Responsive Services Victims of Crime Grant

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, through its Division of Victim Services, is offering the Responsive Services Victims of Crime grant to expand and strengthen culturally specific and culturally responsive victim services for historically marginalized survivors of crime in Michigan. The program is statewide and is supported by Victims of Crime Act and State Sustainability funding. The stated purpose is to ensure historically marginalized and underserved Michigan communities have access to justice and support. Eligible clients are victims of crime who represent one or more identified populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or communication disabled, and persons with disabilities. Priority funding will be given to culturally specific nonprofit organizations applying to provide a culturally specific victim service program, while MDHHS will also consider geographic diversity and equity. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, private and public entities, federally recognized tribes, groups of federally recognized tribes in Michigan, Urban Indian Health Clinic programs, and universities. Applicants must identify a specific community in their mission or purpose or identify the historically marginalized population to be served and demonstrate a history or capacity to serve the identified population. Organizations must qualify as either culturally specific or culturally responsive under the GFO definitions. Applicants must also demonstrate at least two years of experience providing services to victims of crime. Applicants proposing substantially out-of-scope services, research projects other than internal program assessments, batterer intervention projects, inpatient treatment or services, or services that do not address an eligible historically marginalized population are ineligible. Only one application may be submitted by an applicant, and current State of Michigan employees may not apply. Eligible services include Temporary Emergency Housing, Individual and Group Support, Counseling and Therapy, Emergency Intervention Services, Advocacy and Supportive Services, Systems Change, and Community Education and Public Awareness. Grant funds may not be used for specified unallowable expenses including direct cash assistance to victims, most medical costs, perpetrator rehabilitation or services, unrelated substance abuse counseling, alcoholic beverages, entertainment, construction and capital improvements, land acquisition or mortgage payments, expenses outside the grant period, fundraising and grant writing, inherently religious activities, applicant legal fees, lobbying, needs assessments and research studies, state and local taxes, specified food costs, development of written materials, generalized statewide training unless specifically required, or promotional items. Services to victims must be provided at no charge. Successful applicants must also comply with VOCA requirements concerning volunteers, community coordination, and assistance with crime victim compensation. At the time of release, the Division of Victim Services had received a full VOCA match waiver, so no applicant match is currently required. Approximately $5,129,000 is available collectively for the Responsive Services Victims of Crime and Underserved Crime Categories funding opportunities being conducted simultaneously. For RSVOC, the stated minimum award is $25,000, the maximum award is $750,000, and the GFO identifies an estimated 25 awards. The performance period is January 1, 2027 through September 30, 2027, and applicants must submit a completed nine-month budget. Costs incurred before issuance of an agreement are not the responsibility of the State. Subcontractors are subject to the conditions of the resulting agreement, and subcontracted services of $24,999 or more require a subcontractor budget and statement of work. Successful applicants must use appropriately credentialed or trained staff and comply with the performance, reporting, and program-specific requirements incorporated into the award. Applications must be submitted electronically through the EGrAMS system. Applicants new to EGrAMS must register their agency and create a user profile, and all applicants must submit a Project Director Request by August 21, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST to gain application access. New applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier registered through SAM.gov and a Vendor Customer Number through the SIGMA Vendor Self Service system. The Authorized Official must electronically submit the application and related materials through EGrAMS by August 27, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EST. The application includes program implementation narratives, a proposal abstract of no more than 250 words, geographic service area information, identification of culturally specific or culturally responsive status, descriptions of the problem and target population needs, proposed service projections, survivor and community feedback processes, collaboration plans, experience and past performance information, staff position descriptions, a training plan, work plan, and nine-month budget. Required uploads include the federal 501(c)(3) determination letter where applicable, the most recent Form 990, management letter and corrective action if applicable, mission and philosophy statements, a Volunteer Waiver Request if applicable, and an agency-wide organization chart. Applications are evaluated on a 100-point scale, and only applications scoring at least 80 points are eligible for funding. Program Implementation is worth 35 points, Experience and Past Performance 25 points, Education, Credentials and Qualifications 5 points, Staffing and Training 10 points, Work Plan 10 points, and Budget 15 points. A committee will review, evaluate, score, and rank applications, and MDHHS may also consider reliability, past performance, responsiveness to GFO requirements, service accessibility, financial stability, continuity of services, and knowledge transfer activities. The optional pre-application conference was scheduled for August 7, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. EST. Questions concerning the GFO were due to MDHHS-DVS@michigan.gov by August 11, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST, with answers scheduled for posting August 13, 2026. EGrAMS technical assistance is available until August 27, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EST through the EGrAMS Helpdesk at 517-335-3359. Award or denial notifications are scheduled for October 16, 2026, followed by an awarded-grant modification deadline of October 23, 2026. The GFO does not establish a recurring application cycle, although MDHHS may renew an awarded agreement at its discretion in writing.

Target at least the 80-point funding threshold and respond directly to every scored review criterion. Clearly demonstrate the problem in the proposed geographic area and how the project addresses it. Show that culturally specific or culturally responsive status matches the GFO definitions. Make service projections reasonable relative to requested funding and staffing. Align position titles across the narrative budget and organization chart. Ensure work-plan objectives activities staff timelines outcomes measurements and budget are internally consistent. Culturally specific nonprofit organizations proposing culturally specific victim services receive funding priority and MDHHS will consider geographic diversity and equity.