If your organization does reentry work, two deadlines are close. The FY 2026 Second Chance Act Community-based Reentry Program closes in JustGrants on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. ET. And the Free and Forward Reentry Partner Grant, a $1,000 grant for one US nonprofit, is open until December 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
This post covers the final week of the Second Chance Act application, how to think about client-facing tools in a workforce reentry program, and how to apply for our partner grant. If you need the full overview of the federal opportunity, start with our earlier summary: The FY2026 Second Chance Act Grant Is Open.
Second Chance Act grant: the final week
Where things stand
According to the BJA opportunity page, checked November 1, 2026, the solicitation (O-BJA-2026-172717) is still open, with the full application due in JustGrants by November 6, 2026, at 8:59 p.m. Eastern. The Grants.gov step closed October 30. BJA states that if you did not submit in Grants.gov, you cannot apply for this opportunity in JustGrants.
The notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) lists up to $12,500,000 in total funding, about 13 awards of up to $1,000,000 each, a 36-month award period starting January 1, 2027, and no cost-share requirement. Eligible applicants are federally recognized tribal governments and nonprofits, with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education.
A checklist for the last five days
If your team submitted the SF-424 in Grants.gov, here is what to confirm before Friday. Work from the NOFO itself, since it is the authoritative source.
- Roles in JustGrants. Confirm the people submitting have the right access in JustGrants, and do not wait until Friday evening to find out.
- Required parts. The NOFO lists the proposal narrative, budget, memorandum of understanding (MOU) or letter of intent with each correctional partner, timeline, and the Chief Executive Assurance as required.
- Narrative format. The narrative is capped at 10 double-spaced pages, and tables and charts count toward the limit.
- Abstract. Funded abstracts are public. Keep staff names and personal information out of it.
- Budget. Check the NOFO's list of unallowable costs before you finalize. It names items such as client stipends, gift cards, vehicle purchases, and food and beverages.
- Scope. The program funds mentoring and transitional services for adults assessed as moderate to high risk, returning from adult correctional facilities, before and/or after release.
Questions about the NOFO go to the OJP Response Center, listed in the NOFO's contact section.
Where the score is weighted
As summarized in our earlier post from the NOFO, Project Design and Implementation (35%) and Capabilities and Competencies (30%) carry most of the review weight. If you have hours left to spend, spend them there: who you serve, what happens week by week, who does it, and how you will track it.
Workforce reentry program tools: what helps clients follow through
Many reentry programs build their design around employment, case management and service coordination. Whatever the funding source, the day-to-day challenge is the same: helping people keep appointments, keep their documents and take the next step on time.
Reminders have research behind them
The strongest evidence for any simple tool in this space is for reminders. A randomized study in New York City found that text reminders reduced failure to appear in court (Fishbane, Ouss & Shah, Science, 2020). Reminders are not a cure-all, and the studies measured attendance, not reoffending. But showing up is where many supervision and program problems start, so it is a reasonable place to put effort.
What to look for in a client-facing tool
- Ordered next steps. People coming home face ID, housing, benefits, work and supervision at once. A tool that shows what comes next, in order, cuts down on "what do I do now" calls.
- One calendar for every date. Check-ins, court dates, program sessions and interviews in one view, with reminders before the date.
- Jobs close to home. A job board that starts with the person's own city and state.
- Documents ready when asked. ID, birth certificate, release papers and pay stubs in a form an office will accept.
- Nothing to install for your team. Tools that do not require procurement, contracts or staff accounts are easier to put in clients' hands quickly.
- Support past the first months. The first 90 days matter most, but supervision terms, jobs and housing run much longer. The tool should keep working after day 90.
How Free and Forward fits a reentry program
Free and Forward is a reentry app on the App Store and Google Play, in English and Español. It is free to start, with no card. Included at no cost:
- 27-step checklist in the order it actually happens, with a due date and reminder on each step, covering ID, housing, health care, legal and work.
- Calendar with check-ins, court dates and deadlines in one view, and reminders before the date.
- Job board with nearly 3,000 second-chance jobs in all 50 states and DC, the person's own city and state first.
- Goals and progress, plus a resources directory with links for housing, benefits, health coverage, legal aid and ID, by state.
Seats for full access
For advanced features, an organization can buy seats at the Basic, Plus or Premium level. Basic adds the document vault, photo-to-PDF and the resume builder. Each seat is a single-use code that the person redeems on their own account, and the plan is theirs for good. Seats are a one-time purchase: they never expire and nothing renews. Pricing is quoted per seat. Details, including purchasing information for purchase orders and grant funds, are at freeandforward.com/organizations.
Free and Forward is a tool to support your staff's work, not a replacement for it. Whether a tool like this belongs in a specific federal budget depends on that NOFO's allowable costs, so confirm with the NOFO and your grant manager before including it.
The Free and Forward Reentry Partner Grant: due December 15
Separate from any federal funding, we are giving a $1,000 Reentry Partner Grant to one US nonprofit doing reentry work. Full details and the application are at freeandforward.com/grant.
What the winner gets
- $1,000 for its reentry work, such as bus passes, ID fees, work clothes, phones or program costs.
- Referrals. People who ask Free and Forward how they can help will be pointed to the winning organization.
- A public announcement on LinkedIn, Facebook and freeandforward.com, only with the winner's permission.
What every applicant gets
Win or not, every applicant receives a free partner kit: a bilingual (English and Spanish) QR code flyer and a short blurb staff can share with clients.
Who is eligible
- US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits, or equivalent nonprofit organizations, including fiscally sponsored projects, as described in the Official Rules.
- Organizations serving people returning home from prison or jail, whether that is the full mission or one program: housing, employment, case management, legal aid, recovery, faith-based support, mentoring and more.
- Any size. Small, local organizations are encouraged to apply.
How it is chosen
This is not a drawing. The Free and Forward team reviews every application and selects the winner on merit: mission, reach and use of funds. Whether an organization shares the flyer or uses Free and Forward is not a factor. No purchase is necessary, and there is no fee to apply.
Timeline
- Applications close: December 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
- Winner selected and announced: January 2027
The application takes about five minutes.
Next steps
- Finishing a Second Chance Act application? Submit in JustGrants well before 8:59 p.m. ET on November 6, and keep the NOFO open as you check each part.
- Want to see the app? Ask for a demo account at freeandforward.com/organizations and walk through exactly what your clients would see. No card, no contract.
- Apply for the partner grant at freeandforward.com/grant before December 15.
For background on what tends to work in reentry programming, see What the Research Actually Says About Reentry Programs and The Simplest Intervention With the Strongest Evidence: Reminders.
This article is for general information. It is not legal or grant-writing advice, and Free and Forward is not affiliated with BJA, OJP or any government agency. The NOFO and your BJA contacts are the authoritative sources for the federal opportunity. The Official Rules at freeandforward.com/grant govern the Reentry Partner Grant.
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