Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement Grants
Some of our customers have contacted LaserMax for advice in identifying
grant programs and grantsmanship. We have looked into a few programs and
have put together some information. Please keep in mind that LaserMax is
offering this list simply as information for the community. It was accurate
when we researched it, but it's up to you to check all details.
Some pointers: Successful grant writing is very specific to the agency
and the program. Read the request for proposals thoroughly and learn as much
as possible about the criteria for funding approval. Grantsmanship is a
competitive endeavor. It is a considerable commitment in time and energy to
submit a successful grant application. If you don't succeed right away, you're
like the rest of us! Keep trying. Programs change from year to year, and, you
learn from agency feedback. We encourage officers to take advantage of the
available funding, there seems to be quite a lot of it listed.
FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS & GRANTSMANSHIP
www.cops.usdoj.gov
The COPS MORE grant program provides law enforcement agencies with funding to
purchase technology and equipment and to procure support resources (including
civilian personnel). Grants cover up to 75 percent of the total cost of technology,
equipment or civilian salaries for one year. Applicants must demonstrate that the
items requested will result in an increase in the number of current law enforcement
officers deployed into community policing equal to or greater than the number of
officers that would result from a COPS grant for hiring new officers. Please note
that as of this writing, the FY2002 program had not yet been announced. You can
learn more about the COPS MORE program either through the web page, or by calling.
SOME HELPFUL DoJ PHONE NUMBERS
U.S. Department of Justice Call Response Center 800-421-6770 offers fax-on-demand
notices about DoJ grants (mostly those already awarded). For equipment grants,
select the COPS MORE program from the faxed options.
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) 202-514-2058 is an
alternate number for the DoJ Call Response Center described above.
DoJ Office of Justice Programs Support Services line 888-549-9901 for (1)
programmatic questions on the DoJ Call Response Center or requirements for
receiving funds, (2) the Comptroller's line for information on payments or
finances, (3) assistance with the one-line grant application utility or the
Grant Management System ("GMS"), (4) help with Local Law Enforcement Block
Grants ("LLEBG"; see description and url below), or (5) help with user/password
problems for the LLEBG or GMs
LaserMax recommends checking out the COPS MORE (see above) and LLEBG (see below)
programs. www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/
The Bureau of Justice Assistance grants funds for law enforcement training,
technology and other important aspects of our justice system. Major grant
programs include the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program ("LLEBG"),
Byrne Formulae grants, and the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, as
well as discretionary and certain targeted grants. Recommended by LaserMax
as essential reading. The direct line for LLEBG is 202-353-7752.
Bureau of Justice Assistance Virtual Information Center lists a wide
variety of law enforcement and corrections grants already funded by the BJA.
For example, running a search with "law enforcement" and with "grants" on
12-07-01 yielded 83 listings of recently awarded grants. Recommended by
LaserMax as instructive reading in the types of grants that can get funded
through the BJA. bja.ncjrs.org
The Office of Justice Programs funding page lists state agencies,
programs, appropriations, resource guide gives tutorial on OJP structure.
Finance guide lists important circulars and funding rules. Recommended by
LaserMax as essential reading. www.ojp.usdoj.gov/fundopps.htm
This NLETC site links to several other police grant sites and has
download-able tips for grants writing.www.nlectc.org
OTHER GRANT PROGRAMS & GRANTSMANSHIP
TheFoundationCenter: A general grants application site - NOT specific to
law enforcement, but topic search under "Police" yields many listings of grants
awarded for enhancing police work. They also have a general, but useful,
"grants seeking process" tutorial. www.fdncenter.org
Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts. A general grants application site
- NOT specific to law enforcement. www.agmconnect.org
A grants page maintained by ITT (manufacturers of night vision equipment).
This page listed two grant programs with links, and had been last updated
when we last checked on 07-05-05. www.ittnv.com/law_enforcement/grantintroduction.html
DIRECTORIES & NEWSLETTERS ON OBTAINING GRANTS
A free, on-line grant-writing tutorial. It is written for the Environmental
Protection Agency and examples are for environmental education and law. www.epa.gov/seahome/grants/src/grant.htm
Offered as a general guide to grantsmanship, "The Foundation Center's Guide to
Proposal Writing" costs $34.95. In addition, they offer "The Foundation
Directory Online" subscription service for $19.95 per month. The Foundation
Center also has a general, but free, "Grantseeking Process". www.fdncenter.org Tutorial
This is a commercial outfit that sells a pdf "Grant Kit" for $10 (as of 10-14-05).
www.policegrants.com. The
kit includes instructions on how to complete applications, write a "winning grant,"
and has a copy of a successful grant.
This is a commercial outfit that sells an "America's Directory to Grant Resources
at Financial Direct" for $39.99 plus S/H of $5.00 (as of 12-07-01). It includes a
pritned directory and free grant funding software.www.free-grant-money.com
This is a commercial outfit that sells an "America's Directory to Grant Resources"
for $34.99 plus S/H of $5.00 (as of12-07-01). www.federalgovernmentgrant.com
Best Wishes with your grants seeking,
LaserMax
|