Victims of Crime Act Assistance Formula Grant Program

The Victims of Crime Act Assistance Formula Grant Program is administered in Kentucky by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet through its Grants Management Division. This funding originates from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, and is distributed at the state level through subawards to eligible entities. The program is designed to provide direct assistance to victims of crime and to strengthen the infrastructure of victim services across the Commonwealth. It operates as both a formula and competitive funding opportunity, ensuring that established service networks and new or unaffiliated providers can access funding. The primary purpose of this grant program is to support comprehensive services for victims of crime. These services include crisis counseling, emotional and psychological support, legal assistance, advocacy, shelter, transportation, and referrals. Funding may also be used to develop new programs addressing gaps in services, enhance coordination across agencies, and train service providers. Priority is given to organizations serving victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, while additional attention is given to underserved populations such as elderly victims, survivors of homicide, and victims of financial or substance-related crimes. Funding is distributed through subawards ranging from twenty one thousand dollars to seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, with an anticipated total program funding of sixteen million dollars. The program is structured into two rounds: a noncompetitive formula round for coalition-affiliated organizations and a competitive round for other eligible applicants. The performance period for awarded projects is twelve months, beginning July 1 and ending June 30 of the following year. Funds are provided on a reimbursement basis, requiring recipients to submit quarterly financial reports and maintain compliance with federal and state financial management standards. Eligibility for this program includes units of state and local government, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. Eligible applicants must demonstrate the ability to deliver direct victim services and comply with federal regulations governing the use of funds. Subrecipients are prohibited from generating profit from the grant and must adhere to strict guidelines regarding allowable and unallowable costs. Additionally, applicants must meet administrative requirements such as maintaining financial records, complying with procurement standards, and ensuring civil rights compliance. The application process requires submission through the Intelligrants system by specified deadlines. Applicants must complete detailed components including agency information, project narrative, budget, and supporting documentation. The proposal narrative must outline the problem being addressed, the design and implementation of the project, and the organization’s capacity to carry out the work. Applicants must also provide performance measures, evaluation plans, and documentation of partnerships such as memorandums of understanding. Applications are reviewed through a structured scoring process, and final award decisions are subject to approval by the Office of the Governor. The timeline for this funding opportunity includes two application rounds, with deadlines in January and February. Award notifications are expected by April 1, followed by a project start date of July 1. Reporting requirements include quarterly financial and performance reports, as well as compliance with federal performance measurement tools. The program is recurring annually, reflecting its status as a federal formula grant distributed by the state. Applicants may contact the Grants Management Division or designated program staff for technical assistance and application support.

Ensure strict compliance with VOCA regulations and provide detailed, data-supported narratives with clear performance measures and strong community partnerships