Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 16.016
- Agency
-
Offices Boards and Divisions
Department of Justice
- Grant awards
- 435 $163,946,017 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Culturally Specific Services Program
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 15-0409-0-1-754
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) funds culturally and linguistically specific services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking under CFDA 16.016, with the most recent grant award issued August 1, 2026.
The program supports community-based organizations maintaining and replicating existing successful services tailored to culturally specific populations—defined as American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts), Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, Blacks, and Hispanics—as well as developing innovative strategies to increase service access for victims facing barriers to traditional programs. Awarded activities span crisis intervention, case management, emergency shelter and transitional housing, counseling and therapy, legal advocacy, employment training, economic empowerment, safety planning, court accompaniment, and community education and prevention programming. Many projects integrate culturally responsive healing modalities including faith-based support, healing circles, traditional practices, and peer-led groups. Recent awards also fund training for law enforcement, criminal justice agencies, and community stakeholders on culturally specific and trauma-informed responses.
Portfolio data spans 435 awards from October 2009 to August 2026. The program operates at steady cadence: 40 to 53 awards annually in 2022–2024, tapering to 1 award in 2025 before rebounding to 39 in 2026 to date. Combined federal dollars obligated total $163.9 million. OVW dominates funding, accounting for 406 awards and $158.1 million—96% of all federal dollars obligated. Four smaller funding streams within DOJ contributed the remaining 29 awards and $5.8 million.
The program awards predominantly Project Grants (88% of 435 awards) alongside Block Grants (12%). Recent awards range from $393,999 to $525,000 over three-year performance periods, with typical awards clustering around $400,000 to $500,000 per project.
Representative recent awards funded behavioral health expansion and sexual assault response teams in tribal settings, economic justice and financial literacy programming for Hmong and Southeast Asian survivors in Milwaukee, culturally specific victim services for Vietnamese Americans across multiple states, faith-based training and support for Latino and LGBTQIA+ populations in Puerto Rico, and peer-led healing circles and employment support for African American survivors across multiple jurisdictions.
The FY 2025 NOFO (O-OVW-2025-172373) closed August 1, 2025. Eligibility includes 501(c)(3) nonprofits, non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal organizations, and other community-based entities. OVW posted an administrative funding adjustment opportunity in March 2026 for invited continuation applicants only. Current applicants must apply through Grants.gov and the Department of Justice JustGrants system and comply with OVW's Financial Grants Management Guide; individual award length and funding availability are specified in annual NOFOs issued by OVW.
Objective and description
- Objective
To enhance culturally specific services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Community-based programs whose primary purpose is providing culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and community-based programs whose primary purpose is providing culturally specific services who can partner with a program having demonstrated expertise in serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Community and faith-based programs.
- Uses of assistance
Funds shall be used for the following statutory program purposes: (A) working with State and local governments and social service agencies to develop and enhance effective strategies to provide culturally specific services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (B) increasing communities' capacity to provide culturally specific resources and support for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes and their families; (C) strengthening criminal justice interventions, by providing training for law enforcement, prosecution, courts, probation, and correctional facilities on culturally specific responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (D) enhancing traditional services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking through the leadership of culturally specific programs offering services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (E) working in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies highlighting culturally specific issues and resources regarding victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (F) providing culturally specific programs for children exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; (G) providing culturally specific resources and services that address the safety, economic, housing, and workplace needs of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including emergency assistance; or (H) examining the dynamics of culture and its impact on victimization and healing. Note: 40% of funds must be allocated for programs or projects that meaningfully address non-intimate partner sexual assault.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Information regarding length of awards will be included in an annual notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the program. Funds are released on an as-needed basis.
How to apply
- Application procedure
Applicants must apply through the on-line Grants.gov portal and the Department of Justice's JustGrants System.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Criteria for award selection is specified in the program notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).
- Award procedure
Upon approval by the Office on Violence Against Women, online notification is sent to the applicant agency. The Authorized Representative must accept the award online.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Applicants will be notified by the end of the fiscal year.
- Renewals
Renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Grant opportunities
Show all 14
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 435 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East LOS Angeles Women's Center | $2,531,200 | 2% |
| 2 | Jenesse Center, Inc. | $2,456,200 | 1% |
| 3 | Saheli | $2,341,592 | 1% |
| 4 | Enlace Comunitario | $2,244,903 | 1% |
| 5 | MEI Fong And Associates | $2,200,000 | 1% |
| 6 | Monsoon Asians & Pacific Islanders In Solidarity | $2,030,390 | 1% |
| 7 | Center For The Pacific-Asian Family, Inc. | $1,931,200 | 1% |
| 8 | In Our Own Voices Inc. | $1,922,549 | 1% |
| 9 | Violence Intervention Program | $1,900,000 | 1% |
| 10 | The Korean-American Family Service Center Inc. | $1,900,000 | 1% |
10 of 223 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $17,463,397 |
| FY2025 | -$60,907 |
| FY2024 | $22,908,657 |
| FY2023 | $24,945,218 |
| FY2022 | $12,966,192 |
| FY2021 | $6,373,841 |
| FY2020 | $6,271,494 |
| FY2019 | $6,027,403 |
| FY2018 | $8,355,111 |
| FY2017 | $5,557,986 |
| FY2016 | $5,898,000 |
| FY2015 | $5,426,273 |
| FY2014 | $5,131,121 |
| FY2013 | $5,014,896 |
| FY2012 | $4,902,000 |
| FY2011 | $6,471,089 |
| FY2010 | $7,499,702 |
| FY2009 | $12,794,543 |
Show all 18
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 16.016?
Assistance Listing 16.016 is Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program, a federal grant program run by Offices Boards and Divisions (Department of Justice).
What is the CFDA number for Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program?
Its CFDA number is 16.016: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 16.016 awarded?
435 grant awards under 16.016 have obligated $163,946,017 in federal funds to 223 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 16.016?
The recipients obligated the most under Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services Program are East LOS Angeles Women's Center ($2,531,200), Jenesse Center, Inc. ($2,456,200) and Saheli ($2,341,592).
How much did 16.016 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 16.016 obligated -$60,907 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 16.016?
No opportunity listed under 16.016 is open now. The latest, OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Invitation to Apply Administrative Funding Adjustment 1, was posted on March 3, 2026.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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