Notice of Funding Opportunity: Cook County Community Violence Intervention Grants 2026

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 1205–CVI2026

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary

• Awarding Agency Name: Cook County Justice Advisory Council 
• Application Contact: Juandalynn Johnson JAC.Info@CookCountyil.gov 
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement - Grant 
• Funding Opportunity Title: Cook County Community Violence Intervention Grants (CC-CVI) 
• Funding Opportunity Number: 1205-CVI2026
• Application Release Date: 7/1/2026 
• Application Due Date: 8/3/2026, 5:00pm (Central)
• Funding Source: These awards will be funded with Cook County general revenue funds in alignment with Government Alliance for Safe Communities investment strategy
• Estimated Total Funding Available: $15,000,000 for 24-month project period 
• Number of Anticipated Awards: Approximately 17 awards
• Anticipated Award Amounts: 
  • Track 1 – (1) coalition award for $7,000,000 award; one lead applicant and a minimum of 10 partners
  • Track 2- Approximately (16) awards range between $100,000 - $1,500,000 each award depending on the community area 
• Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost sharing or matching is allowed but is not required
• Indirect Costs: Indirect costs are allowed
• Pre- Submittal Conference: Non-mandatory session offered 7/8/2026 at 12:00 PM (Central). Pre-submittal Conference Information and Registration at CookCountyIL.gov/JACGrants 
• Funding Opportunity Questions: Due date for submitting questions: 7/15/2026, 5:00PM (Central). Questions and answers will be posted on CookCountyIL.gov/JACGrants on 7/20/2026
• Application Review period: 8/03/2026 - 9/30/2026 (approximate)
• Anticipated presentation of awards to Cook County Board of Commissioners for approval: 10/2026
• Anticipated Grant Performance Period: 12/1/2026 – 11/30/2028

Background: Cook County Government and the Justice Advisory Council

Cook County Government is a home rule county pursuant to Article VII, Section 6 of the Illinois State Constitution and is governed by a 17-member Board of Commissioners that is elected from single-member districts. The Commissioners and a County Board President are elected to four-year terms by the citizens of the County. Cook County represents one of the major metropolitan areas in the state and nation, and contains 134 municipalities, (including the City of Chicago), 29 townships, 221 special districts, and 164 school districts. Cook County is home to 5.28 million residents making it the second most populous county in the United States.

The Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC) implements Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's public safety policy and criminal and juvenile justice system reform efforts. The JAC’s mission is to promote equitable, human-centered, community-driven justice system innovation and practice through rigorous stakeholder engagement, policy work, service coordination, and grantmaking that increases community safety and reduces reliance on incarceration.

There are four key pillars that define the work of the JAC: 1) Policy Work; 2) Community Engagement; 3) Reentry Services; and 4) Grants and Investment.

Policy Work

The policy work of the JAC includes advancing JAC priorities, legislation and administrative reforms in Cook County shaped by best practices, national trends and innovations, and community feedback.

Community Engagement

Community engagement initiatives include structured dialogue sessions in communities, continued dialogues with County leaders through the Cook County Action Summit, implementation of a fellowship program, the Racial Equity Fellowship Cohort, that centers justice impacted community members and includes co-learning with justice system stakeholders and community-based organizations.

Reentry Services

JAC Reentry Services focuses on Rental Assistance and services for returning residents through the Cook County Reconnect program designed to address housing insecurity, health, employment and other needs of returning residents. In addition, reentry services support youth and adults starting from their earliest points of contact with law enforcement and the courts through their return home after periods of detention or incarceration. 

Grants and Investment

JAC’s investment strategy continues to support community-based organizations through grants in key focus areas of violence prevention, reentry services, domestic violence, and capacity building. The goal of these grant investments is to increase community safety and decrease involvements in/reliance on the criminal legal system. Over $150 million in investments have been made since 2022. 

The JAC remains committed to supporting and developing programs, initiatives and policies that are evidence informed and community affirmed.

APPLICATION GUIDE

Program Description

Firearm violence has deeply harmed neighborhoods, communities, and all of Cook County, both through the immediate loss of life and the long-term, harmful effects of trauma experienced by victims and witnesses, specifically in communities impacted by poverty.  Although gun violence has decreased by https://www.cookcountyil.gov/news/cook-county-sees-significant-drop-homicides-opioid-overdose-deathsmore than 30% since last year and homicides are down by more than 50% from the peak in 2021, disinvestment in violence prevention at the federal level makes it all the more important for local governments to continue investing in public safety so this progress is not lost. 

As one of its multiple funding efforts to reduce firearm violence in the most heavily impacted communities, the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC) is seeking to fund violence prevention organizations in specific community areas across Cook County to engage and serve those at the highest risk of becoming victims or perpetrators of firearm violence. This NOFO fill fund a comprehensive Community Violence Intervention (CVI) program model, an evidence-based intervention aimed at reducing gun violence. The CVI model utilizes evidence-based programming to engage individuals at the highest risk of firearm violence. This programming includes street outreach, case management, and victim services. Programming under CVI also utilizes "credible messengers" with lived experience and community ties (also known as “license to operate or LTO”) to mediate conflicts and disrupt cycles of violence/retaliation between informal street groups/street organizations, crews, cliques, and street networks. These programs increase positive outcomes for individuals most likely to harm someone or be harmed by firearm violence, strengthen others affected by violence, and contribute to building safer communities.  

The eligible geographic areas, for each of the funding tracks under this NOFO, are discussed in the Eligible Service Areas section of this NOFO. 

The target population through which we reach the highest risk individuals, is discussed in the Required Services and Programming section of this NOFO.

The Government Alliance for Safe Communities 

Funding under this NOFO is being issued as part of the Government Alliance for Safe Communities (GASC) Fiscal Year 2026 Funding Collaborative. In 2026, the GASC has committed to investing millions across city, county, and state government partners to sustain and scale critical community violence intervention (CVI) programming across the City of Chicago. Formed in 2021, the GASC brings together partners from the City of Chicago, the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC), the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to streamline grant funding, unify data collection, and increase capacity-building support for local organizations working to reduce violence. The GASC coordinates the deployment of public funding in the Greater Chicago region for CVI programming to ensure that critical investments in community safety are reaching the most vulnerable communities and those at highest risk for gun violence. This Cook County NOFO has been developed in coordination with other GASC funding agencies.

The Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research and Science (CORNERS) at Northwestern University conducts both process and impact evaluations of the GASC collaboration. An impact report released by CORNERS has found that: (1) levels of participation and service provision increased with public investment, with some expected seasonal fluctuations; (2) public investment is going to the communities with the highest need; and (3) Chicago Community Areas with the highest average investment showed the largest public safety gains, nearing pre-pandemic levels of gun violence. 

This demonstrates that coordinated government investment is essential for public health and community safety.

Target Population 

Programming and services funded via this NOFO are for the highest risk individuals. According to Northwestern University’s CORNERS, highest risk individuals (HRI’s) are defined as individuals who have been arrested in the last 5 years who are 1-2 "co-arrest or co-victimization handshakes" away from someone who has been a victim of gun violence in the last 3 years. 

In order to reach these HRIs, program participants must meet at least one of the following risk factors to be considered eligible to participate in funded programs. (Participant eligibility criteria must be documented in each Participant File – as discussed in the Required Services and Program Design section.)  

1. Active street involvement 

An association with or a reputation or key role (influencer) in or a family history of activity or involvement in an historically marginalized group that is disconnected from mainstream economy and/or social services and is or has participated in illegal activity. 

2. Justice-system involvement

• Recently released from jail, prison, or other detention facility (e.g., Cook County Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) facilities, juvenile detention centers, including those currently under community supervision (e.g. probation or parole), or
• Prior arrest(s), charge(s), or conviction(s) for violent felonies (e.g., homicide, aggravated battery, armed robbery, weapons charges)
• Previous victimization and trauma associated with community firearm violence
• Recent victim of firearm violence, or
• Witness of recent firearm violence, or
• Family or friend of a recent firearm victim.

Cost Per Participant

Additionally, the GASC has developed guidelines for a cost per participant of approximately $11,500 for the three CVI services required under this NOFO (street outreach, victim services, and case management). As will be reflected in the following sections and requirements, applicants should utilize this cost for planning and budgeting purposes. 

