Victims of Child Abuse and Neglect Initiative Grant Program

The Victims of Child Abuse and Neglect Initiative is administered by the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy within the Washington State Department of Commerce. Established to serve as a voice for crime victims within state government, the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy is responsible for administering grant funds, supporting community-based victim service programs, and advising public agencies on policies that affect victims. This funding opportunity is supported through the federal Victims of Crime Act and is designed to strengthen services for vulnerable populations, specifically children who have experienced abuse or neglect. The purpose of this grant is to fund direct service programs that address the unmet or insufficient needs of child victims of abuse and neglect. The initiative prioritizes proposals that expand or enhance services in areas where gaps currently exist. Funded projects must focus on delivering direct services to children, including emotional, psychological, and physical support, assistance with stabilization following victimization, and support for navigating civil and criminal justice systems. The program recognizes that recovery from trauma requires a broad and flexible approach and allows for a wide range of service models tailored to community-specific needs. Funding is available for a 24-month period beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2028. Applicants may request up to 75,000 dollars per year, for a maximum total award of 150,000 dollars over the full grant period. The total program funding available is estimated at 1,566,064 dollars. Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis, requiring grantees to submit invoices through an online contract management system. Allowable uses of funds include a wide range of direct services and emergency financial assistance for clients, such as food, clothing, and educational support items, provided these expenses contribute to the client’s well-being. Certain costs are explicitly prohibited, including capital expenses, fundraising activities, most medical costs, and criminal justice system operations such as investigations or prosecutions. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is highly restricted. Only organizations that have previously received funding under the Victims of Child Abuse and Neglect grant are eligible to apply. These organizations must be operated by a state or local government, nonprofit organization, or tribal entity, must provide services to victims of crime, and must demonstrate organizational capacity and a history of effective service delivery. Applicants must also have a substantial operating presence within Washington State and must provide services within the state. Additionally, applicants are required to meet federal VOCA requirements, including a standard 20 percent match contribution from non-federal sources, although match waivers may be requested. The application process requires submission of a complete proposal package via email in PDF or Excel format by April 20, 2026 at 12:00 PM Pacific Time. The process includes a question and answer period, a bidder’s conference held on March 23, 2026, and a formal evaluation period following submission. Applications are reviewed for responsiveness and then evaluated competitively based on criteria such as the strength of the proposed service strategy, alignment of the budget with activities, and the applicant’s organizational capacity. Proposals must achieve a minimum score threshold to be considered for funding, and final award decisions also consider geographic distribution and service coverage. Applicants must comply with extensive reporting and operational requirements if awarded funding. These include quarterly data reporting, semi-annual narrative reports, adherence to confidentiality standards, and completion of background checks for personnel working with vulnerable populations. The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy also conducts compliance monitoring throughout the grant period. Successful applicants are expected to begin funded activities on July 1, 2026, with award notifications anticipated in late May 2026 following the evaluation process.

Ensure proposal clearly demonstrates service gaps and aligns budget with activities focus on direct services and organizational capacity