RPSA Peacekeepers Program
Funds nonprofit hubs to lead evidence-based violence prevention by training and deploying Peacekeepers as interrupters in high-risk Chicago and suburban Cook County communities.
Funder: Illinois Department of Human Services
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Full application) | March 2027 (Final written questions)
Funding Amounts: ~$30,000,000 total; anticipated award size $12M–$15M per provider for 12–15 communities; up to 2 awards; 18-month program with potential for two 1-year renewals.
Summary: Funds large nonprofit organizations to serve as hubs for recruiting, training, and supporting community-based violence interrupters in high-violence Chicago and suburban Cook County areas, with a pathway to permanent employment for participants.
Key Information: Applicants must demonstrate fiscal capacity to cover ~$2.5M in advance expenses and have 3+ years of street intervention experience.
Description
This program supports large-scale, evidence-based violence prevention efforts in Chicago and suburban Cook County through a hub-and-spoke model. Selected nonprofit "hub" organizations will sub-award funds to community-based "spoke" organizations to recruit, train, and deploy local residents—Peacekeepers—as violence interrupters in high-risk areas. Peacekeepers receive stipends and participate in an 18-month phased career pathway, including foundational training, professional development, and transition to permanent employment with industry-recognized credentials. The program emphasizes trauma-informed supports, strong workforce and education partnerships, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation. Providers are responsible for fiscal and program oversight, ensuring equity, inclusion, and collaboration among subrecipients and stakeholders.
