Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations
Active
- Assistance listing
- 16.889
- Agency
-
Offices Boards and Divisions
Department of Justice
- Grant awards
- 125 $57,576,063 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- Underserved Program
- Assistance types
-
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Cooperative Agreement
- 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 population-specific outreach and victim services for adult and youth survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in underserved communities (CFDA 16.889), with the most recent award made October 1, 2024.
The program has sustained steady activity over the past five years, awarding 18 grants in 2024 alone, up from 6 in 2020. The portfolio spans 125 awards since 2014, with combined federal obligations of $57.6 million. Award cadence has accelerated notably—2023 and 2024 together account for 35 of the past five years' 62 grants. Recent awards fund three-year projects at approximately $600 thousand per award, though recent 2024 grants cluster tightly around the $600 thousand mark (ranging $598,517 to $625 thousand), with 2023 awards at $500 thousand to $600 thousand.
The program funds population-specific service delivery and outreach: developing or enhancing victim services tailored to specific underserved populations; training law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and court personnel on serving survivors from underserved communities; building capacity within both victim service providers and population-specific organizations; and developing culturally and linguistically appropriate materials. Recent awards support services to deaf survivors, LGBTQ+ survivors, Muslim survivors, Orthodox Jewish survivors, survivors with disabilities, and survivors from specific racial and ethnic communities, often combining direct victim advocacy, counseling, and case management with community outreach and professional training.
OVW dominates the funding stream, accounting for 106 of 125 awards and $52.7 million of $57.6 million obligated (91 percent). The portfolio is predominantly Project Grants (82 percent) with a smaller share of Block Grants (17 percent) and one Cooperative Agreement. Eligible applicants are population-specific organizations demonstrating expertise in serving particular underserved populations, victim service providers offering population-specific services, and victim service providers partnering with national, state, tribal, or local organizations experienced with specific underserved populations.
The most recent open solicitation posted February 6, 2024 (O-OVW-2024-171934) with a July 30, 2024 due date, accepting applications from 501(c)(3) nonprofits and other eligible entities. Applicants must apply through Grants.gov and the Department of Justice's JustGrants system. Award lengths, notification timelines, and continuation eligibility are determined annually in each NOFO; renewals are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Objective and description
- Objective
To develop and implement outreach strategies targeted at adult or youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations and to provide victim services to meet the needs of adult or youth victims o
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Eligible applicants are: (1) population specific organizations that have demonstrated experience and expertise in providing population specific services in the relevant underserved communities, or population specific organizations working in partnership with a victim service provider or domestic violence or sexual assault coalition; (2) victim service providers offering population specific services for a specific underserved population; or (3) victim service providers working in partnership with a national, State, tribal, Native Hawaiian, or local organization that has demonstrated experience and expertise in providing population specific services in the relevant underserved population.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Adult and youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in underserved populations.
- Credentials and documentation
Non-profit organizations must be an organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code. All such applicants are required to submit a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service recognizing their tax-exempt status.
- Uses of assistance
Grants can be used for the following program purpose areas: (1) working with Federal, State, tribal, territorial and local governments, agencies, and organizations to develop or enhance population specific services; (2) strengthening the capacity of underserved populations to provide population specific services; (3) strengthening the capacity of traditional victim service providers to provide population specific services; (4) strengthening the response of criminal and civil justice interventions by providing population-specific training for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and other court personnel on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations; (5) working in cooperation with an underserved population to develop and implement outreach, education, prevention, and intervention strategies that highlight available resources and the specific issues faced by victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking from underserved populations; (6) developing, enlarging, or strengthening culturally specific programs and projects to provide culturally specific services regarding responses to, and prevention of, female genital mutilation and cutting; or (7) strengthening the response of social and human services by providing population-specific training for service providers on domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in underserved populations.
- 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 to the grantee.
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
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 125 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shalom Task Force, Inc. | $2,002,000 | 3% |
| 2 | In Our Own Voices Inc. | $1,730,500 | 3% |
| 3 | The Safe Alliance | $1,375,000 | 2% |
| 4 | Heart Women & Girls | $1,367,188 | 2% |
| 5 | New York City Gay And Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, Inc. | $1,366,576 | 2% |
| 6 | Women For Afghan Women Inc. | $1,360,108 | 2% |
| 7 | Turning Point For Women & Families | $1,350,000 | 2% |
| 8 | Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, Inc. | $1,350,000 | 2% |
| 9 | Ywca Of Greater Cincinnati | $1,312,635 | 2% |
| 10 | Shalva | $1,225,206 | 2% |
10 of 90 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$77,416 |
| FY2025 | -$262,277 |
| FY2024 | $10,803,809 |
| FY2023 | $10,021,661 |
| FY2022 | $4,499,858 |
| FY2021 | $4,903,959 |
| FY2020 | $4,665,811 |
| FY2019 | $4,209,241 |
| FY2018 | $4,942,608 |
| FY2017 | $4,399,567 |
| FY2016 | $4,398,658 |
| FY2015 | $2,283,067 |
| FY2014 | $2,787,516 |
Show all 13
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 16.889?
Assistance Listing 16.889 is Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations, a federal grant program run by Offices Boards and Divisions (Department of Justice).
What is the CFDA number for Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations?
Its CFDA number is 16.889: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 16.889 awarded?
125 grant awards under 16.889 have obligated $57,576,063 in federal funds to 90 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 16.889?
The recipients obligated the most under Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations are Shalom Task Force, Inc. ($2,002,000), In Our Own Voices Inc. ($1,730,500) and The Safe Alliance ($1,375,000).
How much did 16.889 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 16.889 obligated -$262,277 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 16.889?
No opportunity listed under 16.889 is open now. The latest, OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations Program, was posted on February 6, 2024.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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