Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2026 172580
The OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Legal Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Assault Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), focused on expanding access to legal help for people harmed by domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The core goal is to fund efforts that make it easier for victims to obtain meaningful legal remedies and protections in matters that relate to, or arise directly from, the abuse. In practice, this means supporting programs that help survivors navigate the civil and related legal systems so they can pursue safety, stability, and accountability.
Funding under this program is intended for projects that deliver "comprehensive legal assistance" as defined in federal law (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(24)). While the opportunity summary does not list every service type, the emphasis is on end-to-end legal support rather than isolated, one-off advice. These projects are meant to ensure victims can access legal representation and advocacy connected to their abuse, such as seeking protective orders and other court-based relief, and addressing legal problems that frequently accompany violence and coercion. The overall intent is to reduce barriers that keep victims from using the legal system effectively, including lack of representation, complicated procedures, and safety risks tied to litigation.
A key structural requirement is that funded projects must include organizations with a clear mission and demonstrated history of providing direct services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This reflects OVW's expectation that legal services efforts remain survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and closely connected to the realities victims face. In other words, applicants are expected to show that the legal work is integrated with victim service expertise, rather than operating in isolation from the community-based organizations that routinely support survivors.
Eligible applicants are restricted to certain entity types. According to the source data, eligible applicants include nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations, and institutions of higher education (both public/state-controlled and private). The program description also highlights that eligibility is limited to private nonprofit entities, Indian Tribal governments and Tribal organizations, territorial organizations, and publicly funded organizations that are not acting in a governmental capacity, with law schools given as a common example. This framing is designed to focus resources on organizations that can provide or coordinate direct legal assistance while maintaining an appropriate level of independence and victim-centered service delivery.
Administratively, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number O-OVW-2026-172580 and CFDA 16.524, with the funding activity category identified as Law, Justice and Legal Services. The application deadline is July 31, 2026. OVW anticipates making about 60 awards, and the maximum award amount (ceiling) is $900,000. Taken together, those details suggest a nationally competitive program designed to support a range of legal assistance initiatives across multiple jurisdictions and communities, including tribal and territorial contexts, with awards large enough to sustain staffing, direct representation capacity, and coordinated service partnerships.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as OVW's vehicle for strengthening survivor access to the legal system through comprehensive legal assistance models that are anchored in experienced victim service organizations. It prioritizes programs that can demonstrate both legal competence and a strong, established commitment to serving victims of interpersonal violence, ensuring that legal interventions are practical, protective, and aligned with survivor safety needs.Apply for O OVW 2026 172580
- The Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Legal Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Assault Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.524.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: OVW FY 2026 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program
What is the OVW FY 2026 Legal Assistance for Victims grant program?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is focused on expanding access to legal help for people harmed by domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault by supporting projects that help victims obtain meaningful legal remedies and protections connected to the abuse.
Who is this grant intended to help?
The program is intended to benefit victims/survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking by making it easier for them to navigate civil and related legal systems and pursue safety, stability, and accountability through legal remedies.
What is the main goal of the program?
The core goal is to fund efforts that improve survivor access to legal remedies and protections in matters that relate to, or arise directly from, the abuse, with an emphasis on reducing barriers such as lack of representation, complicated procedures, and safety risks tied to litigation.
What kinds of activities or projects does OVW want to fund under this opportunity?
OVW intends to fund projects that deliver comprehensive legal assistance to victims, meaning end-to-end legal support rather than isolated, one-time advice. The opportunity emphasizes helping survivors access legal representation and advocacy connected to their abuse, including seeking protective orders and other court-based relief, and addressing legal problems that often accompany violence and coercion.
What does "comprehensive legal assistance" mean in this program?
Funding is intended for projects that provide "comprehensive legal assistance" as defined in federal law (34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(24)). Based on the opportunity summary, this points to full-spectrum legal support that helps victims pursue remedies and protections related to the abuse, rather than limited or one-off legal help.
Does the program focus on civil legal issues, criminal legal issues, or both?
The opportunity emphasizes helping survivors navigate the civil and related legal systems to pursue remedies and protections arising directly from the abuse. The summary highlights civil legal system navigation and court-based relief (such as protective orders) as central examples.
Are protective orders specifically mentioned as an example of the legal help supported by this grant?
Yes. The summary explicitly references supporting programs that help survivors seek protective orders and other court-based relief, along with addressing related legal problems that frequently accompany abuse.
What barriers to justice is this grant trying to reduce?
The overall intent is to reduce barriers that keep victims from using the legal system effectively, including lack of representation, complicated procedures, and safety risks tied to litigation.
What is a key structural or partnership requirement for funded projects?
A key requirement is that funded projects must include organizations with a clear mission and demonstrated history of providing direct services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This reflects OVW's expectation that legal services remain survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and connected to victim service expertise.
Why does OVW require involvement from organizations with a history of direct victim services?
OVW frames this requirement as a way to ensure that legal services efforts do not operate in isolation from community-based survivor support. The expectation is that projects will be survivor-centered and trauma-informed, grounded in the realities victims face, and integrated with organizations that routinely support survivors.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Based on the source information provided, eligible applicants include: nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations, and institutions of higher education (public/state-controlled and private).
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants, including both public/state-controlled and private institutions.
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, with the noted exclusion relating to institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories.
