OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program (Rural Grant Program)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- O-OVW-2026-172579
- Agency
-
Office on Violence Against Women
Offices Boards and Divisions, Department of Justice
- Applications due
- Award size
- $500,000 to $950,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Law, Justice and Legal Services
- Eligible applicants
-
- Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- State Governments
- County Governments
- Non-501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- 501(c)(3) Nonprofits
- Higher Education Inst. (Public)
- Higher Education Inst. (Private)
- Other
- City/Township Governments
- Tribal Organizations (Not Federally Recognized)
- Public or Indian Housing Auth.
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women is soliciting applications for the Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program, with applications due July 24, 2026. The program is open to tribal governments (federally and non-federally recognized), state and local governments, 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, higher education institutions, housing authorities, and other eligible entities serving rural communities. No cost share or matching requirement is stated.
The program funds victim services including advocacy, legal assistance, and shelter; investigation, prosecution, adjudication, and parole and probation activities; and sexual assault medical forensic exams. Award amounts typically range from $396,000 to $950,000 for three-year project periods (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028 for the most recent cohort). Applicants are encouraged to target underserved rural populations including geographically isolated areas, Alaska Native communities, and rural Latino/Hispanic populations, and to develop specialized victim services, Sexual Assault Response Teams, mobile advocacy programs, and culturally responsive interventions.
Grantees must implement at least one of five statutory strategies encompassing victim services delivery, inter-agency collaboration, sexual assault forensic examination program development, community education and prevention initiatives, and specialized services for remote rural victims. Per 34 U.S.C. 12341(a), the program encourages collaboration among domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking service providers and law enforcement to establish and expand nonprofit victim services, increase safety and well-being for women and children in rural communities, and ensure rural victims have access to sexual assault medical forensic exams.
Assistance Listing 16.589. Financial records must be retained for three years from submission of the final expenditure report, or longer if litigation, claims, or audits remain pending. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov and the Department of Justice JustGrants System.
Synopsis
The Rural Grant Program helps states and territories, Indian Tribes, local governments, and nonprofits to enhance safety and justice for child, youth, and adult victims in rural communities. It funds victim services (such as advocacy, legal assistance, and shelter), investigation, prosecution, adjudication, parole and probation, and other ways of addressing domestic and sexual violence. Per 34 U.S.C. § 12341(a), these grants are meant to encourage collaboration, establish and expand nonprofit victim services, increase safety and well-being for women and children in rural communities, and ensure victims in rural areas have access to sexual assault medical forensic exams.
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