Domestic violence is an all too real tragedy in the United States. One in three women and one in four men have experienced some type of violence from a partner. Because of horrific statistics like these, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed in 1994, creating the funding for the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
In 2022, the OVW had $488 million in funding for domestic violence grants. This federal department develops grant programs to aid services across the nation that work to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Non-profits, state services, and individuals can apply for corresponding grants that match their services for victims of domestic violence.
OVW Federal Domestic Violence Grants
There are two types of federal grants for domestic violence organizations through the OVW: discretionary grant programs and formula grant programs. To apply for any of these grants, an individual or organization must familiarize themselves with the JustGrants System.
Three federal offices use this system to manage grant funding: the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
Any organization that offers domestic violence victims’ services must familiarize themselves with the training on JustGrants. This teaches how to properly navigate the system and ensure all required protocols are followed to gain grant funding (and apply it properly to programs).
The process is extremely competitive, so it’s important for interested organizations to follow all rules and regulations required to secure funding through grants for domestic violence programs.
If the grant that matches your organization is not open for solicitation, be sure to subscribe to email updates so you’re notified when it reopens, or follow the OVW’s Twitter account for updates.
Discretionary Grant Programs
For discretionary grant programs, the OVW decides the program parameters, who qualifies, what a group or person needs to be eligible, and the services delivered that must match the legislation that authorized the grant.
There are 16 discretionary grant programs, so if there is not one that matches your services organization on this list, check the linked website above for more discretionary grants for domestic violence that the OVW offers.
1. Abuse Later in Life Program
This grant for domestic violence victims focuses on tackling elder abuse. A project that receives this grant funding must work with criminal justice professionals to better combat elder abuse, work with communities to better address the issue, or provide services to the elderly over 50 that may experience abuse.
This program closed for applications on 3/2/2023.
2. Campus Program
The Campus Program supports services at colleges and universities for victims of domestic violence. Specifically, any activity that supports services to victims and helps local campus representatives prevent, investigate, and respond to reports of any type of domestic violence or sexual assault.
These representatives can be anyone on campus who interacts with students who may be experiencing domestic violence, including anyone from campus safety officers to faith-based leaders.
This program closed for applications on 5/9/2023.
3. Children and Youth & Engaging Men Program
Unfortunately, men and women aren’t the only victims of domestic violence. One in 15 children is in a family that deals with intimate partner violence, and 90% of children witness it first-hand. This program supports those children through funding non-profit and government agency services.
This program also funds programs that teach men and boys how harmful violence is and to stop their part in it. All in all, this program wants to work with organizations that build safe and supportive communities for men and women by preventing partner violence.
This program closed for applications on 3/28/2023.
4. Culturally Specific Services Program
This grant for domestic violence organizations works exclusively for culturally-specific community-based organizations. This comes from a specific request from advocates, who’ve expressed that domestic violence survivors feel more comfortable receiving services from people who understand their culture and background.
These organizations understand complex challenges that could lead someone from getting services and are better equipped to work with them for healing. These applicants are limited to private non-profits that offer culturally-centered services to American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts), Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, Blacks, or Hispanics.
This program closed for applications on 4/18/2023.
5. Disability Grant Program
The Disability Grant Program provides funding for violence survivor organizations and domestic violence services to improve their capability to provide help to people with disabilities and Deaf individuals.
This works in multiple ways. Organizations can apply to improve their programs that cater to these individuals or to help figure out how to start a program that helps people with disabilities and deaf individuals. This program is limited to state and local government services, Indian tribal governments and organizations, and nonprofits.
This program closed for applications on 3/9/2023.
6. Improving Criminal Justice Responses Program
Any organization that builds partnerships between governments, courts, and domestic violence victims’ assistance should apply to the Improving Criminal Justice Responses Program. This program encourages all agencies that address domestic violence to work together to protect the victim and see the perpetrator brought to justice.
Any applicant that works in one of these three areas can consider applying, with the goal in mind of a comprehensive community response.
This program closed for applications on 5/2/2023.
7. Justice For Families Program
The Justice for Families Program started in 2013 so that the courts can improve their capability to service families with a history of sexual assault and violence. This program is for any organization or worker in the court system to improve the response against domestic violence.
This program closed for applications on 2/16/2023.
8. More Grants for Domestic Violence Organizations
Nine more critical discretionary grant programs are:
- Legal Assistance for Victims Program
- National Deaf Services Program
- Rural Program
- Sexual Assault Services Culturally Specific Program
- Transitional Housing Program
- Tribal Governments Program
- Tribal Jurisdiction Program
- Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program
- Underserved Program
Formula Grant Programs
The other type of federal domestic violence grants are called Formula Grant Programs, which means that the legislation outlined in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) dictates how the money will be spent.
1. Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program
This grant is exclusive to applicants that meet the requirements of “tribal coalition,” which offer education, help, and tech assistance to Indian service providers and tribes so that they can better offer services and help victims of domestic violence (which encompasses dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking).
This grant is open for solicitation until 08/04/2023 if applying through Grants.gov and 08/08/2023 if applying through JustGrants.
2. Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program (SASP)
Open exclusively to states and territories, the Sexual Assault Services Formula Grant Program (SASP) supports its initiatives to help rape crisis centers and other critical nonprofits for domestic violence victims’ assistance.
This funding is exclusively for direct intervention to help sexual assault victims. These funds are designed to supplement funding for sources already on the ground to tackle these issues.
This program closed for applications on 5/18/2023.
3. State and Territorial Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Coalitions Program
Another grant for domestic violence programs at the state and territorial level, this program gives funding for domestic violence service providers. These could be battered women’s shelters or rape and crisis centers that work with federal, state, and local agencies to help victims and address violence.
There’s no information at the moment for this program in 2023 but check back at the linked website in this section periodically for updates.
4. STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program
The STOP program works with local communities at the state and territory level to improve strategies for effectively fighting violent crime. It also includes better helping the women and men who are victims of domestic violence.
The funding allocation for this grant is strict, and must be as follows:
- 25%: law enforcement
- 25%: prosecutors
- 30%: victim services (10% to culturally-specific community organizations)
- 5%: state and local courts
- 15%: discretionary distribution
This program closed for applications on 6/15/2023.
Case Management for Domestic Violence Victims
While most federal grant funding applications open in the first half of the year, the time is now to start preparing applications. One of the best ways to both improve your services at your non-profit and collect critical data for grant applications is to utilize domestic violence case management software.
Streamline intake through automated forms that collect all of the information you need about your clients. This allows you to match clients with the best services based on their assessments. All of this data is available to you at your fingertips, so you can make decisions for your clients quickly and get them the help they need ASAP.
You can then use the analytics from your case management software to create tailored, easy-to-read reports that show the success of your non-profit. These can be included in grant applications to earn more funding through grants for domestic violence victims.
Utilize PlanStreet to Simplify Administration and Focus Better on Clients
PlanStreet’s domestic violence case management software was made to make your day easier so you can focus on the hard, important work of caring for survivors. Our software is HIPAA-compliant and hosted on Microsoft Azure so you can rest easy knowing your clients are protected.
Simplify case management with PlanStreet’s powerful violence survivor organizations software, including the following tools:
- Automated intake forms so you can start helping clients faster
- Visual needs assessment and service planning to quickly address needs
- Grant management to easily disperse money to activities and track where each penny is spent.
PlanStreet offers personalized services for our flexible software to ensure the platform is fully optimized to meet your needs.
Contact us to set up an introductory call and streamline your case management, so that you ca spend your time doing what matters most: serving your clients.