Eligible Service Areas

To determine eligible geographic service areas for this funding opportunity, we use methodologies comprising both victimization rates (the Reimagine Public Safety Act designated areas) and concentrations of HRIs across Cook County (HRIs projections).

For both funding tracks, applications must serve specific Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) designated areas. A full description of the RPSA process for identifying Illinois municipalities and Chicago and Greater Illinois community areas with the highest concentration of firearm violence is available here: IDHS: RPSA  Community Areas/Municipalities and Associated Programming

Track 1 

The purpose of Track 1 is to provide CVI programming to HRIs in RPSA areas specifically in the city of Chicago.

Track 1 applicants must submit one application that proposes a program that consists of a coalition that includes one lead applicant and a minimum of 10 partners that provide services in at least 10 of any of the RPSA Identified Chicago Service areas listed below. 

Based on GASC estimated cost per participant of $11,500, and the total award amount available, Track 1 applicants must propose a program that serves a minimum of 304 HRIs per year. 

Track 1 RPSA Identified Chicago Service Areas:

1. Ashburn 

2. Auburn Gresham 

3. Austin 

4. Burnside 

5. Chatham 

6. Chicago Lawn 

7. East Garfield Park 

8. Englewood 

9. Fuller Park 

10. Greater Grand Crossing 

11. Humboldt Park 

12. New City 

13. North Lawndale 

14. Northside Cluster: (Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Logan Square, Avondale, Irving Park, Albany Park, Near North Side and West Town)

15. Riverdale 

16. Roseland 

17. South Chicago 

18. South Deering 

19. South Lawndale 

20. South Shore 

21. Southwest Side Cluster: (Lower West Side, Brighton Park, Gage Park, McKinley Park, and Near West Side) 

22. Washington Park 

23. West Englewood 

24. West Garfield Park 

25. West Pullman 

26. Woodlawn

Track 2 

The purpose of Track 2 is to serve at least 25% of HRIs in RPSA areas across all of Cook County, closing gaps across our GASC collaboration.

To determine the projected number of HRIs in RPSA areas in Cook County, we utilized Northwestern’s CORNERS’ measure of HRIs for the City of Chicago. For every community area in the City of Chicago, CORNERS has calculated an estimated number of HRIs. To develop an estimate for the number of HRIs in Suburban Cook County, JAC, in consultation with CORNERS and GASC member agencies, used the relationships between the number of shootings and gun-related homicides in community areas of the city of Chicago and CORNERS’ estimated of the number of HRIs and applied that to the number of gun-related homicides in Suburban Cook County (the only metric for HRIs available across the Cook County suburbs). 

Based on the GASC’s goal of serving at least 25% of HRIs and an estimated cost per participant of $11,500, a target funding amount was calculated for every community area and municipality. The current level of funding in each community area and municipality represents FY26 CVI allocations from each GASC agency.  From these we calculated the funding gaps needed to be bridged to reach 25% of HRIs. 

The table below represents the complete list of RPSA areas in Cook County that have funding gaps. The table includes their estimated HRIs, the amount of HRIs that need to be served to reach 25%, and the amount of the funding gap needed to serve that target. The level of need is different for each area due to differences in the overall number of estimated HRIs and differences in how many HRIs these areas are already reaching in CVI programming funded by GASC. This track aims to get all of these areas to the same level of service saturation. Awardees will be expected to use the money allocated to their target area to increase their capacity to engage the additional number of individuals identified in the “HRIs to Serve” column. 

The proposed program budget should not exceed the total amount listed for the designated service area. An applicant may propose a program that serves fewer than the total ‘HRIs to Serve’ target for the geographic areas. Should they do so, the proposed program budget should still not exceed the cost of $11,500.00 per participant per year. Multiple awards may be given for the same geographic areas to close those areas’ funding and participant number gaps, but all within the total funding gap identified for that area.  

Each application must relate to just one of the geographic service areas listed below. A lead applicant may submit up to two applications, each for a different geographic service area. (For example: Lead Applicant 1 wants to serve areas A and B; they must submit one application for area A, and another application for area B; they may not submit any more applications). 

Track 2 RPSA Identified Service Area Table

Required Services and Program Design

This section discusses the specifics of the three mandatory service types comprising CVI under this NOFO as well as additional program design requirements and guidelines that may apply to all or some of those service types. 

Required Services

Applicants are required to design programming, services and activities following three (3) mandatory service areas: Street Outreach, Case Management, and Victim Services.  These mandatory services must be provided either directly by the applicant or through subrecipients. A Track 2 applicant can assign no more than two (2) of the three (3) mandatory services to subrecipients. 

A. Street Outreach*

Street outreach workers will be employed to mediate conflicts and prevent retaliatory violence between those who are at risk of committing firearm violence or becoming the victims of firearm violence. This includes utilizing "credible messengers" with lived experience and community ties (also known as “license to operate or LTO”) to mediate conflicts and disrupt cycles of violence/retaliation between informal street groups/street organizations, crews, cliques, and street networks. Street outreach workers will engage the target population in a variety of settings, including parks, homes, street corners, community centers, schools, hospitals, etc.  Street outreach efforts are typically conducted in the afternoons, evenings, or late at night. 

Key street outreach activities include: 

• Engagement and support of the Target Population
• Reclaiming public spaces for safe activities 
• Responding to critical incidents, such as shootings and homicides, to de-escalate tension and reduce/address threats of violence 
• Organizations must maintain on-call crisis staff to respond to shooting incidents 24 hours per day, seven days per week to receive notification of shooting incidents from police departments.  Crisis staff must respond in person to the incident within one hour and document police department notifications, the time it was received, the response time, and the outcome.   
• Confer with Convener group as identified by IDHS Office of Firearm Violence Prevention after a mass shooting or mass violence incident for immediate response and service coordination. Conduct proactive peace building activities such as restorative justice practices, event outings, and peace circles when applicable 
• Mediate and resolve conflicts between street groups or individuals harmed by violence. 
• Make referrals for additional, non-emergency services and supports for the victim and family to preserve stability. 
• Street outreach workers will carry a case load maximum of 15 participants at any given time. 
• Outreach workers will be required to maintain an activity log, outlining types and numbers of outreach activities conducted. 
• Outreach workers will track the number of engagements/interactions with eligible participants and the types of services provided such as resource connections, safety planning, mediation, intervention, etc.

*Level One Trauma Centers/Hospitals are eligible to apply for this NOFO provided they are a 501c3 entity, however, they are not considered a provider of Street Outreach services for purposes of this NOFO.  Trauma Centers/Hospitals must collaborate with violence prevention service providers that provide Street Outreach and include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines how the agencies will coordinate access to hospital patient and coordination of services. See later sections on requirements and letters of collaboration needed for further information. 

*Please note proposals that include school-based street outreach alone, will not qualify as meeting street outreach as described above.

B. Case Management 

Case management uses a case manager or case team to complete an intake assessment, develop a case plan, and provide or connect individuals to identified resources and services.  Programming and services may include but are not limited to effective emotional or trauma related therapies, legal aid services, housing services, employment training, job placement services, family engagement, and other support services.   These services can be provided directly or through linkages with other providers.

• Note: Any applicant proposing to provide behavioral health services must provide proof of current Medicaid certification or proof that Medicaid Certification in process with Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services on or before 7/1/2026.
• A full-time case manager will carry a case-load maximum of 25 participants at any given time.   
• Programs are strongly encouraged to establish linkage agreements with workforce development programs for efficient and timely access for the program participants.
• Case Management participants/recipients must have completed intake form to be eligible for such services.

C. Victim Services

Victim services workers/advocates help families and victims of violence within the target population recover from physical and emotional trauma caused by the violence by empowering them with skills, services, and opportunities.  Where possible, these services should be coordinated with other victim service providers to prevent victims and families from being overwhelmed with multiple providers. 

• Victim Services participants/recipients must have completed intake form to be eligible for victim services.

• Victim services workers will carry a case load maximum of 25 participants at any given time. 