Does the opportunity description mention law schools?
Yes. The description notes that eligibility is limited to certain entity types and gives law schools as a common example of publicly funded organizations that are not acting in a governmental capacity.
Is eligibility limited to certain kinds of organizations beyond the broad categories?
Yes. The description highlights that eligibility is limited to private nonprofit entities, Indian Tribal governments and Tribal organizations, territorial organizations, and publicly funded organizations that are not acting in a governmental capacity.
What is the funding opportunity number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is O-OVW-2026-172580.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 16.524.
What is the funding activity category for this program?
The funding activity category is listed as Law, Justice and Legal Services.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is July 31, 2026.
How many awards does OVW anticipate making?
OVW anticipates making about 60 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) award amount is $900,000.
What does the opportunity suggest about the scale of funded projects?
With an anticipated 60 awards and a ceiling of $900,000, the program is positioned as a nationally competitive opportunity supporting legal assistance initiatives across multiple jurisdictions and communities, including tribal and territorial contexts, with awards potentially large enough to sustain staffing, direct representation capacity, and coordinated service partnerships.
What does OVW appear to prioritize when selecting projects?
Based on the summary, the program prioritizes comprehensive legal assistance models that strengthen survivor access to the legal system, are anchored in experienced victim service organizations, and demonstrate both legal competence and an established commitment to serving victims of interpersonal violence.
How is this program best described in plain terms?
It is OVW's funding vehicle for improving survivors' ability to use the legal system effectively by supporting projects that provide comprehensive legal help connected to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, in partnership with organizations that have real experience serving victims.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Law, Justice and Legal Services
Next opportunity: MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY STATE GRANTS
Previous opportunity: Single Source Competition: Continuation of the Cardiovascular Repository for Type 1 Diabetes (CaRe-T1D) - Resource Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for O OVW 2026 172580
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (O OVW 2026 172580) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Grants to Improve the Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program (ICJR Program) Apply for O OVW 2026 172633 Funding Number: O OVW 2026 172633 Agency: Office on Violence Against Women Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| OVW Calendar Year 2025 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program Apply for O OVW 2026 172440 Funding Number: O OVW 2026 172440 Agency: Office on Violence Against Women Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $4,400,000 |
| OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program Apply for O OVW 2026 172635 Funding Number: O OVW 2026 172635 Agency: Office on Violence Against Women Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program Apply for O OVW 2026 172630 Funding Number: O OVW 2026 172630 Agency: Office on Violence Against Women Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Grant Program Apply for O OVW 2026 172636 Funding Number: O OVW 2026 172636 Agency: Office on Violence Against Women Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| OJP FY 2026 Special Attorneys Program Round 3 Apply for O BJA 2026 172639 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172639 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $300,000,000 |
| Strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina's Anti-Money Laundering System to Combat Transnational Organized Crime Networks Apply for OFOP0002972 Funding Number: OFOP0002972 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Building Cross-Border Capacity for Transnational Criminal Organizations, financial Investigations and Asset Recovery Apply for OFOP0002976 Funding Number: OFOP0002976 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| FY26 Tribal Resources Grant Program- Technical Assistance Invitational Apply for O COPS 2026 172554 Funding Number: O COPS 2026 172554 Agency: Community Oriented Policing Services Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| FY26 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act Program Apply for O COPS 2026 172553 Funding Number: O COPS 2026 172553 Agency: Community Oriented Policing Services Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Demonstration Program on Trauma-Informed, Victim Centered Training for Law Enforcement on Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking (Abby Honold) Program Apply for O OVW 2026 172637 Funding Number: O OVW 2026 172637 Agency: Office on Violence Against Women Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| FY26 Preparing for Active Shooter Situations (PASS) Apply for O COPS 2026 172557 Funding Number: O COPS 2026 172557 Agency: Community Oriented Policing Services Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $10,350,000 |
| FY26 COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force Program Apply for O COPS 2026 172564 Funding Number: O COPS 2026 172564 Agency: Community Oriented Policing Services Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $4,000,000 |
| FY26 COPS Anti-Methamphetamine Program Apply for O COPS 2026 172565 Funding Number: O COPS 2026 172565 Agency: Community Oriented Policing Services Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| FY26 COPS Hiring Program Apply for O COPS 2026 172611 Funding Number: O COPS 2026 172611 Agency: Community Oriented Policing Services Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $6,250,000 |
| FY26 COPS School Violence Prevention Program Apply for O COPS 2026 172540 Funding Number: O COPS 2026 172540 Agency: Community Oriented Policing Services Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Combating Transnational Criminal Organizations through Data-Driven Analysis and Customized Investigative Mentoring Apply for OFOP0003000 Funding Number: OFOP0003000 Agency: Bureau of International Narcotics-Law Enforcement Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| DOJ FY 2026 Bridging Immigration-related Deficits Experienced Nationwide (“BIDEN”) Program Apply for O BJA 2026 172641 Funding Number: O BJA 2026 172641 Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE Apply for OFH 2600 DC 021C Funding Number: OFH 2600 DC 021C Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| OJJDP FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants/Byrne Discretionary Grants Program Apply for O OJJDP 2026 172638 Funding Number: O OJJDP 2026 172638 Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Category: Law, Justice and Legal Services Funding Amount: $4,200,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "O OVW 2026 172580", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.