California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant – Cohort 5

The California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant, administered by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), aims to support effective, evidence-based community gun violence reduction initiatives in communities disproportionately impacted by such violence. Formerly known as the California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP) program, CalVIP was restructured and codified under the Break the Cycle of Violence Act in 2019 and expanded further by Assembly Bill 762 in 2023. AB 762 notably increased the eligibility scope to include not just cities, but also counties and tribal governments with communities affected by gun violence, as well as community-based organizations (CBOs) serving these populations. The CalVIP Grant supports initiatives such as hospital-based violence intervention, street outreach, and focused deterrence. The grant encourages local and culturally relevant approaches and allows for funding to be directed towards mental health services, training, and technical assistance for frontline professionals. A portion of the funds (up to five percent) may be allocated for capacity building efforts in the community violence intervention (CVI) field. Starting in FY 2024-25, funding is bolstered by the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act (AB 28), which establishes an excise tax on firearms and ammunition sales, with the first $75 million annually designated for CalVIP. The CalVIP Cohort 5 RFP makes $103 million available for projects between January 1, 2026, and June 30, 2029. The grant provides for a three-year service period followed by a six-month period for final evaluation reporting and audits. The funding structure includes advance payments of 20 percent at the start of the grant, with the remaining disbursed on a reimbursement basis. City and county applicants are required to pass through at least 50 percent of their grant funds to eligible CBOs, public agencies focused on violence prevention, or tribal governments. Eligible applicants must submit their proposals through the BSCC's Submittable Application Portal by 5:00 p.m. on August 18, 2025. A non-binding letter of intent is due March 14, 2025, and a virtual information session is scheduled for March 11, 2025. Application components include a narrative addressing five rating factors, a project budget, a project work plan, assurance forms, and compliance certifications. Proposals will be evaluated and scored based on need, project design, organizational capacity, evaluation strategy, and budget. Eligible applicants include 63 designated cities, 21 counties, and 47 tribal governments. Community-based organizations must be California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing for at least 12 months before the submission deadline. Specific requirements include state registrations, valid EINs, and physical locations in California. Fiscal sponsors may apply on behalf of projects, but may not charge percentage fees and must meet all eligibility criteria. Contact for the CalVIP program includes several BSCC representatives such as Michael Martinez, Katie Thompson, Tony Knapp, Christy Fields, Ayesha Arata, Edward Casho, and Joanna Gonzales, with primary inquiries directed to CalVIP5@bscc.ca.gov.