  Key Victim Services include: 

• Responding to incidences of community violence (non-fatal shootings, fatal shootings, other acts of violence, etc.) within specific community areas. Incident notification could occur through outreach workers, police departments, community members, or other means. The response should include visits to crime scenes, a victims’ home, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. Response should be dispatched within one hour of notifications and may be an in-person interaction or phone call.
• Providing immediate support and advocacy for those impacted by violence at the hospital, accompanying the family at the medical examiner’s office, planning for a funeral, and/or assessing level of crisis to refer to counseling services. 
• Trauma-informed support for victims and families 
• Assessment of victim needs and development of a case plan
• Notifying and navigating participants through public agency processes for victim compensation, crisis intervention, emergency financial assistance, transportation, medical care, stable housing, and shelter, assessment and linkage to public benefits, and relocation services. 
• Connecting/referring families to appropriate services and supports in the community, including: 
  • Mental health services 
  • Trauma-informed services for young children and youth 
  • Employment and other supports
• Supporting families in their interaction with police to receive updates on cases. 
• Conducting regular weekly support groups with victims and families. 
• Providing support to families during court visits or trials.

Note: An applicant’s proposals for victim services under this NOFO cannot be duplicative of victim services work by that applicant’s active JAC Survivors of Gun Violence grant or other JAC CVI grant should they have one. 

Additional Program Design Requirements and Guidelines

The following are program design requirements or guidelines (as indicated). Failure to adhere to these may impact your application's score but do not necessarily render your application ineligible for review.

Participant Files

For service types of (1) Case Management and (2) Victim Services, grantees must maintain an individual confidential file on each participant. These files must be stored in a locked file/location. Files will include:

1. Intake information / form
2. Demographic data
3. Documentation of eligibility
4. Record of services provided 
5. Documentation of crisis intervention, if applicable
6. Any required assessment results
7. Individual’s case plan, goals, services, notes, outcomes, etc., if applicable.
8. Record of referrals made for additional services and whether individual received services
9. Grantees will hold regular (monthly) case staffing. The case staffing team will include where appropriate, the street outreach worker, case manager, victim services advocate, etc.

Evidence-based Programming

Agencies are encouraged to utilize established, evidence-based or evidence informed programming models that have a high potential to be effective with highest risk individuals in high-risk community settings. Best practice or promising practice programming models should be utilized, if these models meet community needs and can be implemented. Best practice models are those known to be research-based and proven to be effective at preventing and/or delaying risk-taking behaviors. Promising practices are those for which some data has shown positive effects on delaying risk-taking behaviors, but the data are insufficient to support generalized outcomes. Please refer to https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/solutions/community-violence-intervention  for an overview of community violence intervention programs that have proven to be effective. Applications that do not indicate the intention to implement best practice models will receive lower scores. 

Collaboration

The importance of community collaboration cannot be overemphasized. By working together, individuals, families, and community entities can design programs that are best suited to meet the needs of local individuals and to connect programs with community resources. Community-based agencies, government, faith-based organizations, civic organizations, businesses, foundations, individuals, and their families can together provide a wide range of resources to support high-quality programs. The issues and concerns of the entire community can best be addressed by drawing upon diverse resources. The key to successful programming is collaborative planning and implementation. 

Trauma-Informed Principles

Ensure that programming is infused with trauma-informed principles that:

• Recognize the high prevalence of traumatic experiences in persons residing in and working in communities with a high concentration of firearm violence,
• Address the impact of trauma on staff and personnel working with individuals residing in these communities.
• Address the impact of trauma on brain development, physical and emotional health and the impact on the community and individuals living in the community.
• Creates a safe space, provides support, and builds resiliency in individuals impacted by trauma. 

Program Operation

Programs are required to have a 24-hr/7 day a week staffing plan which can involve on-call status. Programs must operate at a minimum during in the evenings, late nights, early mornings when shootings are most likely to occur, based on the needs of the community. Grantees are strongly encouraged to adjust staffing for summer and holiday weekends when more shootings are likely to occur.

Programs are required to maintain the level of service identified in their application or risk non-compliance with the program contract, which may result in a reduction or loss of grant funds. 

Participant Enrollment

Each participant in a CC-CVI funded program must complete an intake form to be considered enrolled in the program and eligible for case management and victim services. This intake form must be maintained in an individual participant file.  Required deidentified program data on enrolled participants will be collected by the JAC in accordance with the established grant agreement. 

Program Marketing

In an effort to raise awareness of available services, to seek referrals and to recruit eligible participants, organizations will promote their programming in the community, including but not limited to developing partnerships with schools and law enforcement in their service area. Referrals may also come directly from individuals, parents and caregivers, community residents and community organizations.  

Participant Transportation

Program funds may be used to cover reasonable transportation costs for program participants. Out-of-state travel will not be allowed. 

If transportation is provided, the agency must have or will be required to develop a written transportation plan directly related to project activities and to maintain the plan on file at the agency.  This plan should have the approval of the agency’s governing body and be available for review by the JAC upon request.

Program Participation Fees

Programs may NOT charge any fees associated with program participation.

Subrecipients

Subrecipients and their performance are the sole responsibility of the lead applicant.  The lead applicant is required to conduct programmatic and fiscal monitoring of subrecipients.  The lead applicant will report all services implementation, data, outcomes and performance of subrecipients.

Track 2 applicants may assign no more than 2 of the 3 required service types to subrecipients.

Program Staff and Volunteers

Required Staffing:

• At a minimum, one part-time staff person must be identified to coordinate program activities, serve as the main JAC contact, and must be identified in the intended program organizational chart. (This chart is described in Staffing portion of this NOFO under Agency Readiness under Section A: Capacity).  
• At minimum, programs must allocate a position (or partial position) for each of the three required program components. This can be a portion of a position. This may be included in the applicant’s budget or through a sub-grantee's budget.
• Sufficient staffing to cover 24/7 shooting response. On call status is acceptable.
• Programs must recruit, hire, and take necessary steps to retain staff that are qualified for their positions through education, experience and/or training.  This includes persons with street credibility and lived experience. 
• Recruit staff who are intimately familiar with and reflective of the community in which they are providing services. This includes persons with street credibility and lived experience.
• Implement safety protocols to ensure staff safety, including developing staff safety and self-care plans.
• Provide staff with adequate training opportunities to prepare them to provide program elements effectively and safely. 
• Provide staff with adequate supervision to assess and improve job performance.
• Provide and encourage staff with additional staff development opportunities which will build staff’s employment skills, allowing for career advancement. Programs are strongly encouraged to develop a career plan with each street outreach worker.

Background Checks

Background checks are required for all program staff and volunteers who have the potential for contact with youth under 18. These background checks must be completed in advance of individuals working directly with youth. Such individuals will authorize such checks in writing and submit to fingerprinting. The agency shall retain the signed form authorizing the background check. All background check information, including the signed authorizing forms shall be maintained separately in a confidential file, apart from the employee’s personnel records. Funded programs will be required to have a written protocol in place detailing the requirement for background checks; evidence of their completion; the protocol for reviewing and making determinations regarding results; etc. In no case shall a Person who has been indicated as the perpetrator of any of the child abuse/neglect allegations identified in 89 Ill. Adm. Code Section 385.50(a) be deemed fit for service that allows access to children. 

Quality Improvement

The applicant agency must, over the course of this grant, demonstrate an ongoing                commitment to quality improvement through implementation of an organizational/program improvement plan that is the direct result of a self-assessment conducted utilizing an approved tool. Refer to Training and Technical Assistance below for more details.

The applicant agency must, over the course of this grant, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to develop trauma informed capacity within the organization. 

Training and Technical Assistance (TTA)

Programs will receive training, consultation, and technical assistance, as identified below, from authorized representatives of the JAC. At a minimum, grantees will: 

• Conduct, utilizing a JAC approved tool, an organizational self-assessment to determine administrative, programmatic, and capacity needs.
• Work with an approved TTA provider to develop a plan to address identified potential issue areas.
• Implement plan and report progress in quarterly Programmatic Performance Reports
• Participate in any training mandated by the JAC.

