Police Accountability, Community, and Transparency Grant (PACT)

The Police Accountability, Community, and Transparency (PACT) Grant Program is a competitive funding initiative administered by the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) in Maryland. The program was created in response to the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021, which established new statewide requirements for police accountability, training, and transparency. The Act mandates enhanced reporting, the creation of Police Accountability Boards and Administrative Charging Committees, and new standards for officer certification and training. GOCPP developed the PACT Grant to help law enforcement and government agencies comply with the Act’s mandates by July 1, 2026. The grant program aligns with Maryland’s broader crime prevention strategy and aims to foster greater lawfulness, community trust, and public safety. PACT funding is designed to support a wide array of law enforcement and community-based initiatives. The grant has three overarching priority categories: (1) Core Priorities, including accountability measures and transparency programs; (2) High Impact Support Initiatives, focusing on officer wellness and community engagement; and (3) Innovation and Research Initiatives, which promote emerging needs, virtual training, and data-driven reforms. Specific eligible expenses include personnel for Police Accountability Boards, mental health professionals, training in de-escalation and use-of-force, the acquisition of body-worn cameras and VR simulators, and the development of misconduct databases and public complaint tracking systems. Unallowable costs include construction, lobbying, fundraising, and trinkets. Eligible applicants include state and local law enforcement agencies, Maryland State's Attorney’s Offices, state and local government agencies, and Maryland-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) or (4) status. Police Accountability Boards and Administrative Charging Committees must apply through their governing bodies, and all applicants must comply with federal and state registration requirements, including SAM.gov registration and provision of a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Each applicant may submit only one proposal. The submission process requires applicants to use the state’s Grant Management System (GMS). Applications must include detailed narratives, budget breakdowns, organizational charts, and certifications. The GMS interface allows narrative and budget entries, prioritization of budget items, and uploads of required documents like IRS nonprofit status letters and financial reports. A recorded training webinar and detailed instructions are available on GOCPP’s website to assist applicants. Proposals are evaluated on program design, need justification, goals and outcomes, budget rationale, and alignment with PACT priorities. Applications that fail to comply with narrative word limits or technical requirements will not be reviewed. For the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026 cycle, applications are due by Friday, June 6, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Awards will be announced in July 2025, with the performance period running from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The total available funding is $4 million, with award amounts ranging from $20,000 to $300,000. GOCPP anticipates making up to 50 awards. Grants are reimbursed quarterly, based on actual expenditures. Matching funds are not required for this opportunity. For technical assistance, applicants may join a pre-application conference call on May 16, 2025. Contact information for key program staff—including the grant manager, monitor, and fiscal specialist—is available in the official Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). The PACT Grant is expected to recur annually, and the next cycle is anticipated to open in June 2026. The program emphasizes transparency and accountability, requiring regular reporting of outcome-based performance measures. Applicants are encouraged to review past performance and to incorporate evidence-based practices in their proposed strategies. All successful grantees must submit quarterly programmatic and financial reports through the GMS to remain in compliance with grant terms.

Strict word limits; do not exceed GMS character caps or your response will not be read; align proposal with one of the three initiative categories and provide evidence-based need.