OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Enhance Community-based Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program

The OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Enhance Community-based Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program is a federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). Established in 1995, OVW supports grant programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and subsequent legislation, providing national leadership on issues of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The office works to encourage coordinated community responses that ensure effective services for victims and accountability for offenders. The CSSP program specifically funds efforts aimed at enhancing access to culturally specific, community-based services for survivors of these forms of violence. The purpose of this grant program is twofold. First, it seeks to maintain and replicate community-based services addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, especially those that are culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate. Second, it supports the development of innovative programming that improves access to services for victims who encounter barriers in using traditional victim service programs. Eligible applicants are community-based organizations whose primary purpose is to serve victims of these crimes with culturally specific resources, or who can partner with programs possessing demonstrated expertise in victim services. Funding under this opportunity is expected to total $22,500,000, with an anticipated 50 awards. Grant amounts per recipient range from $400,000 to $475,000 for a project period of 36 months. The award ceiling of $475,000 applies to applicants addressing the statutory requirement of meaningfully addressing non-intimate partner sexual assault, while other eligible projects can apply for up to $400,000. Awards are made as grants, not cooperative agreements, and recipients must follow detailed federal spending rules, including caps on certain types of expenses and prohibitions on unallowable costs such as construction, fundraising, lobbying, and activities compromising victim safety. Additionally, program-specific unallowable activities are outlined, and a maximum of 2% of funds can be used for internal assessment or improvement. To be eligible, applicants must be community-based organizations focused on providing culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Organizations must either have at least three years of demonstrated experience in providing such services (Category I, requiring a Memorandum of Exemption), or, if they have less than three years’ experience, partner with a victim service provider that meets this threshold (Category II, requiring a Memorandum of Understanding). Faith-based organizations and those without 501(c)(3) status may also be eligible if they meet other requirements. Additional documentation, including certification letters and MOUs or MOEs, are required with the application. Applications must be submitted in two parts: the initial SF-424 form via Grants.gov by August 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, and the full application via JustGrants by August 5, 2025, at 8:59 PM Eastern Time. A Letter of Intent is strongly encouraged but not required, with a suggested submission date of July 15, 2025. Applicants must also register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov, ideally by July 10, 2025. Required application components include a proposal narrative, detailed budget, summary data sheet, pre-award risk assessment, MOU or MOE, various certifications, and other attachments as outlined in the NOFO. Applications will be evaluated through a peer and programmatic review process using published criteria, and awards are anticipated to be announced by November 1, 2025. For further assistance, applicants can contact OVW by phone at 202-307-6026 or via email at OVW.Cultural@usdoj.gov. Technical assistance for SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and JustGrants is also available via phone and email, with hours and contacts provided in the funding announcement. All relevant forms, templates, and sample documents are available on the OVW website. Recipients are expected to comply with all federal civil rights, accessibility, reporting, and administrative requirements throughout the grant period. The grant program does not require any matching funds from applicants. Post-award, recipients must submit periodic performance and financial reports and participate in OVW-sponsored training and technical assistance.

Begin registrations early, use sample documents, follow formatting rules, submit all required attachments.