compliance with grant requirements, and ICJIA approval, successful applicants may be eligible for continuation funding. Continuation funding is not guaranteed.

The total Period of Performance, including any approved continuation awards, will not exceed 36 months. ## Technical Assistance Session Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the technical-assistance materials before submitting an application. Participation is recommended but is not mandatory.

* Introduction to the Program Narrative * Budget Narrative Introduction * Common Grant Application Mistakes Information provided during this webinar recording will be unofficial and not binding on the state. ## Required Application Components Applicants must complete or upload the following materials in the designated Euna fields: * Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance. * Basic organizational and project information.

* Project funding pathway selection. * Program Narrative responses. * Budget Narrative and justification.

* Documentation confirming completion of the required structured capacity-building program. * Documentation of the independently administered organizational assessment. * Completed Project Implementation Work Plan and Performance Measures Workbook in .

xlsx format. * Letters of commitment or partnership agreements, if applicable. * Any additional documents expressly required by the NOFO or Euna application.

## Reporting Requirements Applicants must complete both the Implementation Work Plan and Performance Measures tabs of the required workbook. The completed workbook should be uploaded once in the designated Program Design field and should not be uploaded again in the Performance Measurement section. All uploaded files must be complete, readable, and submitted in the required format.

Applicants should not upload password-protected documents. Funded organizations will be required to submit: * Monthly financial reports. * Quarterly performance reports.

* Final financial and performance reports within 30 calendar days after the Period of Performance ends. * Annual audit or financial-reporting documentation when required. * Additional documentation related to coaching participation, technical assistance, organizational capacity-building milestones, violence prevention services, monitoring, or evaluation, when requested.

Failure to submit complete and timely reports may result in delayed or withheld payments, additional grant conditions, suspension of grant activities, or other remedies authorized by the grant agreement. Questions regarding this NOFO may be submitted to CJA. i2iNOFO@Illinois.

gov until **5:00 p. m. Central Time on September 10, 2026**.

Due to the competitive nature of this solicitation, applicants may not discuss the opportunity directly with ICJIA employees outside the designated question-submission process. Substantive questions and ICJIA responses will be updated and posted periodically on our website and on Euna. Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Email: CJA.

i2iNOFO@Illinois. gov