OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Assistance for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Initative

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, administers grant programs authorized under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This funding opportunity, the Financial Assistance for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Initiative, is designed to provide flexible financial assistance to victims. The program is supported through federal appropriations and reflects OVW’s broader mission to enhance victim safety, promote healing, and improve access to essential services. The primary purpose of this initiative is to provide direct financial assistance to survivors for self-identified needs that may not be easily met through traditional victim service programs. Funds are intended to address urgent and individualized needs such as housing stability, transportation, childcare, medical costs, and other necessities that contribute to a victim’s safety and recovery. The program emphasizes flexibility, allowing service providers to respond quickly and effectively to each survivor’s circumstances without restrictive spending categories. Funding under this opportunity is structured as discretionary grants with a total estimated program funding of 2.5 million dollars and approximately 16 awards anticipated. Individual awards range from 100,000 to 150,000 dollars, with a performance period of 24 months beginning around October 1, 2026. A significant requirement is that at least 85 percent of awarded funds must be used for direct financial assistance to victims. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this program. Eligibility is limited to victim service providers, federally recognized Tribal governments, and Tribal organizations, including nonprofit entities with or without 501(c)(3) status. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to directly administer financial assistance to victims and may not simply pass funds through to other organizations. Faith-based organizations that meet eligibility criteria may apply. Certain disqualifying conditions apply, including financial practices such as holding offshore accounts to avoid taxation. The application process requires a two-step submission. Applicants must first submit the SF-424 form through Grants.gov by June 30, 2026, followed by a complete application submission in JustGrants by July 2, 2026. Required components include a proposal abstract, proposal narrative, budget, and various certifications and disclosures. The proposal narrative is limited to five pages and must address project purpose, implementation strategy, and organizational capacity. Evaluation criteria include the clarity of project goals, feasibility of implementation, organizational experience, and alignment with program priorities. Applications are reviewed through OVW’s discretionary grant review process, which includes responsiveness screening, scoring based on weighted criteria, and risk assessment. OVW may prioritize projects that address underserved communities, including rural and Tribal areas, and those that align with broader public safety priorities such as combating human trafficking. Award notifications are expected by September 30, 2026. For assistance, applicants may contact OVW via email or phone, and technical support is available through Grants.gov and JustGrants help desks. This funding opportunity is not explicitly stated as recurring, though similar initiatives have been offered in prior fiscal years. The timeline for this cycle begins with a release date of June 2, 2026, and concludes with application deadlines at the end of June and early July. The structured submission process, defined evaluation criteria, and emphasis on direct victim impact make this grant a targeted funding mechanism for organizations providing critical support services to survivors of violence.

Ensure proposal narrative clearly aligns goals activities and outcomes with victim needs prioritize direct services and demonstrate organizational capacity follow formatting rules strictly and allocate at least 85 percent of budget to victim assistance