In addition, programs awarded, will be expected to participate in any GASC-identified capacity building efforts, including an established CVI street outreach Community of Practice that meets quarterly and will have access to a new centralized hub for capacity building services to improve organizational sustainability, program delivery, and long-term impact. 

The GASC Capacity Building Network

The GASC Capacity Building Network (The Network) is a voluntary opportunity designed to support Community Violence Intervention (CVI) organizations in strengthening their infrastructure, leadership, and long-term impact. Participation in the Network is not required for all CBOs. However, if your organization is interested in joining, we encourage you to submit an application to reflect that interest.

GASC Capacity Building Network Eligibility:

Organizations interested in joining The Network must be actively engaged in Community Violence Intervention (CVI) and/or violence prevention work. Examples of CVI strategies include, but are not limited to:

• Street outreach and intervention
• Case management
• Victim services
• Services focused on individuals at highest risk

For more information or to apply, please visit: www.StrongOrgs.com

Program Evaluation

Grantees will be required to participate in evaluation efforts as directed by the JAC and/or its subrecipient(s) and collect and report data accordingly. This also includes full participation in all information and data requests pursuant to the independent evaluation of the GASC being conducted by the Center for Neighborhood Engaged Research & Science (CORNERS) at Northwestern University and the broader data sharing in alignment with external partners through the Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Community (SC2). Data will be submitted in the format prescribed by the Department. 

Grantees will be required to document program services to each client. Grantees will be required to report quarterly regarding program performance measures and outcomes. Grantees will be required to participate in Department-directed Performance and Standards Assessment reviews. A year-end program and performance measures and outcomes report will also be required. Additional data and information may be requested throughout the year as determined by the Department.

The following (deidentified) data will be collected from programs including, at a minimum:

• Unduplicated number of program participants
• Intake and demographic information of program participants
• Participant status data (Education, Employment, Living Arrangement)
• Program service activities, assessment, and outcome data
• Discharge information, including status data
• Data specific to mandatory program models
• Applicant agency administrative information; staff information; site information; subrecipient information; and other program plan information as required.

Note: Some records and other information obtained by programs concerning the individuals served under this agreement may be confidential pursuant to state and federal statutes and/or administrative rules and shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure.

Performance Measures

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics will include but not limited to:

Street Outreach 

• Number of times canvassed targeted areas
• Number of hours outreach workers engaged in canvassing in targets areas
• Number of peace building activities completed
• Number of hours spent engaging in peace building activities
• Number of activities aimed at reclaiming public spaces
• Number of hours spent reclaiming public spaces

Case Management

• Demographics of client population 
• Number of new individuals served this quarter
• Number of individuals continuing services from last quarter
• Number of individuals served through street outreach that are tracked and reported 
• Number of individuals served through victim services.
• Number of individuals engaged/served through case management.
• Number of unduplicated individuals served– all 3 components.
• Case Management
  • What is the average amount of hours spent on case management per client per quarter?
• Number of services delivered
  • Education, Medical, Food assistance, Housing, Legal assistance, Mental health, Substance use, Employment, Identification support (ID, SSN, etc.), Crisis services, Insurance, Funeral, Referral to Victim Advocacy Services
• Number of services referred
  • Education, Medical, Food assistance, Housing, Legal assistance, Mental health, Substance use, Employment, Identification support (ID, SSN, etc.), Crisis services, Insurance, Funeral, Referral to Victim Advocacy Services

Victim Services

• Number of clients provided crisis intervention services on scene or at another location soon after the incident.
• Average number of hours of crisis intervention provided per client per quarter.
• Number of clients provided emotional support services, such as support groups, grief counseling, family counseling. 
• Average number of hours of emotional support services provided per client per quarter
• Number of clients provided individual counseling 
• Average number of hours of individual counseling provided per client per quarter 
• Number of clients provided clinical services

Performance Standards 

Using the proposed numbers from your Standardized Work Plan from your application, use the following performance standards to evaluate your program. 

1. The three required program components are delivered throughout the grant period. Street Outreach, Case Management & Victim Advocacy. (Acceptable performance: 100% - all three components delivered)
2. Percent of projected vs. actual individuals engaged/served through street outreach. (Acceptable performance: 80%)
3. Percent of projected vs. actual individuals served through victim services. (Acceptable performance: 80%)
4. Percent of projected vs. actual individuals engaged/served through case management. (Acceptable performance: 80%)
5. Percent of projected vs. actual unduplicated individuals served in the RVPS – all 3 components. (Acceptable performance: 80%)

Award and Funding Information

• This is a competitive funding opportunity.
• The release of this NOFO does not obligate the JAC to make an award. 
• All applicants must submit an application consistent with all the requirements set forth in this notice by the application due date and time.
• All funding is subject to the availability of funding.
• JAC anticipates funding approximately 17 grants to provide this program.
• JAC anticipates making approximately $15,000,000 available to fund 24-month grant awards under this opportunity. Award amounts will be based on approved budgets.  Grant renewals will be subject to performance.
• This award will be funded using Cook County Equity Funds.
• This award does not require an in-kind or financial match. 
• In order to charge indirect costs to this grant, the applicant organization must have a Federal or State annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or must elect to use the De Minimis Rate. Indirect costs charged to the grant may not exceed the approved rate.  
• Proposed budgets must be sufficiently detailed and justified to be approved by JAC. Successful applicants will NOT receive a grant agreement until after their budget has been approved. 
• For successful applicants under this NOFO, as part of the budget review and approval process, JAC will work with grantees to align budgets with GASC guidelines that include uniform cost per participant requirements for core services provided, including street outreach, case management, and victim services. The cost per participant under this NOFO, including all three mandatory service types is $11,500 per participant per year. 
• The anticipated project period for this award will be 12/1/26-11/30/28.
• Subrecipient Agreement(s) and budgets must be pre-approved by JAC and on file with JAC. Subrecipients are subject to all provisions of this Agreement. The successful applicant organization shall retain sole responsibility for the performance of the subrecipient. 

Eligibility and Requirements

Eligibility Criteria and Application Requirements

Organizations applying for this NOFO must meet all of the following eligibility criteria and other requirements. Eligibility criteria will be reviewed during our Technical Review phase. In the list below eligibility criteria are clearly marked with bold, italicized, and underline text (e.g., “Eligibility Criteria”). If any eligibility criterion is not met as determined at the sole discretion of the JAC during our Technical Review Phase, the application may be determined ineligible for further consideration for this opportunity. 

The JAC, subject to limitations of applicable law, reserves the right to waive certain eligibility criterion as applied to a given application, in any instance where the JAC, in its sole discretion, determines the criterion is limiting the pool of applicants to such a degree as to undermine the primary goals of the opportunity and associated appropriated funds. However, this does not obligate JAC to make an award to any applicant that fails to meet all requirements: 

