The mission of the funder is to improve the administration of justice in state courts nationwide.
The Strategic Initiatives Grants (SIG) program is designed to give the State Justice Institute (SJI) the ability to rapidly address emerging issues within national courts and develop effective solutions. This innovative approach leverages both SJI's expertise and that of its grantees to tackle crucial challenges facing state courts in the U.S. The program emphasizes the importance of addressing current national court issues through innovative projects with the potential to significantly impact the court community. Grant applications are evaluated based on several criteria, including the project's goals and objectives, the need for the project, its level of innovation, potential impact, and the qualifications of the project management consultants. This program supports a wide range of applicants, including state and local courts, national court support organizations, non-court government entities, and others eligible under SJI's legislation, focusing on projects that could also benefit federal courts or help enforce federal legal requirements.