The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), established in 1995, is the federal agency responsible for leading efforts to reduce and address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Through grant-making programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), OVW supports a coordinated community response to provide services for victims and hold offenders accountable. The OVW Fiscal Year 2025 Grants to Engage Men and Youth in Preventing Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program (EM Program) is designed to encourage community-level strategies that involve men and youth in prevention efforts.
The EM Program is a component of the broader Consolidated Youth and Engaging Men (CYEM) Program. Its central objective is to fund local, community-specific education and training initiatives that engage men and youth as allies in the prevention of gender-based violence. It supports programs that focus on the empowerment of men and boys, providing them with leadership opportunities to help transform cultural norms and challenge behaviors that perpetuate violence. OVW anticipates awarding approximately $3.5 million in total funding across up to 10 awards, with each recipient eligible to receive up to $350,000 over a 36-month project period.
Eligible applicants for this funding include Indian Tribal governments and organizations, units or agencies of local government, nonprofit nongovernmental entities, victim service providers, and faith-based organizations. Institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded. Projects must be implemented within the community where the applicant and its partners are based, and each applicant is required to partner with a victim service provider and a community organization that has experience working with men or youth. These roles must be filled by distinct entities and documented through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The application process consists of two parts: submission of the SF-424 form via Grants.gov by July 8, 2025, and the full application submission in JustGrants by July 10, 2025. Applicants are encouraged, though not required, to submit a Letter of Intent by June 23, 2025. The full application must include a proposal narrative, detailed budget, MOU, several certifications and disclosures, and optional forms if applicable. Evaluation criteria emphasize the clarity of the proposal, its alignment with stated program goals, and the experience and capacity of the applicant and its partners.
Applications will undergo a peer and programmatic review process, with scoring based on responsiveness to the program’s priorities and application structure. Emphasis will be placed on projects serving under-resourced communities and those that uplift the self-esteem and leadership capacity of men and youth. OVW will notify successful applicants by October 1, 2025. For inquiries, applicants may contact OVW at 202-307-6026 or OVW.EngagingMen@usdoj.gov.
