Federal S.T.O.P. Violence Against Women Grant

The Federal Services Training Officers Prosecutors (S.T.O.P.) Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grant supports the development and implementation of strategies aimed at reducing violent crimes against women and improving victim services. Originating from the 1995 Violence Against Women Act and its subsequent reauthorizations, the S.T.O.P. VAWA Grant is administered at the state level by the Kansas Governor’s Grants Program (KGGP). For the 2026 cycle, approximately $3.75 million is available to support a one-year grant period from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Applications must be submitted via the Grant Portal by 11:59 p.m. on November 25, 2025. The program's primary goals are to enhance law enforcement and prosecution responses, support victim services, and foster coordinated community efforts addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Grant allocations are statutorily mandated: at least 25% to law enforcement, 25% to prosecution, 5% to courts, and 30% to nonprofit victim service organizations, with the remaining 15% awarded at KGGP’s discretion within federal guidelines. At least 10% of victim service funding must support culturally specific community-based organizations, and 20% of total funds must be allocated to projects that meaningfully address sexual assault. Eligible applicants include units of state or local government, federally recognized Native American tribes, and nonprofit or faith-based organizations registered in Kansas. A 25% non-federal cash or in-kind match is required for all applicants except tribes and victim service organizations receiving funds from the 30% allocation. Funding may be used for a wide range of activities, including training, policy development, legal assistance, coordinated community response, and specialized services for underserved populations. However, several activities are explicitly unallowable, such as lobbying, construction, and projects not directly targeting the grant’s focus populations. Applicants must submit several required documents, including a Project Narrative of up to 10 pages, budget forms, agency budgets, and documentation of consultation with victim service organizations (for law enforcement, prosecution, or court applicants). The narrative must cover problem statements, goals, objectives, evaluation plans, sustainability, community coordination, and strategies for serving underserved populations. A strong emphasis is placed on aligning projects with the Kansas Implementation Plan’s priorities and on demonstrating community collaboration and cultural competence. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with the Kansas Implementation Plan, history of program success, quality of proposed services, clarity of objectives, evaluation metrics, and compliance with all submission requirements. KGGP may use a grant review committee to assess applications. Award notifications will be communicated through the Grant Portal. For assistance, applicants may contact KGGP at 785-291-3205 or email kggp@ks.gov. Applicants are advised to review portal instructions after November 1, 2025.

Align with Kansas Implementation Plan; avoid supplanting; clearly demonstrate coordinated and culturally specific services; incomplete applications are deprioritized.