About OVW Grant Programs | Formula Grant Programs | Discretionary Grant Programs
Formerly Authorized Grant Programs
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) currently administers 24 grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 and subsequent legislation. Four programs are "formula," meaning the enacting legislation specifies how the funds are to be distributed. The remaining 20 programs, including six formerly authorized programs that still have open and/or active grants, are "discretionary," meaning OVW is responsible for creating program parameters, qualifications, eligibility, and deliverables in accordance with authorizing legislation. These grant programs are designed to develop the nation's capacity to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by strengthening services to victims and holding offenders accountable.
Download the List of OVW Grant Programs (PDF)
- STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program
- Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program
- State and Territorial Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program
- Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program
- Consolidated Grant Program to Address Children and Youth Experiencing Domestic and Sexual Assault and Engage Men and Boys as Allies
- Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program
- Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program
- Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program
- Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations
- Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program
- Grants to Support Families in the Justice System
- Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program
- Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Assistance Program
- Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program
- Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program
- Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault Program
- Tribal Governments Program*
- Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program
Formerly Authorized Grant Programs
- Court Training and Improvements Program^
- Engaging Men in Preventing Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program+
- Grants to Assist Children and Youth Exposed to Violence Program+
- Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program^
- Services to Advocate for and Respond to Youth Grant Program+
- Services, Training, Education and Policies to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking in Secondary Schools Grant Program+
* Applications for the Tribal Governments Program are submitted through the DOJ Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation.
+ Activities previously funded by these grant programs are supported by the Consolidated Youth Program.
^ Activities previously funded by these programs are supported by the Grants to Support Families in the Justice System.
@ OVW administers the Technical Assistance Program to provide OVW grantees with the training, expertise, and problem-solving strategies they need to meet the challenges of addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. OVW’s technical assistance projects offer in-person and online educational opportunities, peer-to-peer consultations, site visits and tailored assistance for OVW grantees and potential grantees.
Download the OVW Grant Programs Fact Sheet (PDF)
Formula Grant Programs
STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program, awarded to states and territories, enhances the capacity of local communities to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women. Each state and territory must allocate 25 percent for law enforcement, 25 percent for prosecutors, 30 percent for victim services (of which at least 10 percent must be distributed to culturally specific community-based organizations), 5 percent to state and local courts, and 15 percent for discretionary distribution.
Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program is the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. The SASP Formula Grant Program directs grant dollars to states and territories to assist them in supporting rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations or tribal programs that provide services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. Funds provided through SASP are designed to supplement other funding sources directed at addressing sexual assault on the state and territorial level.
State and Territorial Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program provides grants to each state domestic violence coalition (determined by the Department of Health and Human Services) and sexual assault coalition (determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) for the purposes of coordinating victim services activities and collaborating and coordinating with federal, state, and local entities engaged in addressing violence against women. Statewide sexual assault coalitions provide direct support to member rape crisis centers through funding, training and technical assistance, public awareness activities, and public policy advocacy. Statewide domestic violence coalitions provide comparable support to member battered women’s shelters and other domestic violence victim service providers.
Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program supports the development and operation of nonprofit, nongovernmental tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions. Tribal coalitions provide education, support, and technical assistance to member Indian service providers and tribes to enhance their response to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Eligible applicants must meet the statutory definition of a “tribal coalition.”
Discretionary Grant Programs
Consolidated Grant Program to Address Children and Youth Experiencing Domestic and Sexual Assault and Engage Men and Boys as Allies+ creates a unique opportunity for communities to increase collaboration among non-profit victim service providers, violence prevention programs, and child and youth organizations serving victims ages 0-24. Additionally, it supports organizations and programs that promote boys’ and men’s role in combating violence against women and girls. Eligible applicants are nonprofit, nongovernmental entities, Indian tribes or tribal nonprofit organizations, and territorial, tribal or unit of local government entities.
Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program addresses elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, against victims who are 50 years of age or older through training and services. Eligible applicants include states and territories, Indian tribal governments and tribal organizations, units of local government, and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services organizations with demonstrated experience in assisting elderly women or demonstrated experience in addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program encourages state, local, and tribal governments and state, local, and tribal courts to treat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law requiring the coordinated involvement of the entire criminal justice system. Eligible applicants are states and territories, units of local government, Indian tribal governments, and state, local, tribal, and territorial courts.
Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program supports the development of innovative culturally specific strategies and projects to enhance access to services and resources for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Eligible applicants are community-based programs whose primary purpose is providing culturally specific services.
Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations supports the development and implementation of strategies targeted at adult or youth victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking in underserved populations, and victim services to meet the needs of such populations. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations that serve populations traditionally underserved due to geographic location, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, underserved racial and ethnic populations, and populations underserved because of special needs (such as language barriers, disabilities, alienage status, or age).
Grants to Reduce Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking on Campus Program strengthens the response of institutions of higher education to the crimes of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking on campuses and enhances collaboration among campuses, local law enforcement, and victim advocacy organizations. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education.
Grants to Support Families in the Justice System^ improves the response of all aspects of the civil and criminal justice system to families with a history of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, or in cases involving allegations of child sexual abuse. Eligible applicants are states, units of local government, courts, Indian tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, legal services providers, and victim services providers.
Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program strengthens civil and criminal legal assistance programs for adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters relating to or arising out of that abuse or violence. Eligible applicants include private nonprofit entities, territorial organizations, Indian tribal governments and tribal organizations, and publicly funded organizations not acting in a governmental capacity, such as law schools.
Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Assistance Program enhances the safety of rural victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, and supports projects uniquely designed to address and prevent these crimes in rural areas. Eligible applicants are states, territories, Indian tribes, local governments, and nonprofit entities, including tribal nonprofit organizations.
Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program creates, maintains, and expands sustainable sexual assault services provided by organizations that are uniquely situated to respond to the needs of sexual assault victims from culturally specific populations. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations that focus primarily on culturally specific communities.
Training and Services to End Violence Against Women with Disabilities Grant Program establishes and strengthens multidisciplinary collaborative relationships and increases organizational capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. Eligible applicants are states, units of local governments, Indian tribal governments or tribal organizations, victim services providers, and nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations serving individuals with disabilities.
Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, or Sexual Assault Program funds organizations to assist victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking who are in need of transitional housing, short-term housing assistance, and related supportive services. Eligible applicants are states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and other organizations with a documented history of effective work concerning sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Tribal Governments Program enhances the ability of tribes to respond to violent crimes against Indian women, enhance victim safety, and develop education and prevention strategies. Eligible applicants are federally-recognized tribes or an organization that is acting as the authorized designee of a federally-recognized Indian tribe. Applications for the Tribal Governments Program are submitted through the DOJ Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation.
Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program enhances the ability of tribes to respond to violent crimes against Indian women, enhance victim safety, and develop education and prevention strategies. Eligible applicants are federally-recognized tribes or an organization that is acting as the authorized designee of a federally-recognized Indian tribe.
Formerly Authorized Grant Programs
Court Training and Improvements Program^ supports federal, state, territorial, and tribal courts or court-based programs that improve court responses to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking cases by using proven specialized court processes to ensure victim safety and offender accountability.
Engaging Men and Youth Program+ supports projects that create public education campaigns and community organizing to encourage men and boys to work as allies with women and girls to prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
Grants to Assist Children and Youth Exposed to Violence Program+ increases resources, services, and advocacy available to children, youth and their nonabusing parent or caretaker, when a child has been exposed to incidences of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.
Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program^ supports supervised visitation and safe exchange of children in situations involving domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, child abuse, or stalking.
Services to Advocate for and Respond to Youth Grant Program+ provides direct counseling, advocacy, legal advocacy, and mental health services for youth victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, as well as linguistically, culturally, or community relevant services for underserved youth populations.
Services, Training, Education and Policies to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking in Secondary Schools Grant Program+ supports middle and high schools with the development and implementation of effective training, services, prevention strategies, policies, and coordinated community responses for student victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking.
* Applications for the Tribal Governments Program are submitted through the DOJ Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation.
+ Activities previously funded by these grant programs are supported by the Consolidated Youth Program.
^ Activities previously funded by these programs are supported by the Grants to Support Families in the Justice System.
@ OVW administers the Technical Assistance Program to provide OVW grantees with the training, expertise, and problem-solving strategies they need to meet the challenges of addressing sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. OVW’s technical assistance projects offer in-person and online educational opportunities, peer-to-peer consultations, site visits and tailored assistance for OVW grantees and potential grantees.