• Non-profit status (Eligibility Criteria): To be eligible lead applicants must be a community based nonprofit organization with a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status at the time of application submission. Applicants must submit an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letter proving its 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) status. IRS determination letters must be dated before the application deadline and the name on the IRS determination letter must match the organization name used to apply for this grant in order for an applicant to be eligible for consideration for this NOFO.
  • Note, for Track 1: The lead applicant as well as each of the minimum 10 partner agencies must also be community based nonprofit organization with a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status at the time of application submission. Though a track 1 applicant may have some partners who are not nonprofits, those would not count toward the 10 minimum nonprofit partners. The Lead Applicant must submit each partner organizations’ IRS determination letter.
• Budget (Eligibility Criteria): The budget eligibility requirements are as follows: 
• Track 1 - (1) $7,000,000 award. Must have an annual operating budget of at least $3,500,000 for the past two years. 
• Track 2 – Approximately (16) $100,000 and above awards. Must have an annual operating budget for the past two years that is one half the proposed 24-month program budget. (E.g., Organization A applies to serve Track 2 Eligible Service Area 5, which has a funding gap/total award allocation of $1,000,000.00. They apply for that full amount, proposing 24-month program budget of $1,000,000.00. They must have had as operating budget of at least $500,000.00 for the past two years.)
• Applicants must complete the operating budget template for 2024 and 2025 provided as CC-CVI Attachment 5 – Organization Operating Budget Template. Failure to use the attached operating budget template will result in disqualification of your application.  
• Applicants must also submit their IRS annual tax returns for 2023 (for fiscal year 2024) and 2024 (for fiscal year 2025) as a Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.  
• Geography (Eligibility Criteria): To be eligible, applicants must be headquartered in Cook County (as validated by the address in the IRS Nonprofit Determination Letter); and currently provide services in an RPSA eligible service area in Cook County (see RPSA service areas in Eligible Service Areas section). 
  • For Track 2: Lead applicants proposing to serve suburban Cook County must be headquartered in suburban Cook County. Lead applicants serving the City of Chicago must be headquartered in Chicago. 
• Operate and provide services in the proposed community as attested to by two (2) Affidavits completed by two different municipal elected officials or their office’s duly authorized designees. Affidavits must be completed using the CC-CVI Attachment 6 – Geography and Experience Affidavit Template and Instructions.   
• For Track 1: The Lead Applicant and each of their 10 minimum nonprofit partners must be headquartered in the city of Chicago; and the Lead Applicant must also submit each of their 10 minimum nonprofit partner organizations’ IRS determination letters which reflect their city of Chicago headquarters. 
• Solvent and Competent (Eligibility Criteria): To be eligible, applicant must be financially solvent; and each of its members, if a joint venture, its employees, agents, or subrecipients at any level must be competent to perform the work and services required under this application. 
• Licensure (Eligibility Criteria): To be eligible a certificate of good standing with the State of Illinois must be provided. It is understood that the selected Applicant is in good standing in the State of Illinois and licensed in any areas of service which require licensure.
• Experience Requirement: Demonstrate at least (2) two years of experience of serving and supporting the target population. Under Track 1, the minimum 10 partners along with the lead applicant must each have 2 years serving the target population across at least 10 of the RPSA areas within the city of Chicago; this should be described in Section A, Narrative portion of the application.
• Applicants need not have non-profit status for the entire duration of this experience). 
• (Eligibility Criteria): That experience must be attested to by two (2) Affidavits completed by two different City and/or Cook County suburban municipal elected officials. Affidavits must be completed using the CC-CVI Attachment 6 – Geography and Experience Affidavit Template and Instructions. Please note that only 2 affidavits total are needed to fulfill both the Geography and Experience eligibility criteria, since the affidavits attest to both criteria. 
• Established CVI program requirement: Applicants must have an existing CVI program that includes an active street outreach team, victim services, and case management operation which has been operational at least for the 24-month period ending with the application deadline.
  • (Eligibility Criteria): You must provide the organizational chart and resumes for this operation and current budget for the operation. (Note: this is a separate organizational chart than the one that is also requested for the intended program under this NOFO). 
• Service Categories Requirement: The applicant must propose to implement programming and services for all 3 required service components: Street Outreach, Case Management and Victim Services as described in this NOFO.    For Track 2: The applicant may not assign more than two of the three required service categories to subrecipients.
  • Please refer to the description and requirements for each of these mandatory service categories found in the Required Services and Program Design section of this NOFO above; that section outlines further specific requirements including but not limited to caseload limits, staffing requirements, specific requirements for those seeking to provide behavioral health services, hospital applicants, and more. 
  • Include an organizational chart of the applicant organization featuring this proposed program, showing where the program and its staff will be placed.  If subrecipients will be used, include the relationship with those organizations in the chart. 
    • (Note: this is a separate organizational chart from the other one this NOFO has also requested of the Existing CVI program you operate). 

• Implementation Timeline: The applicant must propose to begin providing services in year one within 30 days following the agreement start date. The applicant must provide a program implementation Timeline as Attachment 2 demonstrating when it will begin to provide services as part of this application. 

  Other Eligibility Criteria

• JAC existing grant recipients are eligible to apply under this funding announcement.
• JAC reserves the right to adjust budgets and services for flexibility across projects. 

Grant Fund Use Requirements

All applicants will use grant funds according to the guidelines, conditions, and parameters set forth in this funding notice and in compliance with Cook County statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions.

Allowable Costs

Allowable costs are those that are necessary and reasonable based on the activity(ies) contained in the Scope of Work, are justified in the Budget Narrative, and are allowable under Subpart E of 2 CFR 200. It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved. Program budgets and narratives must detail how all proposed expenditures are necessary for program implementation.

Unallowable Costs

Please refer to 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs. In addition, and specific to this grant, the following costs will be unallowable without specific prior written approval from JAC: 

• Entertainment costs, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized in the approved budget (2 CFR 200.438)
• Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment, including any vehicle regardless of cost, buildings, and land (2 CFR 200.439)
• Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life (2 CFR 200.439)
• Food, and other goods or services for personal use of the grantee’s employees, contractors, or consultants of the grantee unless authorized as per diem under the State of Illinois Governor’s Travel Control Board (2 CFR 200.445)
• Deposits for items, services, or space
• Travel outside of Cook County
• Personal expenses unrelated to the grant or program purpose
• Contributions or donations made by the organization with JAC grant funds
• Cash payments

Indirect Cost Requirements and Restrictions

In order to charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must either have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or elect to use a standard de minimis rate of 15%.  

Administrative Costs

It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget. Program budgets and narratives will detail how all proposed expenditures are directly necessary for program implementation and will distinguish between Indirect/Direct Administrative and Direct Program expenses. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved. At no time may the approved NICRA be exceeded under this agreement. Documentation will be required to verify the approved NICRA.

Post Award Requirements of Applicant

• Program Services: Applicants agree to provide program services as described throughout this Funding Notice, and the Grant agreement.
• Start Date: The selected provider must be in a position to begin providing services within 30 days following the agreement start date.
  • Lead applicants must have executed agreements with any named partners from the application by 30 days after the execution of their agreement with the JAC. 

• Technology: Organizations awarded funds through this funding notice must have a computer that meets the following minimum specifications for the purpose of utilizing any required JAC web-based reporting system and the receipt/submission of electronic program and fiscal information:

  • Internet access, preferably high speed
  • Email Capability
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Adobe Reader

  The purchase of this technology would be an allowable expenditure under the grant and may be budgeted for as part of this application.

• Site Visits: Per JAC policy, applicants are required  to participate in site visits as requested by the JAC. JAC policy also requires that program and collaborating partners must attend such site visits.
• Presentations: The applicant will be available as requested by the JAC to present information regarding service deliverables, provide data updates, or to answer questions arising from the applicant's work.
• Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Mandate: Per the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA, 325 ILCS 5/4), mandated reporters are professionals who may work with children in the course of their professional duties.  Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child maltreatment immediately when they have “reasonable cause to believe that a child known to them in their professional or official capacity may be an abused or neglected child” (ANCRA Sec.4).  This is done by calling the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Hotline at 1-800-252-2873 or 1-800-25ABUSE.  Programs funded through this grant opportunity must review ANCRA and, where appropriate, have a written protocol for identifying and reporting suspected child maltreatment.
• Hiring and Employment Policy: It is the policy of the JAC to encourage cultural diversity in the work environment and to promote employment opportunities through its programs.  The JAC philosophy is that the program workforce should appropriately reflect the populations to be served, with special attention given to hiring individuals indigenous to those communities.

Funding Priorities

Beyond the minimum requirements and eligibility criteria set out above, the JAC expects to prioritize funding to applicants through a competitive merit-based review and selection process that:

1. Demonstrates high levels of experience in violence prevention programming, specifically the 3 CVI services categories of Street Outreach, Case Management and Victim Services as defined throughout this NOFO.
2. Exceeds the minimum required 2-year history of providing services to the target population, and in the specific eligible community area to which they are applying to serve. 
3. Proposes a clearly designed plan to reach and serve the target population in the identified community including the perpetrators of gun violence.
4. Utilizes established, evidence-based or evidence informed programming models that have a high potential to be effective with highest risk individuals in high-risk community settings.
5. Takes advantage of collaboration, including establishing linkage agreements for the case management service type. 
6. Demonstrates evidence of linguistic and cultural competence.
7. Proposes a budget aligned with the proposed program.

