OMB No. 1122-0020
Approval Expires: 6/30/2028
Office on Violence Against Women:
FY 2026 Consolidated Grant Program to
Assist Children and Youth Affected by
and to Engage Men and Youth in
Preventing Domestic Violence, Dating
Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking
Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number:O-OVW-2026-172652 Application Deadlines in Eastern Time (ET):
1: Complete SF-424 and Submit in Grants.gov: 9/8/2026, by 11:59 P.M. ET 2: Submit full application in JustGrants: 9/10/2026, by 4:59 P.M. ET OVW FY 2026 Consolidated Youth Grant Program
U.S. Department of Justice | Office on Violence Against Women | 2 Contents
1. Basic Information...........................................................3
2. Eligibility .........................................................................4
3. Program Description......................................................5
4. Application Contents and Format ................................5
5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines ..................9
6. Application Review information ...................................9
7. Award Notices ................................................................9
8. Post-Award Requirements & Administration ..............9
9. Questions........................................................................9 OVW FY 2026 Consolidated Youth Grant Program
U.S. Department of Justice | Office on Violence Against Women | 3
1. BASIC INFORMATION
Purpose of the Funding
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) is a component of the United States Department of Justice. OVW administers Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grants designed to prevent and respond to domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the Consolidated Grant Program to Assist Children and Youth Affected by and to Engage Men and Youth in Preventing Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (Consolidated Youth Grant Program). This program supports community-based efforts to develop or expand prevention, intervention, treatment, and response strategies addressing the needs of children and youth (ages 0-24) affected by domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. It also supports work with men and youth to prevent those crimes. See Eligibility for details.
Funding Details
Announcement Type Initial
Assistance Listing Number 16.888
Statutory Authority
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related
Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Act, 2026, Pub. L.
No. 119-74, div. A, 140 Stat. 5, 26.
Grants.gov Opportunity Number O-OVW-2026-172652
Expected Total Amount of Funding $14,000,000
Anticipated Number of Awards 30
Award Type Grant
Anticipated Award Amount(s) $350,000 - $500,000
Expected Award Period 36 months starting on October 1, 2026 Key Dates and Times
NOFO Release Date July 15, 2026
SAM.gov Registration/Renewal Start the process at least 30 days before deadlines Step 1: Grants.gov Deadline 11:59 p.m. ET on September 8, 2026 Step 2: JustGrants Deadline 4:59 p.m. ET on September 10, 2026 Anticipated Notification Date By September 30, 2026
See Questions? at the end of this NOFO for agency contact information.
OVW FY 2026 Consolidated Youth Grant Program
U.S. Department of Justice | Office on Violence Against Women | 4
2. ELIGIBILITY
Eligible Applicants
Government Entities
• Tribal governments1
• Tribal organizations2
• Units of local government3
Nonprofit Entities
• Nonprofit organizations4
• Victim service providers5
• Tribal nonprofit organizations6
Education Entities
• Independent school districts
o Note: Institutions of higher education are not eligible to apply.
Recipients with grants ending by September 30, 2026 may apply but are unlikely to be funded if they have enough funds to carry the project through September 30, 2027.
Faith-based organizations that meet the eligibility requirements for this program are eligible to apply (more information is in the Application Companion Guide).
Cost sharing and application limit: This NOFO does not require cost sharing (match).
You may submit more than one application under this NOFO if each application proposes a different project. If you submit multiple versions of the same application, only the most recent system-validated version will be reviewed.
Additional Eligibility Factors
Required Partnerships: Applications must include required partners and document partnerships in a memorandum of understanding. The type of partner required depends on the statutory purpose/s addressed by the project. For details, go to the OVW website Disqualifying Factors: Factors that may result in removal during the review process are described on the OVW website. In addition, any nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding the tax described in section 511(a) of the Internal Revenue Code is ineligible.
7 1 Must be federally recognized, see 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(43). 2 Defined at 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(45).
3 Defined as county, city, or township governments, as well as any town, borough, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a state, see 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(47), or an agency thereof. 4 Entities with or without 501(c)(3) status with the Internal Revenue Service. 5 Defined at 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(50). 6 Defined at 34 U.S.C. § 12291(a)(44).
