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Justice for Victims. Justice for All.
Office for Victims of Crime

Grants & Funding

Help Applying

Online Tools

Before applying, all prospective grantees are strongly encouraged to visit Grants 101, a step-by-step tutorial on the complete grant process. This tutorial is made available from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). OVC is one of the seven components within OJP.

The tutorial provides:

  • An overview of the OJP grant process from the moment a solicitation is posted until the grant is closed out.
  • Instructions for locating funding opportunities.
  • Required steps for advance registration to apply for an OJP funding opportunity.
  • Expert tips to help grant applicants write strong applications.
  • Grant submission instructions.
  • A description of the application review process.

Through Grants 101, prospective grantees will learn about Grants.gov, the Grants Management System (GMS), and Central Contractor Registration (CCR), and when to access each of these resources. Each of the following Web sites provide additional instructions for utilizing their services.

  • Central Contractor Registration: The CCR database is the repository for standard information about federal financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. CCR registration is one requirement for accessing Grants.gov. This Web site provides step-by-step instructions for registering with CCR.
  • Grants.gov: Grants.gov is a "one-stop storefront" that provides a unified process for all customers of federal grants to find funding opportunities and apply for funding. This site provides an overview of the process to apply for grant opportunities.
  • Grants Management System (GMS): Some funding opportunities managed by OJP require submitting grant applications through GMS, and all grant recipients are notified of an award through this system. Additionally, GMS is the tool through which grantees manage their grants and complete required post award activities. The GMS Online Training Tool provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete various tasks within GMS as well as administrative policies associated with grant adjustment notices, progress reporting, and closeouts.

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Required Forms and Certificates

Prior to receiving grant funding, successful applicants must agree to comply with some additional requirements. Required application and reporting forms are available in portable document format (PDF), which allows them to be filled in, viewed, and printed with their original appearance preserved.

Additionally, DOJ regulations require that a Privacy Certificate be submitted as part of any application for a project in which information identifiable to a private person will be collected for research or statistical purposes (i.e. focus groups, surveys, etc.). Sample Privacy Certificates provided below can be used as a guide by prospective grantees.

Samples of Funded Applications

The following applications were submitted by successful applicants who met the specific requirements of previous OVC solicitations. These sample proposals may serve as a guide for prospective grantees as you draft your own applications.

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Tips for Grant Applicants

The following tips address the most common oversights applicants make during the application process. Visit Grants 101 for additional tips on writing proposals!

  • Read the entire solicitation and follow submission instructions.
  • Include all required documentation.
  • Be aware of early registration through Grants.gov for online submissions.
  • Note that registration with the OJP Grants Management System (GMS) may be required for certain funding opportunities. Creating an initial profile is a one-time process, however, applicants must register and receive an application number for each solicitation for which this is a requirement.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the goals and objectives of the solicitation and include details on how each will be accomplished.
  • Provide a timeline of expected dates by which these goals will be reached and the staff that will be involved.
  • Address programmatic requirements set forth in the solicitation.
  • Develop realistic budgets based on the amount of projected funding. Research costs associated with proposed activities. Format budgets as required and provide details about expenses. Be sure the budget does not exceed the dollar amount stated in the solicitation. Sample budget sheets are available in Grants 101. Additionally, refer to the OJP Financial Guide to check allowable expenses and special requirements.
  • Contact the applicable OVC Victim Justice Program Specialist noted in the solicitation to ask questions or obtain clarification.
  • In addition to the programmatic capacity, describe the administrative and financial capacity of your organization to administer a federally funded grant project.

Formula Funding—Applying for Grants

OVC receives applications and awards annual the VOCA crime victim compensation and victim assistance formula grants online through the OJP’s GMS to eligible states and territories.

Applications for VOCA formula grants may be submitted online only by the state agency designated by the Governor to administer the VOCA victim compensation and assistance program. For step-by-step instructions, visit OJP’s Training Support Center for GMS.

Several files are required when submitting—

VOCA Victim Assistance Grant Applications
PDF (37 kb) File

VOCA Victim Compensation Grant Applications
PDF (51 kb) File

2011 Crime Victims Fund Compensation and Assistance Allocation Chart
HTML

Previous allocation charts and performance reports can be found in the Formula Grant Allocations Archive.

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