APPLICATION

Application Submission Information

To submit an application for funding under the Cook County Community Violence Intervention Initiative, visit the Cook County Justice Advisory Council’s Grants website: CookCountyIL.gov/JAC Grants. The application deadline is August 3, 2026 at 5:00p.m. 

How to Submit Your Response 

The Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) online submission portal for this NOFO will be posted at CookCountyIL.gov/JACGrants.   
Note: Please be sure you have all materials ready to submit before completing this submission form - you will not be able to save as you go along. 

Steps to complete 

1. Complete the Organization Information and contact fields on the form. Please make sure your Headquarter Address is accurate and consistent with the Headquarter Address you provide in your application cover sheet. Please note that the individual listed as the primary contact for this grant application will receive all communications related to this application. 

Note: Creating a Login is not required. 

2. Upload the following nine (9) required files: 

• CC-CVI Application Narrative - Upload as a PDF 
• Application Supporting Documentation (outlined in the application checklist) - Upload all supporting documentation in one (1) PDF document 
• CC-CVI Attachment 1   Implementation Workplan Goals Objectives Deliverables - Upload as a Word document using the Word document template provided (download the attachment at www.CookCountyil.gov/JACGrants)  
• CC-CVI Attachment 2 - Implementation Timeline - Upload as a Word document using the Word document template provided (download the attachment at www.CookCountyil.gov/JACGrants) 
• CC-CVI Attachment 3 - Organization Demographic Data (download the attachment at www.CookCountyil.gov/JACGrants) 
• CC-CVI Attachment 4 – Program Budget and Narrative - Upload as an Excel document using the Excel budget template provided (download the attachment at www.CookCountyil.gov/JACGrants) 
• CC-CVI Attachment 5 – Organization Operating Budget Template – Upload as an Excel document using the Excel budget template provided  (download the attachment at www.CookCountyil.gov/JACGrants) 
• Two (2) signed and notarized Affidavits signed by two different City and/or suburban Cook County municipal elected officials. Affidavits must be completed using the CC-CVI Attachment 6 – Geography and Experience Affidavit Template and Instructions (download the attachment at www.CookCountyil.gov/JACGrants) 
• Financial Documents (outlined in the checklist designated in the Order of Application section) - Upload all supporting documentation in one (1) PDF document 

3. Enter the CAPTCHA validation characters shown on the screen, and press “Submit” to complete your submission. 
4. Once the application has been submitted, the primary contact person identified on the application will receive an automated e-mail indicating that the application has been successfully submitted. Please save this e-mail when you receive it.  
5. Once the application has been acknowledged by the JAC, the primary contact person identified on the application will receive an automated e-mail indicating the that JAC has acknowledged receipt of your application. Please save this e-mail when you receive it. 

Note: It is HIGHLY recommended to submit early to avoid a potential delay caused by a high volume of last-minute applications. 

Content and Form of Application Submission

Organization Information 

This information is required to ensure a complete application. Please include as the cover sheet for application. Failure to include the below information may affect your application’s ability to pass technical review. 

Cover Sheet

Program (Proposal) Narrative 

The program (proposal) narrative makes up the bulk of your application.  Please provide a complete response to the following sections.  If the program narrative is missing from your application packet, your application may receive a score of zero points and your agency will not meet the criteria to receive a grant under this notice of funding opportunity. 

Applicants must submit a plan (proposal narrative) that covers a grant term (project period) of 24 months. 

Applicants must submit a plan that contains the information outlined below.  Each section must begin on a new page and have a heading that corresponds to the headings listed below after each section number.  The total application may not exceed 20 pages, single-spaced.  The narrative portion must follow the page maximums where prescribed and must be organized in the format outlined below. 

Failure to provide an application in the format detailed throughout this section will result in the loss of points. 

Executive Summary: (5 points)

*Not included in the page limits

The Executive Summary will serve multiple purposes.  First, as a scored portion of this application and secondly, for successful applicants it will serve as a stand-alone document that may be shared with various stakeholders and others requesting a brief overview of each funded project.  Therefore, applicants should be concise and direct in their description. 

Applicants must complete the Executive Summary and include it at the beginning of your program narrative. Each of the following items must be answered/responded to on the Executive Summary form. 

1. Provide a brief description of the Community Violence Intervention Services (street outreach, victim services, and case management) your organization has provided in the past or is currently providing. Include outcomes/achievements of these services. 
   • Indicate the number of years the applicant (and subrecipients) have delivered services to the Target Population. 
     1. Indicate whether these services are CVI services consistent with the services described in this NOFO.
     2. Indicate in which geographic areas these services were provided, and if these are the service areas this application is intended for. 
        • Indicate the site location(s) where CVI services will be performed for this community; Indicate if the location is a subrecipient location.  
        • Identify other community organizations you have collaborated with in the service area(s) for which you are applying. Include length of the collaboration, purpose and achievements.
2. Provide a brief overall description of the program and services your organization intends to provide under this award. Include anticipated start dates and anticipated outcomes. 
   1. Indicate the required program services the applicant is proposing. 
      • Enter if the services will be provided directly or through a subrecipient.
      • Enter projected # of individuals to be served by age, race & ethnicity.   
      • Enter a one-to-two sentence description of the service.
3. Indicate the projected number of individuals to be served by program component (street outreach, victim services, case management).  Note: these will likely include duplicated numbers as participants may receive services under each component.
4. Indicate the total unduplicated number of individuals projected to be served by this program, broken down by race, ethnicity, age and gender.

Section A: Capacity – Agency Qualifications/Organizational Capacity: (45 points) 

The purpose of this section is for the applicant to present an accurate picture of their ability to implement this program as outlined in this NOFO.  The applicant must demonstrate evidence of linguistic and cultural competence throughout. Information in this section should include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

Overview: 

1. Give a brief overview of the applicant entity, outlining its primary programs and services offered.  Describe how the applicant’s existing or proposed mission statement and goals align with the purpose of this funding opportunity.
2. The applicant organization must demonstrate it has a minimum of 2 years experience providing services to the target population. It is beneficial if the experience is in the RPSA eligible service area(s) for which the applicant is proposing to provide services.  The JAC recognizes that communities have a unique perspective on what works and what is needed in their own community. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate the services they propose and those people providing them are credible and trusted in the community and with the participants they propose to serve. Applicant may adapt best or promising practice models as necessary to meet the unique needs of the community. However, it should be noted that any modifications to established program models might reduce the likelihood of achieving the predicted outcomes. Applicants may also propose programming that is consistent with commonly accepted guidelines for effectiveness and that those activities are aligned with the specific needs of the community.
3. Describe the applicant’s physical presence in the community for which they are proposing to provide services; include the address(es) of physical locations; indicate how long the applicant has been in each location; briefly describe the services currently provided at the location(s), indicate if each location is for administration or direct services or both.

Experience: 

1. Describe the applicant entity’s experience providing the required services and programming listed under Required Services and Programming. 
2. Describe relevant major accomplishments and outcomes of those efforts.
3. Describe your experience providing CVI services to communities at risk and specifically the eligible community that the organization serves or served.  List the number of years of providing services, types of activities undertaken, successes and challenges, etc.  Indicate where these services were provided. 
4. Describe the applicant agency’s experience working with the highest risk individuals as outlined in under Target Population. Applicant must demonstrate how they are utilizing “credible messengers" with lived experience and community ties (also known as “license to operate or LTO”).

Fiscal Capacity: 

This section will be scored based on the thoroughness of the responses and on the level of capacity. This section will also gauge the level of financial technical assistance that may be needed to support the applicant. 

Organization:

1. Describe your agency’s accounting policies and systems/software used. Can your system track expenses by program area?
2. Describe your agency’s experience creating budgets, applying cost allocation principles, etc.
3. What is the amount of your organization’s overall budget? Overall budget includes all programs, administration, etc. 
4. Describe your agency’s timekeeping system. Can your system track staff time by grant program?
5. Describe the applicant’s experience managing state and/or federal grants.

Program specific: 

1. What is your budget for this program? If you anticipate additional sources of funding for this program besides this grant request/amount, please provide the sources/amounts.
2. Identify staff who will be responsible for completing and submitting financial reports to JAC. Describe staff member’s experience and/or credentials, if applicable.  If your organization is contracting with an entity to manage fiscal responsibilities for this grant, provide name of the entity. 
3. Please explain your internal controls to ensure separation of duties related to approving invoices, accounting entries and payment authorizations for expenditures. 

