How to Write Effective Public Safety Grants: Key Takeaways and Expert Tips for Law Enforcement Agencies

Writing a winning public safety grant takes more than good intentions — it takes strategy, structure, and the right guidance. That's why LeadsOnline partnered with the Justice Clearinghouse to host From Need to Narrative: Writing Effective Public Safety Grants, a practical webinar designed to help law enforcement agencies and criminal justice organizations secure the funding they need to protect their communities.

Whether you're applying for a Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) grant, a state formula grant, or a foundation award, the fundamentals are the same — and we broke them all down in one actionable session.

What Attendees Said

The response from attendees confirmed just how much this content is needed: "I thought the webinar was very informative and gave a lot of insight. I am just learning, and the information I received today was very helpful."

In our live audience poll, 85% of attendees identified as beginner grant writers — a reminder that this webinar was built for exactly the audience that needs it most.

Meet the Expert: Karen Ziegler

Our presenter, Karen Ziegler, is one of the most credentialed voices in public safety grant management in the country. She brings more than 35 years of experience in criminal justice program administration, budget and finance, and full-cycle grant management. As former Deputy Director and CFO of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, she oversaw more than $50 million in federal, state, and nonprofit grants and led Arizona's Project Safe Neighborhoods gun and gang violence reduction program. Today, she provides grant management and financial consulting to state and local agencies — and she brought all of that expertise directly to this webinar.

Where to Find Public Safety Grant Funding

One of the first hurdles agencies face is simply knowing where to look. Karen walked attendees through the full landscape of funding sources, including:

• Federal discretionary grants — open to a wide range of government entities and available through Grants.gov and the BJA website
• Formula grants — allocated to all 50 states based on data like population or crime statistics, then passed through State Administering Agencies (SAAs) to local partners
• State, tribal, and local government grants — often overlooked but highly accessible for agencies with existing relationships
• Foundation and corporate grants — companies like Walmart and regional businesses actively fund public safety initiatives

Karen also encouraged agencies to think creatively. Because the U.S. Surgeon General has declared gun violence a public health crisis, public health grant programs can be a legitimate and underutilized funding source for gun crime reduction strategies.

One important distinction Karen highlighted: more agencies are eligible to apply for discretionary grants, while most formula grants flow through SAAs and are not open to other agency types. Understanding the difference can save you significant time when evaluating opportunities.

What the Webinar Covers: Grant Writing from Start to Finish

Karen guided attendees through every stage of the public safety grant writing process:

• Decoding a grant solicitation (NOFO/RFP) — eligibility requirements, scoring criteria, match requirements, SAM.gov registration, and the terms and conditions that bind you once you accept an award
• Writing a compelling grant narrative — how to identify and document a community problem with data, propose a clear and measurable solution, and connect your project design directly to the funder's goals and priorities
• Building a compliant grant budget — allowable vs. unallowable costs, how to tie every budget line to your project narrative, and common red flags like supplanting that can disqualify an application
• Using AI tools strategically — how to use AI to improve writing quality, condense content to meet page limits, and better present data — without replacing your own knowledge and expertise
• Setting SMART goals and performance measures — funders want to see specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound objectives with clear data collection plans to demonstrate impact

Common Grant Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Karen was direct about the pitfalls that weaken otherwise strong applications. A few of the most common:

• Continuity — make sure all sections of the application tie together and tell the whole story.
• Self-indicting — don't tell funders what your agency can't do. Focus on the problem and your organization's ability to solve it
• Misaligned budgets — if your narrative requests two technicians, make sure two technicians appear in the budget. Reviewers look for consistency
• Ignoring the scoring rubric — if the problem statement is worth 30 points and the budget is worth 10, allocate your time and attention accordingly
• Submitting at the last minute — grant portals like Grants.gov slow down near deadlines. Aim to submit at least a day early

Planning for Grant Sustainability

Most public safety grants are startup funding — not long-term operational support. Funders want to see that your program will continue after their investment ends. Karen recommended starting budget conversations with your finance team early, building continuation funding into your agency's annual budget request, and exploring fee structures or MOUs with partner agencies who may benefit from your program's resources.

Sustainability planning isn't just good practice — it's often a scored component of your application.

👉 Watch the full webinar recording here.

Need Help Writing Your Next Public Safety Grant?

At LeadsOnline, we don't just connect you with resources — we help you act on them. Our team offers professional grant writing services to help law enforcement agencies and criminal justice organizations develop competitive, compliant proposals. From crafting a data-driven problem statement to building a budget that satisfies federal reviewers, we can support your team at every stage of the process — so you can focus on the mission while we help you secure the funding.

Here is an active opportunity open right now worth exploring.

• FY25 Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative — Bureau of Justice Assistance | Currently accepting applications

Contact us to learn more about our grant writing services.

Don't Miss Our Next Webinar: Turning NIBIN into Action

If reducing gun crime is a priority for your agency, register now for our next webinar on April 22nd:

Turning NIBIN into Action: How CGICs Connect Research, Policy, and Practice to Reduce Gun Crime

Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs) are transforming how agencies use NIBIN ballistic evidence to connect shootings, identify patterns, and drive prosecutions. This webinar will explore how CGICs bridge research, policy, and street-level practice — and deliver measurable reductions in gun violence in communities across the country. If your agency is exploring NIBIN or looking to strengthen your crime gun intelligence strategy, this is a session you won't want to miss.

👉 Register now for the April 22nd webinar — it's free.

LeadsOnline is committed to equipping law enforcement and criminal justice professionals with the tools, training, and resources they need to build safer communities. Explore our full webinar library and professional services at [LeadsOnline.com].