Victims of Crime Act (Basic Services - Noncompetitive Only)

The 2025 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Grant Program, administered by the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission (GCC) within the Department of Public Safety, provides federal financial support to organizations that offer direct services to victims of crime. Funding is made available by the U.S. Department of Justice through the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) under CFDA #16.575. The VOCA program is designed to support and expand services that address the immediate and long-term needs of crime victims, helping them to stabilize their lives, regain a sense of security, and participate in the criminal justice process when desired. This program supports a wide range of services including crisis intervention, therapy, advocacy, safety planning, emergency shelter, transportation assistance, legal advocacy, and assistance with filing victim compensation claims. Funding is intended to supplement existing services, not supplant local or state resources. Programs are required to follow VOCA rules for allowable costs, such as ensuring services are trauma-informed, culturally competent, and accessible to underserved and marginalized populations. Eligible applicants include nonprofit victim service organizations, tribal entities, governmental agencies, and faith-based groups that demonstrate a history of providing effective services to victims of crime. All applicants must provide services at no cost to the victim and must have established policies in place to ensure confidentiality, non-discrimination, and service quality. Organizations must also comply with the DOJ’s financial and administrative guidelines, including 2 C.F.R. § 200, and maintain active registration in SAM.gov with a valid UEI. Applications must be submitted via the Enterprise Business Services (EBS) portal, which requires prior NCID registration and approval through the External Access Request system. Required components include a project narrative, goals and objectives, performance measures, detailed budget, organizational policies, contracts, MOUs, and signed certifications. For this funding cycle, awards are capped at $800,000 per organization for a 24-month performance period beginning January 1, 2027, and ending December 31, 2028. VOCA funds may be used for salaries, equipment, training, outreach, and some operational costs, though restrictions apply. Certain costs such as lobbying, capital expenses, and fundraising are prohibited. Applications are due by January 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. While the program does not require cost-matching for 2025 due to waivers granted under federal regulation, future cycles may reinstate the requirement. Awards will be made competitively, based on criteria including alignment with VOCA purpose areas, demonstrated need, organizational capacity, service area demographics, and collaboration with other agencies. All subrecipients are expected to submit quarterly financial reports and semiannual performance reports. A mandatory grantee workshop will be held in September 2026 to onboard selected applicants. This opportunity is non-recurring, with no assurance of future funding rounds under the same terms. Prospective applicants should treat this as a one-time opportunity to secure resources for enhancing their services to crime victims, especially in communities disproportionately affected by violence and systemic barriers.

Align with VOCA purpose areas; avoid supplanting funds; demonstrate trauma-informed, culturally competent service delivery.