Agency Readiness:

Provide a description of the applicant agency's readiness for service provision commencing within 30 days of the contract start date, taking note of the following:

1. Staffing: Describe the applicant agency’s plan for staffing to carry out and execute this program. 
   • Include an organizational chart of the applicant organization featuring this proposed program, showing where the program and its staff will be placed.  If subrecipients will be used, include the relationship with those organizations in the chart. 
     1. (Note: this is a separate organizational chart from the other one  this NOFO has also requested of the existing CVI program you operate). 
   • Submit job descriptions and resume for all positions to be funded by this grant.  Indicate whether these positions will be full-time or part-time and if the staff are current employees or will be new hires.
   • For new hires Include the anticipated timeline for staff to be hired. 
2. Physical Space: Discuss the applicant agency’s readiness in terms of the physical space where program activities will be carried out. 
3. Training; Describe the applicant’s staff training plan to ensure their ongoing ability to successfully perform the duties of their position.

Collaboration:

Describe the applicant agency’s experience engaging the community and developing partnerships/relationships with community leaders, schools, law enforcement, residents, and other stakeholders within the intended community area the agency is proposing to serve.  In the description identify the stakeholder groups that the applicant agency has worked with and in what capacity.  Indicate if these partnerships/relationships are current. 

1. Describe how the program will develop, maintain, and leverage strong relationships with community residents, other providers. 
2. Provide a description of established or proposed linkages with other resources within your community, and how your program will collaborate with those entities to provide services. 
3. Describe any existing agreements between your agency and local law enforcement.

Trauma-Informed Status:

Applicants must demonstrate an ongoing commitment to develop trauma informed capacity. Please describe current and planned capacity building activities designed to obtain or maintain Trauma Informed status. 

 Subrecipients:

If the applicant plans to use a Subrecipient to deliver services related to this program, describe your policy/policies around selecting, monitoring and evaluating subrecipients.  If you do not have existing policies, indicate how and when the policies will be created.

Section B: Need - Description of Need: (10 points)

The purpose of this section is to provide a clear and accurate picture of the need for proposed services within the targeted community and how the applicant will address these needs.  It is necessary for the applicant to demonstrate that it has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the needs of the high risk individuals impacted by violence. 

1. Provide evidence that the applicant understands the needs of the proposed community as it relates to addressing and responding to highest risk individuals needs within their community.  Reference research, studies, assessments, surveys etc. that were conducted and/or analyzed to assess community need as effected by firearm violence. 
2. Level One Trauma Center/Hospital applicants must include data and an analysis outlining current trends regarding firearm victim patients and the communities that they return to.  These data should justify the applicants’ projected numbers to be served.
3. Provide evidence that the applicant has thorough knowledge and understanding of the needs of highest risk individuals and families impacted by firearm violence in the proposed community. 
4. Describe how the proposed services meet the identified needs of highest risk individuals and families impacted by firearm violence.

Section C: Quality - Description of Program Design and Services: (35 points)

The purpose of this section is for the applicant to provide a comprehensive, clear, and accurate picture of its intended program design and services.  The applicant must demonstrate evidence of linguistic and cultural competence throughout. 

Geographic Location and Community Presence: Describe the intended Community Area(s) to be served (Note: This section will be used to determine if your application meets the experience eligibility criteria)

1. Has your organization served the eligible service area identified for this application and, if so, for how long?
2. Does your organization have an existing physical location in the community area(s) you are proposing to serve?
3. Describe previous CVI work that your organization has done over the past 24 months and in what areas that work was done. Please discuss your existing street outreach program in your response.
4. How many street outreach workers does your existing CVI program include? 
5. If awarded, how do you plan to expand your existing CVI program?

Target Population: Describe the intended target population. 

1. Indicate the target and priority populations to be served as described in this NOFO.
2. Indicate the number of individuals to be served by age, race & ethnicity.   
3. Describe how and why this population was chosen for this programming. 
4. Describe how this population will be recruited to participate in this program and how the applicant will reduce barriers to program participation.
5. Describe the eligibility criteria to be imposed for service population planned, understanding that participants must meet at least one criterion listed in under Target Population.

Street Outreach:  All applicants should refer to Program Design for details.

1. Describe the proposed outreach services and the specific engagement strategy.
2. Describe the outreach staffing plan, schedule and daily activities.
3. Discuss outreach locations and discuss how these locations are identified.
4. Describe how mediations are conducted.
5. Discuss how outreach activities are tracked.
6. Describe how the outreach workers will be trained, supervised and supported. 
7. Describe how outreach workers will be identified, recruited and hired. 
8. Discuss how career plans are developed/identified and monitored for street outreach workers, if applicable.
9. Describe how outreach staff will collaborate and coordinate outreach with other street outreach violence prevention organizations.

Case Management: All applicants should refer to Program Design for details.

1. Describe the proposed case management services.
2. Describe the case management staffing plan and job duties.
3. Describe the assessment and case plan tools utilized.
4. Indicate and describe the database software used to track participants and services.
5. Describe how the case managers will be trained, supervised and supported.
6. Describe how case management staff will collaborate and coordinate outreach with other street outreach violence prevention organizations.

Victim Services: All applicants should refer to Program Design for details.

1. Describe the proposed victim services.
2. Describe the victim service staffing plan and job duties. 
3. Describe the assessment and case plan tools utilized. 
4. Indicate and describe the database software used to track participants and services. 
5. Describe how the victim service staff will be trained, supervised and supported.
6. Describe how victim service staff will collaborate and coordinate outreach with other street outreach violence prevention organizations.

Additional Program Requirements: Describe how participant cases will be discussed. In addition, include frequency and staff positions in attendance.

Program Impact: Describe how the proposed CVI program will impact and address firearm violence.

1. Describe how the program design and activities directly correlate to the needs identified in the previous section.
2. Describe the intended impact on participants who receive:
   1. street outreach
   2. case management
   3. victim services

Transportation: Describe whether transportation will be provided to participating individuals with program funds and under what circumstances.

Trauma Informed: Describe how programming is infused with trauma-informed principles as outlined previously in this NOFO under Trauma Informed Principles.

Implementation Timeline: Applicants will submit an Implementation Timeline as Attachment 2 which will include program milestones, hiring staff, training, start dates, etc. For each deliverable:

1. Indicate the staff who will be responsible to ensure each deliverable is completed.
2. Indicate the anticipated hiring dates.
3. The estimated time per week spent on each deliverable. 
4. For each deliverable, record implementation dates, dates deliverables will be accomplished, etc. 
5. The timeline should cover the entire 24 month program period

Subrecipients: If the applicant plans to use a Subrecipient to deliver services related to this program:

1. describe the role and responsibilities of the subrecipient. 
2. describe how the applicant agency will monitor and evaluate the Subrecipient.   

Section D: Proposed Program Budget Narrative: (5 points) 

Please complete the downloadable budget form available at CookCountyil.gov/JACGrants. 

Provide a (2) year budget that includes line-item expenditures and a detailed narrative for expenditure that justifies the need for the expense not to exceed $7,000,000 for the 2-year period for Track 1 applicants. For track 2 applicants, budgets must not exceed the amount identified for the geographic area listed under the Eligible Service Areas Track 2 section for the 2-year period. 

If indirect costs are included in the budget, the applicant must submit a copy of their organization’s approved NICRA.

Attachments to Your Application Narrative 

(Not included in page limits)

Although this section is not scored individually, points will be deducted in the above sections if these items are not included as directed.  The attachments should be labeled accordingly.  If any attachments are not applicable, a page labeled with the attachment number should be submitted and should include a statement explaining why the attachment was not applicable. 

Order of Application

ALL Applications MUST include the following sections and mandatory forms/attachments in the order identified below.

Program Narrative 

1. Executive Summary
2. Capacity - Agency Qualifications/Organizational Capacity 
3. Need - Description of Need 
4. Quality - Description of Program Design and Services
5. Budget Narrative (Narrative should cover the entire 24-month grant award period)

The following checklist of application components and required items should be used to ensure a complete application.