7 See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(15)(B)(ii)).
OVW FY 2026 Consolidated Youth Grant Program
U.S. Department of Justice | Office on Violence Against Women | 5
3. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Statutory Authority/Program Goals and Objectives
Per the CJS Appropriations Act, 2026 funds must be used for one or more of the following purposes:
1. Provide services to advocate for and respond to youth who are victims of domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.
2. Provide assistance to children and youth exposed to such violence.
3. Provide assistance to middle and high school students through education and other services related to such violence.
4. Provide programs to engage men and youth in preventing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
Expected Outcomes: OVW will measure success by reviewing a recipient’s submission of performance reports and data and the extent to which project implementation reflects progress toward the goals and objectives of this NOFO. See the VAWA Measuring Effectiveness Initiative for more information.
Unallowable Activities: For information on program-specific unallowable activities and costs to help you develop your application and budget consistent with program requirements, see the Application Companion Guide and Budget section of this NOFO.
Agency Funding Priorities
Invited applicants are encouraged to propose projects designed to advance the following public-safety priorities (as applicable within the scope of this NOFO):
1. Combatting human trafficking and transnational crime, particularly crimes linked to illegal immigration, transnational criminal organizations, and cartel operations, including projects that strengthen law enforcement investigation and prosecution while supporting safety and justice for trafficking victims who have also suffered domestic/dating violence, sexual assault, and/or stalking.
2. Projects dedicated to direct victim services, particularly in small towns and rural, remote, and Tribal communities.
Note: Addressing these priorities is one of many factors that OVW considers in making funding decisions. Receiving priority consideration does not guarantee funding.
4. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT
Application Contents List
OVW will only consider applications that contain parts marked *REQUIRED* below.
Refer to the DOJ Grant Application Submission Checklist for application instructions.
OVW FY 2026 Consolidated Youth Grant Program
U.S. Department of Justice | Office on Violence Against Women | 6 Application Item Submission Type
Step 1: Grants.gov
Application for Federal Assistance: SF-424 *Required* Online Form Step 2: JustGrants
Standard Applicant Information *Required* Online Form
Data Requested with Application
• Pre-award Risk Assessment Online Form
Proposal Narrative *Required* Attachment
Budget *Required* Attachment
Budget/Financial Attachments
• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)
• Applicant Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable) • Executive Compensation Disclosure (if applicable)
Attachment
Memorandum of Understanding Attachment
Additional Application Components
• Certification regarding out-of-scope activities
• Summary Data Sheet
• Confidentiality Notice Form
• Delivery of Legal Assistance Certification (if applicable) Attachment
Standard Applicant Information *REQUIRED*
Review and edit as needed the information imported from the SF-424 submitted in Grants.gov and add ZIP codes for areas affected by the project.
Data Requested with Application: Pre-award Risk Assessment Complete this questionnaire in JustGrants. The questions are available here.
Proposal Narrative *REQUIRED*
Format of the Proposal Narrative
Use the Proposal Narrative Template on the OVW website. It must be:
• No longer than 10 pages, single-spaced
• In a font no smaller than 11-point
• On correctly numbered pages with one-inch margins
• In a file format openable in Microsoft Word or Adobe Reader • In a table format or use headings and subheadings that correspond to the sections listed below
• Written in plain language
OVW FY 2026 Consolidated Youth Grant Program
U.S. Department of Justice | Office on Violence Against Women | 7 If you do not follow this format, OVW may reduce the score/ranking of the application.
Sections of the Proposal Narrative
The Proposal Narrative must include the three sections listed below. If you want priority consideration, the Proposal Narrative must state which priority(ies) your project will advance and describe how it will do so.
For NOFOs that require a memorandum of understanding (MOU) or letters of support from project partners, they are reviewed in conjunction with the Proposal Narrative.
1. Purpose of the Project (weighted at 30%)
• Say why you are applying for the grant.
• Identify the project’s goals/objectives. Summarize why the goals/objectives were selected, e.g., how the project complements other services, improves services, fills service gaps, and/or responds to a need.
• Describe the communities that will be served.
