OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program

The Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program is administered by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), a component of the United States Department of Justice. OVW is responsible for implementing programs authorized under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which are designed to improve responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and related offenses. This specific funding opportunity supports federally recognized Indian Tribal governments and their authorized partners in strengthening justice systems and victim services within Tribal communities. The program reflects a federal commitment to addressing violence against Native women through culturally appropriate, community-driven strategies that align with Tribal law and governance structures. The purpose of this program is to enhance the ability of Tribal governments to respond effectively to crimes of violence against women. Funding supports a wide range of activities, including developing governmental strategies for prevention and prosecution, increasing tribal capacity for law enforcement and judicial processes, strengthening tribal justice systems, and improving services for victims. Additional allowable uses include education and prevention initiatives, supervised visitation programs, transitional housing support, legal assistance for victims, youth-focused services, and the development of policies related to missing or murdered Indigenous persons. These activities must be aligned with statutory requirements and demonstrate a clear connection to improving safety and justice outcomes in Tribal communities. The total estimated program funding is 42,000,000 dollars, with approximately 50 awards anticipated. Individual awards range from 300,000 dollars to 900,000 dollars and are intended to support projects over a 36-month performance period beginning around October 1, 2026. Funds must be used for allowable costs that are reasonable, necessary, and allocable to the project. Applicants are required to allocate at least 20,000 dollars for travel related to training and technical assistance. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this program, which reduces financial barriers for eligible applicants. Eligibility is limited to federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, authorized designees of such governments, and Tribal consortia. Applicants must demonstrate collaboration with nonprofit or nongovernmental Indian victim service providers or community members during the development of their proposal. Additional requirements include submission of a Tribal resolution or equivalent documentation authorizing the application when applicable. Organizations with existing funding under the same program may apply, but those with sufficient remaining funds may be deprioritized. Certain disqualifying factors apply, including financial practices that violate federal tax provisions. The application process consists of a two-step submission. First, applicants must submit the SF-424 form through Grants.gov by September 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Second, the full application must be submitted through JustGrants by September 3, 2026 at 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Required components include a proposal narrative, budget, and several supporting documents such as a summary data sheet, confidentiality notice form, and certification regarding out-of-scope activities. The proposal narrative must follow strict formatting guidelines and address project purpose, implementation plan, and organizational capacity. Applications are evaluated based on these sections, with weighted scoring assigned to each component. OVW reviews applications through a structured process that includes responsiveness screening, peer review, and risk assessment. Evaluation criteria focus on the clarity of project goals, feasibility of proposed activities, qualifications of staff and partners, and alignment with program priorities. OVW may prioritize projects that address public safety concerns such as human trafficking or that strengthen criminal justice responses in rural or Tribal communities. Final funding decisions are made by a designated official, and applicants can expect notification by the end of September 2026. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact OVW via email or phone. Technical support is also available through Grants.gov and JustGrants help desks. This program is expected to recur annually, reflecting ongoing federal investment in addressing violence against women in Tribal communities. Applicants are encouraged to begin preparation early, including registration in required systems and coordination with community partners, to ensure timely and complete submission.

Align proposal clearly with criminal justice outcomes and OVW priority areas; ensure collaboration documentation is strong; follow narrative formatting rules strictly for scoring advantage