Application Checklist

Application Submission Dates and Time

The application deadline is August 3, 2026, 5:00p.m. Central

Applications received after the established due date and time will not be considered for review or funding.  All applicants/applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be separately notified in writing, by email, upon determination.  This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification. 

For your records, please keep a copy of your submission with the date and time the application was submitted along with the email address to which it was sent. The deadline will be strictly enforced.

Important: It is strongly recommended that the applicant not wait until the last minute to submit an application in case they experience technical difficulties with the submission process.  Applicants should keep copies of all documentation that that may prove their application was submitted to the correct location and that it was received by JAC on or before the deadline.  Applicants should also maintain all electronic documentation, including screen shots, mail correspondence, help desk ticket numbers, etc. that would document any unforeseen difficulties the applicant may have encountered regarding the timely submission of the application.  

Application Review Information

All eligible competitive grant applications are subject to merit-based review.   

Technical Review Process

After the close of the application period for the funding opportunity, all applications undergo an initial technical review process to establish if they meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the NOFO. The technical review is limited only to the eligibility requirements to be considered a qualified applicant for a given funding opportunity; the merits of the underlying application or proposal are not subject to the technical review. The technical review can be completed by any member of the JAC Grants Management Team, Program Lead, or JAC Executive Team. 

Applicants will be notified of any findings and may be given the opportunity to cure technical review findings at the sole discretion of the JAC.  Applicants that are determined to not meet the eligibility criteria do not pass the technical review and are disqualified; they will not pass to the general review process for further review. These applicants will be notified in writing of their ineligibility for the current funding opportunity. All technical review findings will be maintained as part of the application file.   

Application Review Process 

Applications that successfully pass technical review will be reviewed by a panel of no less than 3 Application Reviewers, or ARs. ARs are given an Evaluation Rubric, as described in the NOFO, to complete their scoring of applications. Once AR review is complete, the scores and AR comments are analyzed and compiled by the JAC Grants Management Team in collaboration with the JAC Research and Data Team.  

Applications that are not unanimously recommended for funding by all ARs require a consensus review panel meeting facilitated by a JAC staff member. 

During the review panel meeting, each application that was not unanimously recommended for funding is considered with ARs discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the application at issue and their individual rationale for recommending funding or not. As a result of discussions, ARs may change their recommendations but are not required to do so. Once consensus review panel meetings are completed, final scores and AR recommendations are submitted to the JAC Executive Leadership Team for review and final award determinations.  

Applications that are not unanimously recommended for funding by all ARs require a consensus review panel meeting facilitated by a JAC staff member. During the review panel meeting, each application that was not unanimously recommended for funding is considered with ARs discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the application at issue and their individual rationale for recommending funding or not. As a result of discussions, ARs may change their recommendations and scores but are not required to do so. However, all applications recommended for funding by ARs must receive a score of 80 or above. If an AR, recommends an application for funding however, scores the application below 80, the AR will then be required to change their score or recommendation.   ARs changes to their recommendations and scores must provide justification for the change during the review panel meeting. Immediately following the review panel meeting, ARs must follow up with the review panel facilitator and any changes to the original recommendation and scores must be completed within 24 hours of the review panel meeting. Once consensus review panel meetings are complete, final scores and AR recommendations are submitted to the JAC Executive Leadership Team for review and final award determinations.  

JAC Executive Team Review Process

Once all AR comments, recommendations, scores and any needed consensus meetings are complete, the JAC Executive Team will convene to determine which, if any, of the unanimously recommended applications with an average AR score of 80 or higher will be recommended for a grant award.  Starting with the applications with the highest average AR Score and proceeding in descending order, the Executive Team will first look at how many applications can be awarded at the full amounts proposed until the entire amount appropriated for the NOFO is allocated. That set of applications will then be reviewed collectively and individually for alignment with the purpose of the opportunity. The team may consider factors including but not necessarily limited to: quality and credibility of the experience asserted in the application; inclusion of required services and adherence to program design expectations and guidelines; service spread across Cook County RPSA areas with HRI funding gaps in CVI; and consideration of performance of organizations in past or current awards with the JAC. The JAC Executive Team reserves the right to disqualify favorably reviewed applications at this stage and move to the next application with highest score at its sole discretion, subject to applicable law. 

Award Recommendation and Approval Process 

Once the Executive Team completes their internal review of award recommendations for this NOFO, it will work in collaboration with the GASC leadership team to consider the recommendations and make any adjustments to it for endorsement by the JAC Executive Director. The JAC Executive Director will present these recommended awards to the Cook County Board of Commissioners for approval. 

Executive Summary 

Once the JAC has determined that there are no further awards to be made under a given NOFO, the JAC will formally indicate the closeout of the NOFO by issuing an Executive Summary available to the public. The Executive Summary will be sent to all applicants and posted on the JAC grants website, CookCountyIL.gov/JACGrants.  Executive summaries and all past grant opportunities will be archived on the website for public access.  

Applicant Debriefing Feedback

Applicants interested in receiving feedback on their application can request feedback by following the process outlined in the Executive Summary.  Unless otherwise specified in the Executive Summary, an applicant seeking feedback has no more than 6 months since the issuance of the Executive Summary to request feedback.  Upon request, Grants Management Leadership will arrange a 30-minute virtual meeting with applicants to provide application feedback. At a minimum, provided feedback will include: reviewer recommendations and comments including strengths and weaknesses. Reviewers will not be identified, nor will other applications be specifically discussed. 

Other Items to Consider 

• Upon Board approval of the selected applicants for grant awards, a grant agreement will be prepared and presented to each selected applicant for their review and signature. Applicants should not begin programming until official award notification has been received and the agreement has been fully executed. Expenses incurred outside of the agreement period will not be allowable. 
• The Cook County Justice Advisory Council reserves the right to reject any or all Applications or any part thereof, to waive informalities, and to accept the Application deemed most favorable to the County. 
• The County reserves the right to check references on any projects performed by the applicant whether provided by the applicant or known by the County. 
  • In evaluating applications, the JAC Executive Review Team may consider past performance for Applicants who were prior grant recipients under a Justice Advisory Council Grant. In the event that an organization was designated as “non-compliant”, the JAC may consider this designation in determining whether to award the agency a grant. 

Application Criteria and Scoring

Scoring will be on a 100-point scale, minimum score of 80 points to qualify for consideration for funding. Application Narrative (inclusive of associated attachments) will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Reporting

Upon execution of the grant agreement, reporting shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Grant Agreement and related Exhibits which includes, but is not limited to Monthly fiscal reporting, and quarterly program metrics reports.

Recordkeeping Requirements

The Provider is required to maintain until June 30, 2032, adequate books, all financial records and supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this award, or as required by the applicable grant agreement. If any litigation, claim, or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken.  The Provider agrees to provide or make available all records related to this grant upon request.

Payment Terms

Advance Payment. Awardees may receive advance payment of funding within the first quarter of award of up to 25% of the first year’s budget to assist with project launch.  

Awarding Agency Contact(s)

Point of Contact: Juandalynn Johnson, Grants Management Director, Cook County Justice Advisory Council.

Email Address: JAC.Info@cookcountyIL.gov

Questions and Pre-Submittal Conference 

A virtual pre-submittal conference for potential respondents to this NOFO will be held on July 8, 2026 at 12:00pm Central Time. The conference will cover the NOFO, application submission process and include a formal question-and-answer session. To RSVP, visit CookCountyIL.gov/JACGrants. 

Respondents may also submit questions via email to JAC.Info@cookcountyIL.gov until 5:00pm Central Time on July 15, 2026. 

Clarifications and Addenda 

A “Frequently Asked Questions” document will be posted on the Justice Advisory Council grants website: CookCountyIL.gov/JACGrants. The document will be updated with questions and responses from the Pre-submittal Conference by 2026. Guidance offered in this Q&A document, as well as any notifications offered on the JAC website as to the manner and timing of submission, shall be considered as part of this Request for Qualifications.  It is the responsibility of the respondent to remain advised of any updates.