Human Trafficking Programming Competitive Grant Program

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, through its Bureau of Grants and Purchasing, is offering a competitive funding opportunity titled Human Trafficking Programming Competitive. This program is administered at the state level and funded through federal resources under the Victims of Crime Act. The initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of organizations that provide direct services to victims of human trafficking, including both labor and sex trafficking survivors. The department emphasizes a coordinated, trauma-informed approach that supports long-term safety, healing, and recovery for individuals impacted by trafficking. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to enhance or expand existing anti-trafficking services delivered by organizations with a demonstrated track record of working with trafficking survivors. Eligible activities include a wide range of direct services such as crisis intervention, emergency response, advocacy, supportive services, housing assistance including both emergency and transitional housing, counseling and therapy, legal services such as record expungement, and community education or public awareness initiatives. Services must be voluntary, client-centered, culturally responsive, and provided at no cost to the victim. Programs must prioritize empowerment and avoid mandatory participation requirements. Funding for this opportunity totals approximately 2.1 million dollars, with an estimated 10 awards expected. Individual award amounts range from a minimum of 50,000 dollars to a maximum of 375,000 dollars for a 12-month project period. The anticipated performance period runs from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. While the initial funding period includes a full match waiver, future funding cycles may require a 20 percent match in accordance with federal VOCA guidelines. Native American tribal entities are exempt from match requirements under federal rules. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, private and public entities, local health departments, federally recognized tribes or tribal groups, Urban Indian Health Clinic programs, and institutions of higher education. Applicants must demonstrate at least three years of experience providing services to human trafficking victims and must include a letter of support from a local trafficking service provider or collaborative group. Additional eligibility requirements include demonstrating effective service delivery, coordination with community partners, use of volunteers, and provision of services at no cost to clients. The application process is conducted through the EGrAMS online system. Applicants must first register their organization, create a user profile, and submit a Project Director Request by June 18, 2026 to gain access to the application. The final application, including a detailed 12-month budget and all required attachments, must be submitted electronically by June 24, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A pre-application conference is scheduled for June 1, 2026 to provide guidance on the system and application requirements, and a question-and-answer period allows applicants to submit inquiries by June 4, 2026, with responses posted publicly by June 10, 2026. Applications will be evaluated through a competitive scoring process with a maximum of 100 points, and only those scoring at least 80 points will be considered for funding. Evaluation criteria include program implementation, organizational experience, staffing qualifications, training plans, work plan quality, and budget justification. Reviewers also assess factors such as organizational reliability, financial stability, past performance, and ability to meet service requirements. Award notifications are expected by August 14, 2026, with final agreement execution and any required revisions completed shortly thereafter. This funding opportunity is not explicitly described as recurring, but it reflects an ongoing program structure aligned with federal VOCA funding cycles. Organizations interested in applying should carefully review all program requirements, ensure compliance with submission procedures, and prepare comprehensive applications that clearly demonstrate their capacity to deliver high-quality, survivor-centered services to victims of human trafficking across the state of Michigan.

Ensure full compliance with application requirements; clearly demonstrate three years of experience; align responses to scoring criteria; submit complete budget and required documents; emphasize trauma-informed and survivor-centered services