The federal government has a responsibility to manage taxpayer dollars effectively, balancing protection against waste, fraud, and abuse with strategic investments to deliver public results. However, the complexity of federal grantmaking often limits access for smaller jurisdictions and organizations. Funding tends to concentrate among applicants with the capacity and resources to navigate complex federal requirements, even when they may not be best positioned to address specific local public safety needs. To address this, the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) adopted a microgrant funding strategy, channeling resources through intermediary organizations to expand access to smaller, less-resourced recipients. This approach has broadened support for rural law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations that have historically struggled to secure federal grants.
Through intermediaries, OJP has extended resources to law enforcement agencies in geographically isolated areas and small community organizations. About 72% of microgrants went to rural policing agencies compared to 44% of direct grants, and roughly 90% of community violence intervention microgrant recipients had never received federal funding. The microgrant approach combines financial support with capacity-building, including hands-on training, technical assistance, and guidance on administrative, financial, and operational practices. By working closely with intermediaries, OJP ensures that federal resources are deployed effectively while helping organizations build long-term capacity.
The intermediary model has historical roots in federal programs from the 1990s and 2000s, particularly under the Bush administration, where agencies used intermediaries to reach grassroots and faith-based organizations. Evaluations of these programs showed that intermediary support significantly strengthened organizational capacity among small service providers. Building on this legacy, OJP’s modern intermediary-microgrant approach allows federal resources to reach organizations that often lack the expertise or infrastructure to navigate traditional grant processes, providing both funding and technical support to maximize program impact.
Microgrants have been successfully piloted in various contexts, including the Body Worn Camera Program, rural violent crime reduction initiatives, and community-based reentry services. Through these programs, intermediaries have delivered millions in microgrants to hundreds of small law enforcement agencies, rural and tribal departments, and community organizations. Microgrants help agencies hire personnel, implement new technologies, improve training, and strengthen operational procedures, enabling them to provide safer, more effective, and more accountable public safety services. The approach has also enhanced rural crime reduction, with microgrants supporting detectives, victim advocates, and specialized officers in underserved areas.
Community-based organizations (CBOs) benefit significantly from intermediary support, particularly those serving communities disproportionately affected by crime and victimization. Small nonprofits often lack resources to compete for federal grants, yet they are well-positioned to engage local populations and build trust where larger institutions cannot. By providing microgrants combined with technical assistance, OJP has expanded funding for violence intervention programs, reentry services, and trauma recovery centers. These investments allow CBOs to hire staff, strengthen operational systems, enhance program delivery, and measure outcomes, directly improving public safety and support for underserved communities.
The intermediary-microgrant model also addresses funding inefficiencies in federal grantmaking. Administering small grants directly to numerous small organizations can be resource-intensive for government agencies. By shifting administrative responsibilities, monitoring, and technical support to intermediaries, the federal government can streamline grant management while ensuring smaller organizations meet compliance standards and maximize the impact of federal investments. This approach has proven effective in increasing geographic reach, scaling successful programs, and enhancing the capacity of smaller agencies that would otherwise be excluded from federal support.
Overall, OJP’s experience demonstrates that intermediaries can expand access to federal resources, enhance organizational capacity, and promote equitable distribution of funding. By combining financial support with hands-on training, technical assistance, and rigorous oversight, the intermediary-microgrant strategy offers a sustainable path for supporting small law enforcement agencies and community organizations. As the federal government continues efforts to streamline grantmaking, this model provides a promising framework to reach organizations that have historically been excluded from federal funding, while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used effectively to strengthen public safety nationwide.