2. What Will Be Done (weighted at 35%)
• For each project goal, describe:
o Activities and who is responsible for them;
o How the applicant will ensure victim safety, privacy, and confidentiality; and o Outcomes for knowing the goal was achieved, and how these outcomes will be tracked.
• Describe how programming will be accessible to anyone who may need them.
3. Who Will Implement the Project (weighted at 20%)
• Identify the people who will implement the project. Provide for each person their name, agency/organization, position/title, role in the proposed project activities, and a description of their relevant experience.
• Describe anticipated coordination and collaboration among project partners and/or others and how working together will advance the project’s goals.
Budget and Associated Documentation
Budget (weighted at 15%) *REQUIRED*
Use the Sample Budget Narrative (attach file in JustGrants) to submit the budget. Refer to Budget Information and the Creating a Budget webinar for more information:
• List each cost needed to implement the project under the appropriate cost category. Total funding requested for 36 months must be no more than $500,000 for applications addressing purposes 1-3 and $300,000 for purpose number 4.
• Clearly name and describe each cost.
• Show the computation of each cost (e.g., cost per unit, number of units, and total cost).
• Enter narrative, as needed, to explain the cost calculations and connection to your project goals, objectives, and activities.
OVW FY 2026 Consolidated Youth Grant Program
U.S. Department of Justice | Office on Violence Against Women | 8 • Include only costs that are reasonable, allocable, and necessary to implement the project. They must be allowable under the funding statute and agency requirements.8
• Fairly and reasonably compensate project partners, unless a reason not to is explained in a memorandum of understanding or letter of support. • Distinguish clearly between subawards and contracts in allocating any grant funds to other entities.9 More information on this is here. • Set aside a minimum of $15,000 on the Travel line to participate in training and technical assistance.
Budget/Financial Attachments
• Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable): If the budget includes indirect costs, upload your current, federally approved indirect cost rate agreement. • Applicant Financial Capability Questionnaire (if applicable): Nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that have not previously (or within the last three years) received funding from OVW must complete and upload this form. • Disclosure of Process Related to Executive Compensation (nonprofits only):
Nonprofit organizations that use the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Safe Harbor Procedure must submit a special disclosure to OVW. 10 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Supporting Documents Attach a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among the applicant and project partners. OVW’s website has instructions for MOUs.
Additional Application Components
Attach these in JustGrants:
• Certification regarding out-of-scope activities letter signed by the Authorized Representative.
o Note: This certification is the subject of federal litigation. For the most upto-date information about the certification requirement, see the notice on OVW’s funding opportunities page.)
• Summary Data Sheet, one to four pages.
• Confidentiality Notice Form, signed by the Authorized Representative, acknowledging the confidentiality requirements of 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(2). • Delivery of Legal Assistance Certification, signed by the Authorized Representative if the application proposes to provide legal assistance to victims. 8 See 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Subpart E and the DOJ Grants Financial Guide. Read the information on unallowable costs here. 9 More information on this is here. 10 See 34 U.S.C. § 12291(b)(15)(B)(iii)). More information is here.
OVW FY 2026 Consolidated Youth Grant Program
U.S. Department of Justice | Office on Violence Against Women | 9 Disclosures and Assurances
Complete the disclosures, assurances, and certifications in JustGrants.
5. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES
The DOJ Grant Application Submission Checklist provides instructions for how to submit by the deadlines. Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) applies to this funding opportunity. OVW’s How to Apply page has a policy for applicants to request late submission due to technical difficulties, severe weather, or natural or manmade disaster.
6. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION
OVW’s Discretionary Grant Application Review Process page explains the responsiveness review, review criteria, review and selection process, including risk review, and deciding official.
7. AWARD NOTICES
Read about the award notification process on OVW’s website.
8. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS & ADMINISTRATION
Read the Application Companion Guide for more information about standard award terms and conditions, administrative and national policy requirements, and post-award reporting requirements.
9. QUESTIONS
NOFO Contact Phone: 202-307-6026
Email: [email protected]
SAM.gov Help Desk Website: https://sam.gov/content/help Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday – Friday
Grants.gov Help
Desk
Phone: 800-518-4726
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.grants.gov/support
Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed federal holidays) JustGrants Help
Desk
Phone: 866-655-4482
Email: [email protected]
Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday – Friday