OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Research and Evaluation Initiative

The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), part of the U.S. Department of Justice, administers the FY 2025 Research and Evaluation (R&E) Initiative to advance the knowledge base on strategies to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Created in 1995 under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), OVW oversees grant programs designed to support victim services, enhance offender accountability, and improve coordinated community responses. The R&E Initiative emphasizes research that can directly inform OVW grantees, service providers, justice systems, and policymakers in adopting effective, evidence-based practices. The purpose of the R&E Initiative is to support rigorous research and evaluation projects that strengthen the evidence base on strategies used in OVW-funded programs. It encourages the development of researcher-practitioner partnerships and supports a range of methods, including qualitative, mixed-method, quasi-experimental, and experimental designs. OVW prioritizes studies that address knowledge gaps in how to effectively serve victims and ensure offender accountability, with practical utility for communities and service systems. Research must also emphasize participant safety, adhere to ethical standards including IRB approval, and comply with confidentiality protections. The initiative includes seven research topic areas. These cover evaluations of VAWA-funded interventions, trauma-informed law enforcement responses, training and technical assistance effectiveness, secondary data analyses, domestic violence homicide prevention, and emerging innovations. A particularly large award is planned for a multi-site evaluation of trauma-informed law enforcement training under the Abby Honold Act Program. That topic area may receive up to $5 million and requires significant collaboration with OVW and partners. All other topic areas offer up to $500,000 with award periods ranging from 12 to 36 months. The anticipated total funding for this initiative is $8,000,000, with approximately seven awards expected. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. Applications involving partnerships are encouraged, though a single eligible entity must serve as the lead applicant. OVW requires applicants to submit all documentation via JustGrants and Grants.gov. Required materials include a proposal narrative, budget worksheet, proposal abstract, and several appendices, such as letters of commitment, staff roles, and a data archiving plan. Optional Letters of Intent are encouraged and should be submitted by September 1, 2025. Key dates include a Grants.gov submission deadline of September 23, 2025, and a JustGrants submission deadline of September 25, 2025. OVW expects to notify applicants of funding decisions by February 2, 2026, with award periods anticipated to begin on or about March 1, 2026. All applications must comply with OVW’s program-specific and federal grant requirements, including unallowable activities and cost restrictions. Additionally, all funded research must yield practical, accessible products for broad audiences, including the public, practitioners, and policymakers. Applicants may contact OVW at OVW.Research@usdoj.gov or 202-307-6026 for support. Technical assistance is available for Grants.gov, JustGrants, and SAM.gov registration. The opportunity is listed under Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number O-OVW-2025-172399, with Assistance Listing Number 16.026. All applicants must register in SAM.gov and maintain current registrations across all platforms. Final decisions will be made by the OVW Director and are not subject to appeal.