OVC FY25 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Compensation Formula Grant

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), under the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), has announced the FY25 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Compensation Formula Grant. This program is a federal funding initiative aimed at providing financial compensation to crime victims across the United States. The grant is part of OVC’s broader mission to enhance the nation's capacity to assist crime victims and ensure justice and healing through financial support. This specific NOFO (Notice of Funding Opportunity), titled “OVC FY25 VOCA Victim Compensation Formula Grants Program,” is identified under the funding opportunity number O-OVC-2025-172429 and is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 20102. The primary goal of this grant program is to supplement state and territory victim compensation programs. The formula grants are intended to reimburse eligible victims of crime for expenses arising from criminal acts. These can include medical costs, lost wages, funeral expenses, mental health counseling, and relocation costs, among others. The funding is structured so that each state or territory receives a grant equal to 75 percent of the amount that the jurisdiction awarded in state-funded compensation payments during the fiscal year two years prior, excluding amounts awarded for property damage. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to state governments, as defined to include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. No other types of organizations or entities are eligible to apply. Furthermore, there is no cost sharing or matching requirement for this program, simplifying the financial barrier to participation. Applications for this grant must follow a two-step submission process. First, applicants must submit the SF-424 form through Grants.gov by August 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Following this, the complete application package, including all required attachments, must be submitted via JustGrants by August 20, 2025, at 8:59 p.m. ET. Required documents include a proposal narrative describing the compensation program and its goals for FY 2025, financial management questionnaires, and additional compliance-related certifications. Attachments such as state compensation laws and training certifications are also required if administrative and training funds are used. The total amount of funding available under this program is $178,983,000, to be distributed among 53 anticipated awardees. The performance period for these grants is expected to begin on October 1, 2024, and last for 48 months. Award recipients are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports, as well as annual and final reports. They must also comply with various federal regulations and civil rights requirements. Support is available through multiple channels for technical assistance, including contact details for Grants.gov, JustGrants, and the OJP Response Center. A pre-application webinar is also available for prospective applicants. Awards are expected to be announced by September 30. If applicants face technical issues during the submission process, they must report them with documentation to be eligible for a waiver. OVC encourages early submission to prevent last-minute technical problems.

Submit SF-424 and JustGrants applications well ahead of deadlines. Ensure system registrations are up to date and training requirements are fulfilled.