Conflict Resolution Initiative for Students and Youth – Jan 9

Posted by Association for Conflict Resolution on December 2, 2025

Association for Conflict Resolution invites applications for education, training

The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) has announced the 2026 JAMS Foundation-ACR Initiative for Students and Youth, which will provide financial support for conflict resolution education and training (CRE) for PK-12 students and youth.

Populations to be served by the funding streams will be both youth in the PK-12 age range and adults working with these youth populations in ways that directly transfer CRE skills for adults to the youth populations.

The 2026 funding focus supports the work at the intersection of culture and conflict. This funding track will implement and evaluate the effectiveness of conflict resolution skills in navigating multicultural environments among middle school youth, grades 5 to 9 or a subset thereof. Culture is defined as a set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize an institution or organization. The intent is to foster changes in school or school district policy by employing conflict resolution approaches to improve students’ peaceful interactions with their peers (primary), school personnel (secondary), and in their home environment (tertiary).

Requests for year-one funding may be up to $20,000, of the potential two-year funding cycle. While the proposed projects are two-year projects, decisions on funding for a second year will be contingent on evidence of benchmark accomplishments at the end of the first year of funding with a focus on the integration of the new service or expansion of the current services. For those who may seek a second year of funding, those requests may be for up to $40,000.

Eligible organizations include nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies working in conjunction with nonprofit educational institutions or organizations.

An informational conference call will be held December 1, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. ET. Attendance is strongly advised but is not mandatory to apply.

Interested organizations or individuals are required to submit a one- to three-page initial project idea description by January 9, 2026, to grants@acrnet.org. The review committee will notify applicants if they have been selected to develop a full proposal for submission and review by February 20, 2026, with full proposals due May 4, 2026.

For complete program guidelines, application instructions, and to register for the conference call, see the Association for Conflict Resolution website.

Deadline: January 9, 2026 (Initial project ideas)