Opportunity Overview
Open now. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) has opened the Institute to Innovate (i2i) Capacity Building and Violence Prevention Grant Program, Funding Opportunity Number 2762-0726, CSFA 546-00-2762. The program is intended to strengthen Illinois community based organizations working to prevent violence and improve public safety. Applicants may propose capacity building activities, violence prevention activities, or a combined project.
Funding and Deadline
ICJIA states that up to $3,000,000 in State of Illinois funding is available. Individual awards range from $50,000 to $250,000. Completed applications must be submitted through AmpliFund by September 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM Central Time. AmpliFund will not permit late submissions, and ICJIA strongly encourages applicants to submit 24 to 72 hours early. The anticipated performance period is January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2027.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants may include nonprofit and community based organizations, businesses, government entities, education entities, public housing organizations, and other entities authorized to receive State grant funding, provided they are located in Illinois or provide the proposed services in Illinois and satisfy all program requirements.
Key eligibility gates are unusually specific. An applicant must have an annual operating budget of $2 million or less, must have completed a structured organizational capacity building or technical assistance program before the application deadline, must have completed an organizational assessment administered by an independent or qualified external party, and must not have received ICJIA grant funding during the 24 months immediately preceding the application deadline. The applicant also must maintain active GATA registration and prequalification and complete the applicable Internal Controls Questionnaire.
Eligible Activities
Violence prevention activities may include community violence intervention, youth violence prevention, youth development, reentry services, victim services, outreach, case management, mentoring, community engagement, and other community informed approaches consistent with the NOFO. Capacity building may include leadership, governance, financial management, internal controls, human resources, technology, strategic planning, data collection, evaluation, policies, workforce development, grant administration, and organizational sustainability. Funded organizations also participate in the i2i coaching, technical assistance, professional development, and organizational support model.
Application Requirements
The application is completed in AmpliFund and includes the Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, Basic Information, Program Questions, Equity Questions, Performance Plan, and Budget/Budget Narrative. Applicants must also provide documentation showing completion of the required capacity building program and independently administered organizational assessment, plus budget documentation if requested and any other materials required for GATA compliance.
The AmpliFund record displays Matching Requirement: Yes while specifying 0.00% cash match, 0.00% in kind match, and 0.00% other funding requirement. Atlas therefore does not infer any applicant contribution beyond what the controlling application and grant agreement expressly require.
Scoring
The published review totals 100 points: Statement of Need 20, Program Design 30, Budget and Financial Plan 10, Organizational Information 10, Evaluation and Monitoring Plan 10, Sustainability Plan 10, and Comprehensive Organizational Assessment / Completion of Capacity Building Program 10. Applications are also screened for timeliness, completeness, applicant eligibility, GATA prequalification, the Internal Controls Questionnaire, and required attachments before merit review.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 86/100. This is a strong Illinois community violence prevention and youth development opportunity with material funding, but applicant qualification is narrow because of the operating budget ceiling, prior capacity building requirement, independent assessment requirement, and 24 month ICJIA funding exclusion.
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The controlling opportunity supports organizational capacity and violence prevention services but does not establish a legitimate connected physical examination or remote diagnostic equipment pathway. Atlas will not force the Nonagon N9+ device and platform into this program.
Next Action
Identify Illinois community based, youth serving, behavioral health, victim service, education, and violence prevention organizations that can independently document every eligibility gate. Before any outreach, verify the applicant’s operating budget, prior structured capacity building program, independently administered organizational assessment, absence of ICJIA grant funding during the prior 24 months, GATA status, recipient identity, Email Opt Out status, and actual sent history. New outreach must stop once fewer than 48 hours remain before the September 17 deadline.
Official source: Illinois AmpliFund / ICJIA i2i opportunity.