Smart Justice Spark Grants

The Michelson 20MM Foundation’s 2025 Smart Justice Spark Grants funding cycle supports projects that empower justice-impacted individuals through higher education, workforce development, reentry support, and policy advocacy. The Spark Grant Program serves as a rapid-response funding model that fills urgent gaps and drives systems-level change, with the goal of informing public policy and creating scalable impact. For the 2025 cycle, the funding window opens on September 2 and closes on September 16, with projects due by 12:30 p.m. on September 17, 2025. The current cycle focuses exclusively on initiatives serving communities within California. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based nonprofits and educational institutions whose work addresses one or more of the Foundation’s identified focus areas. Focus areas include: expanding higher education and career pathways in firefighting for incarcerated individuals; facilitating certification and post-release employment for formerly incarcerated firefighters; and policy advocacy in support of these efforts. Additional priorities include reentry housing, transfer pathways from associate to bachelor’s degree programs, expanding HEP (Higher Education in Prison) programming within California State University and University of California systems, and efforts to improve HEP program quality and educator training. Grants may also support projects aimed at increasing retention and completion rates among incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, analyzing the HEP landscape in California, or launching a state-wide HEP consortium. Proposals must present innovative, data-informed, and equity-centered approaches, especially those that serve underrepresented populations and promote race equity in access to HEP programs. Funding amounts are up to $25,000. Projects may use up to 10% of awarded funds for indirect costs. The Michelson 20MM Foundation welcomes projects in which Spark Grant funds are part of a broader initiative with multiple funding sources. Proposals are evaluated based on alignment with focus areas, potential for impact, and scalability. Only applications submitted online will be accepted. Interested applicants can access resources including sample letters of interest, application templates, and an informational webinar via the grant portal. For questions or technical assistance, applicants may contact Ryan at ryan@20mm.org.