STOP Violence Against Women Act Grant Program (VAWA)
The STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant program enhances the capacity of local communities to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement and prosecution strategies to combat violent crimes against women and to develop and strengthen victim services in cases involving violent crimes against women.
Eligibility
- See OCJS Grants Calendar for application and submission timeline
- Project Period: January - December
- All projects must have an organization or subgrantee that will serve as the fiduciary agent and assume overall responsibility for the grant. Eligible subgrantees include:
- A unit of local government or council of governments. A unit of local government has the legislative autonomy, jurisdiction, and authority to act in certain circumstances. Units of local government include a city, county, township, or village. If two or more jointly apply, they must designate one body to take the lead role and identify that agency's fiscal officer; or
- State agencies, state-supported universities; or
- Statewide and local nonprofit or faith-based associations. Projects implemented by courts, law enforcement agencies, and mental health boards may not act as their own subgrantee.
- Cash match: Local 25% cash and/or in-kind match.
Funding Areas
- Law enforcement and prosecution training (VA1)
- Hiring law enforcement and prosecution staff (VA2)
- Law enforcement and prosecution policy development (VA3)
- Data collection and communication systems (VA4)
- Victim service and visitation programs (VA5)
- Stalking programs (VA6)
Resources
Archived Request for Proposals
VAWA Reporting Requirements
VAWA Implementation Plan
VAWA Forms
VAWA Culturally Specific Set-aside
Pursuant to the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 3402), STOP funding decisions must take into consideration that 10% of the 30% that is allocated to victim services must be distributed to community-based organizations that provide culturally specific services.
Federal Definitions
The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 defines “culturally specific” as “primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined in section 1707(g) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300u-6(g)).” 42 U.S.C. 13925(a)(6). Under this section of the Public Health Service Act, “racial and ethnic minority groups” are defined as “American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); Asian Americans; Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; Blacks; and Hispanics.”
The term ‘culturally specific services’ means community-based services that include culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities.
Eligibile Applicants
An organization is eligible to receive the culturally-specific set aside if the organization is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that serves a specific geographic community that:
- focuses primarily on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
- has established a specialized culturally specific program primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups (as defined on page 3) that addresses domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking ;
- has a primary focus on underserved populations (and includes representatives of the populations) and domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking; or
- obtains expertise, or shows demonstrated capacity to work effectively, on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through collaboration;
- is primarily directed toward racial and ethnic minority groups; and
- is providing services tailored to the unique needs of that population.
Archived Request for Proposals
