2025
Columbus Office of Crime Prevention

Crime Prevention Grant Program Application Guidance Kit


Deadline March 31, 2025

Office of Crime Prevention
420 Tenth Street
2nd Floor, Government Annex Building
Columbus, Georgia 31901
(706) 225-4615

Mayor B.H. “Skip” Henderson III
Seth Brown, Director Office of Crime Prevention

- 1 -

Thank you for applying for the Crime Prevention Grant (CPG) from the Columbus Office of Crime Prevention (COCP) . COCP has established CPG to help agencies and not for profit organizations to fight and prevent crime within our communities. We invite agencies and not for profit organizations to submit innovative applications that target specific areas of need. Your completed application should illustrate your plan in meeting the mission of COCP – to make Columbus the safest city in America.

I hope our office becomes a valuable resource for your organization as we strive to deliver our services in a customer friendly fashion. If you need application assistance, contact Seth Brown at (706)-225-4615.

We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Seth Brown
Director
Office of Crime Prevention

- 2 -

Purpose

The purpose of the Columbus Office of Crime Prevention (COCP) grant is to provide “seed money” for community or government based organizations to initiate or continue grassroots crime prevention programs. COCP seeks applicants with innovative ideas that enhance or improve public safety and/or reduce or prevent crime in Muscogee County.

Funding Priorities

Highest priority will be given to request that are comprehensive in scope, employ best practices, pursue long-term positive results, and have tangible results capable of being benchmarked.

1. Programs that enhance crime prevention activities in geographic areas known to have a higher incidence of crime than other parts of the county.
2. Programs that provide a direct crime prevention service to Muscogee County.
3. Programs that are aimed at reducing the juvenile crime rate or the juvenile recidivism rate.
4. Programs that are aimed at reducing the recidivism rate of former incarcerated individuals.
5. Programs that offer meaningful intervention services as a method of reducing crime.

- 3 -

Mandatory Applicant Criteria

1. The organization, (units of local government, public education institutions, civic organizations or religious organizations), must be organized to serve within the Muscogee County borders.
2. The organization must have its Board of Directors or voting membership vote on and approve the grant application before submission.
3. The organization must show that is has the capacity and planning skills to complete the project successfully.
4. The grant recipients must provide at least 10% of project cost.
5. The organization must have a committee of volunteers and/or staff in place to carry out the project.
6. The grant application must include a detailed budget for the project.
7. Every organization involved must have a 501c3 status and subit a copy of the IRS letter or be a government agency of the CCG.
8. Every organization involved must submit a copy of their W-9 and current 990. They must also supply a Business License if they have one.
9. You must turn in 1 original placed in a 3 ring binder
10. You must email an electronic copy to SethBrown@columbusga.org. The emailed copy must be in Microsoft Word format, not a PDF.
11. With your application include a separate precisely detailed budget of your program.
12. All applications become the property of the Office of Crime prevention and will not be returned.

What activities are not elligible for funding?

1. Support for fund-raising events.
2. Debt or deficit reduction.
3. Political campaigns.
4. Memorials or religious ativities (faith-based organizations are encouraged to apply for funding for pojects that extend crime prevention services into the community).
5. Grants to individuals.
6. Trips outside of Muscogee County
7. Rent or Mortgage
8. Capital expenditures, if you have questions about this item, please consult the Director.

- 4 -