The Restorative Practices Initiative Grant Program is an initiative from the Office of Restorative Practices. It aims to promote initiatives statewide that create new restorative practice programs or currently have programs in place.

The Restorative Practices Initiatives Grant Program is intended to support programs that are grounded in the following core values of restorative practices.

Restorative practices are rooted in community values and aim to produce meaningful outcomes, which may include:

• Repair of harm: Addressing and making amends for the impact of the harm
• Restoration: Addressing the needs of the people who were harmed
• Community healing: Strengthening community bonds and accountability for addressing underlying issues that contribute to conflict
• Personal accountability and growth: As much as possible the person who caused harm takes responsibility, develops empathy, apologizes, makes reparations, implements steps to not reoffend and does not reoffend
• Preventing harm: Reducing the likelihood of harm by addressing root causes and fostering healthy relationships

Restorative practices can encompass various methods that include but are not limited to:

• Restorative conferences: Meetings where people who caused harm and those who were harmed discuss the impact of the harm and agree on steps to address it
• Family group conferences: Gatherings that include family members of people who caused harmed and people who were harmed to develop a plan for addressing the consequences of the harm
• Circles: Structured open dialogue among all stakeholders to resolve conflicts and promote healing
• Community conferences: Broadly inclusive meetings involving community members to  address issues of harm and develop collective solutions
• Victim impact panels: People who have caused harm participate in awareness and empathy building processes.  Then a panel of people who have experienced harms similar to those caused by the participants, tell the ripple effect of the harm they experienced.  Opportunity for interactions are facilitated after the panel's presentations

Restorative practices can be implemented at different stages:

• To prevent court involvement: As a proactive measure to build belonging, connection and engagement and address conflicts that reduces the need for legal action
• In lieu of court involvement: To resolve issues and repair harm in school, home or community settings without legal proceedings
• During or after court involvement: To support rehabilitation and repair alongside or as part of court processes

To receive notice when the request for proposals are available, register at Office of Justice Programs Updates.

For more detailed information, see the Office of Restorative Practices Statute.

A request for proposals was distributed on Oct. 1.

Available funding

The RFP offers grants of up to $500,000. Up to $8 million is available for grants to establish and support restorative practices initiatives pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 299A.95, subdivision 6, and for a restitution grant program under Minnesota Laws of 2024, Chapter 123, article 9.

Applicants may propose funding up to $500,000. Up to 15 percent of an applicant’s budget may be requested for restitution grants.

Minimum number applications

Minnesota Statute 299A.95 requires the Office of Restorative Practices to establish a minimum number of applications that must be received during the application process. If the minimum number of applications is not received, the office must reopen the application process. 

For the purposes of this RFP, the minimum number of applications is five.​

Project dates

The grant period for the awarded grants will be approximately 15 months, beginning on or around April 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Eligible applicants

Grants will be awarded to private and public nonprofit agencies; local units of government, including cities, counties, and townships; local educational agencies; and Tr​ibal governments. A restorative practices advisory committee may support multiple entities applying for grants based on community needs, the number of youth and families in the jurisdiction, and the number of restorative practices available to the community.​

Due date

Dec. 6, 2024, by 4 p.m. 

Read the full RFP

2025 Restorative Practices Initiatives Grant Program: Request for proposals (RFP)

Questions and answers

Answers to submitted questions are posted on below.

Restorative Practices Advisory Committee (RPAC) information

Find current committees or submit contact information for a committee.