Catalyst Grant Program

Issues around inequality and the criminal legal system pose fundamental societal questions about bias, fairness, and equity. Racism and racial biases are embedded in the criminal legal system and lead to disproportionate harm to communities of color, particularly the Black community. The Urban Institute and the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative are collaborating on the Catalyst Grant Program to help nonprofits address these inequities by using data and technology to advance racial equity and reform at the front end of the adult criminal legal system.

The submission window for the Request for Proposals (RFP) issued in October 2023 is now closed. Awardees were announced in July 2024.

We plan to continue this program’s annual cycle with a new call for proposals in fall of 2024.

The Request For Proposals and Frequently Asked Questions from the Fall 2023 competition are available for reference. For more information about past and current grantees, see the Urban Institute Catalyst Grant Program website.   

To receive announcements related to the Catalyst Grant Program, including potential future Catalyst Grant Program RFPs, as well as about opportunities and topics related to the Catalyst Grant Program, please sign up through this form. If you have questions about the program, email catalystapplications@urban.org.