Alabama Coalition Against Rape, Inc.

Alabama Coalition Against Rape, Inc., doing business as Acar, is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, that has been registered to receive federal awards since April 2009. Acar serves as the statewide coalition dedicated to coordinating victim services and implementing comprehensive strategies to prevent and respond to sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking across Alabama. The organization works to improve the treatment of and services provided to sexual assault victims, increase public awareness of sexual assault, and enhance the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases through collaboration with state and local partners.

Acar has received substantial federal funding through multiple grant programs administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Under the State Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program (CFDA 16.556), Acar has been awarded formula grants ranging from approximately $172,000 to $252,000 annually, most recently receiving $243,213 for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. These formula grants support Acar's coordination of statewide victim services activities, provision of training and technical assistance to member organizations and allied professionals including law enforcement, medical personnel, and victim advocates, development of service standards for underserved populations, and facilitation of multi-agency coordination efforts. Additionally, Acar has received project grants from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control focused on primary prevention capacity building and health equity, including a four-year grant awarded June 30, 2024, designed to implement equity-focused sexual violence prevention strategies and address disparities in underserved communities. Through sub-grant awards from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the Alabama Department of Health, Acar has expanded direct service provision to victims of sexual violence, human trafficking, and stalking across the state; provided sexual violence prevention education and training to the general public; and developed resources to support law enforcement, prosecutors, sexual assault nurse examiners, and first responders in trauma-informed victim services. These sub-grants have enabled Acar to offer medical and legal accompaniments, counseling and support groups, outreach efforts, and specialized training designed to increase empathy and reduce vicarious trauma among professionals serving crime victims.