OVC FY25 Services for Victims of Human Trafficking

The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, is offering a funding opportunity designed to support and expand services for victims of human trafficking across the United States and its territories. Through this program, titled "Services for Victims of Human Trafficking," the OVC aims to enhance both the availability and quality of comprehensive and specialized services for individuals who have experienced human trafficking, including both sex and labor trafficking. The grant provides an opportunity for organizations with varying levels of experience—whether new to trafficking services or seasoned providers—to build capacity and expand their outreach to serve affected populations more effectively. This funding opportunity is divided into two main categories. Category 1 is intended for victim service organizations that have limited or no prior experience in serving trafficking victims or in managing federal funds for such services. Grantees in this category will focus on capacity building in the first year—hiring or training staff and establishing the infrastructure needed to effectively serve victims—followed by two years of direct service provision. Category 2 targets organizations with a proven track record of delivering either comprehensive or specialized services to trafficking victims. These grantees will use funds to expand the reach or enhance the quality of existing services, develop partnerships to meet victims’ needs, and coordinate service delivery across community networks. The total anticipated funding for this opportunity is approximately $27.7 million, with individual awards of up to $440,000 for Category 1 and up to $950,000 for Category 2. Awards will support a 36-month period of performance beginning July 1, 2026. Applicants must provide a 25% cost share through cash or in-kind contributions. The funding is contingent upon availability of appropriations and is governed by statutory restrictions, including compliance with confidentiality requirements under 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(2). Some uses of funds are strictly prohibited, such as promoting or facilitating violations of federal immigration law, funding legal services for certain undocumented individuals, or supporting organizations that promote prostitution. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, federally recognized and other tribal governments, public housing authorities, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, and public institutions of higher education. Applicants can apply under more than one category or submit multiple applications for different projects, but only one entity can be the official applicant on each submission. Entities with existing OVC anti-trafficking awards must clearly demonstrate how proposed projects differ from or build upon current efforts. All applicants are expected to ensure that their staff or partners working with trafficking victims are trained and licensed where applicable. The application process includes two key submission stages: an SF-424 form submitted via Grants.gov by March 11, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET), and a full application submitted via JustGrants by March 18, 2026 (8:59 p.m. ET). Required documents include a proposal narrative, budget detail form, performance measures plan, resumes or bios of key personnel, and letters of intent or MOUs from partner organizations. Applications will be reviewed for completeness and responsiveness before being evaluated on their merit by peer reviewers. Criteria include alignment with program goals, soundness of design, organizational capacity, and budget clarity. For assistance, applicants may contact the OJP Response Center at [email protected] or 800-851-3420. Pre-application webinars and resource guides are also available on OVC’s website. This opportunity is subject to federal civil rights and non-discrimination laws. Future continuation funding may be available, depending on performance, strategic priorities, and availability of funds. The opportunity includes recurring deadlines and is expected to be offered again in future fiscal years.

Applicants should clearly demonstrate alignment with the NOFO goals and differentiate new projects from any existing OVC-funded work. Ensure all staff are trained to serve trafficking victims.