Rehabilitative Investment Grants For Healing And Transformation (Right) Grant 3.0

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), through its Division of Rehabilitative Programs, has released the Rehabilitative Investment Grants for Healing and Transformation (RIGHT) Grant 3.0. This grant program is designed to strengthen trauma-informed, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programming within California’s correctional institutions. With $19.4 million available, the grant represents a significant investment in evidence-based and community-driven programming aimed at supporting incarcerated individuals in their personal growth and preparation for reentry. The RIGHT Grant 3.0 builds on prior rounds of funding and is noncompetitive, meaning all eligible applicants that meet the stated requirements will receive support. CDCR emphasizes that the funds may not be used to deliver college-level educational programming but can sustain, expand, or newly introduce rehabilitative and restorative programs where gaps exist. Organizations must already be providing rehabilitative programming within CDCR institutions and have demonstrated at least two years of such service in the past five years. Applicants may propose expansion to underserved institutions or target specific populations such as Restricted Housing Units, Enhanced Outpatient Programs, or Mental Health Crisis Beds. These designations carry additional funding consideration through a qualifying points system. Eligibility is limited to community-based nonprofits in good standing with 501(c)(3) status, including those fiscally sponsored by an established nonprofit. Organizations must demonstrate an existing rehabilitative program in operation and have proof of their operating budgets for the previous two fiscal years. Funding awards are determined by organizational budget size, with smaller organizations receiving fewer points and larger organizations receiving more, adjusted further if programs target underserved facilities or special populations. Funds are then distributed based on a per-point calculation after the pool of eligible applicants is finalized. Applications are due by November 30, 2025, with an anticipated eligibility determination released by February 28, 2026. If denied, organizations have until March 30, 2026, to resubmit for reconsideration. Implementation for new or expanded programming requires approval from the relevant institution’s Warden, and all new grantees must first meet with the Community Resource Manager. The grant performance period runs from July 1, 2026, through December 1, 2028, while reporting obligations extend until December 1, 2029. Both annual and final reports must summarize expenditures and programming outcomes and will be submitted electronically to CDCR. Applicants must upload a comprehensive set of documents, including nonprofit status verification, budget records, fiscal sponsor agreements if applicable, insurance certificates, workers’ compensation forms, and program summaries. A number of state-mandated forms must also be completed, such as the Payee Data Record, Civil Rights Laws Certification, and Generative Artificial Intelligence Reporting and Factsheet. The process requires precise compliance, as incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted. Only one application is permitted per organization. Contact for programmatic or application questions is centralized through CDCR’s Division of Rehabilitative Programs via InnovativeGrants@cdcr.ca.gov. This centralized approach ensures consistency and equal access to clarifications. By structuring this funding as a broad eligibility-based allocation, CDCR aims to support a wide network of community-based providers in delivering rehabilitative services within correctional settings, thereby advancing healing, transformation, and public safety outcomes statewide.