OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Strengthening Culturally Specific Campus’ Approaches to Address Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative | O OVW 2024 171956

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2024 171956

The OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Strengthening Culturally Specific Campuses' Approaches to Address Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative (often referred to as the CSC Initiative) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), funded through the Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program (Campus Program), CFDA 16.525. The overall purpose is to help colleges and universities build stronger, more effective campus-wide systems to prevent and respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, with an emphasis on approaches that are culturally relevant and grounded in the lived realities of the students those institutions primarily serve.

This initiative is specifically designed to support three types of culturally specific institutions: Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) located in the United States or U.S. territories. A key feature of the CSC Initiative is that it prioritizes capacity-building for schools that have not previously received a Campus Program grant or whose most recent Campus Program award was made in fiscal year 2019 or earlier. In practical terms, this means the funding is meant to help institutions that are earlier in the process of building a comprehensive campus response, or that need to refresh and rebuild infrastructure that has not been supported by Campus Program dollars in several years.

The work supported by the grant centers on strengthening institutional responses and prevention strategies. Allowable focus areas include improving trauma-informed investigation practices and response protocols, developing coordinated community response models (so campus offices and community partners work together in a consistent and survivor-centered way), expanding or strengthening victim services, and creating or enhancing prevention education and awareness programming for the campus community. The emphasis on trauma-informed approaches signals an expectation that funded activities will prioritize survivor safety, dignity, and access to meaningful support, while also improving how institutions handle reports and responses.

The CSC Initiative also reflects federal statutory and appropriations priorities around equity in funding distribution for culturally specific institutions. Under 34 U.S.C. 20125(a)(2)(C), the Attorney General is directed to make every effort to ensure equitable distribution of Campus Program grants to TCUs and HBCUs. Additionally, the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization in 2022 created a set-aside within the Campus Program authorization of appropriations, including a 10 percent set-aside designated for HBCUs. Beyond that statutory framework, the FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Acts included a 50 percent set-aside for HBCUs, TCUs, and HSIs. Taken together, these provisions explain why this opportunity is narrowly targeted and why it is positioned as a dedicated pathway for these institutions to compete for Campus Program resources.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, the program is offered as a grant (not a contract), categorized under Law, Justice, and Legal Services. The funding opportunity number is O-OVW-2024-171956. OVW anticipated making about 25 awards, with an award ceiling of up to $500,000 per award. The opportunity was posted on April 25, 2024, with an original application closing date of May 31, 2024. Eligible applicant categories include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities, but for this particular initiative eligibility is limited in practice to HSIs, HBCUs, and TCUs as defined by federal criteria.

In summary, this OVW initiative is a targeted investment to help HSIs, HBCUs, and TCUs strengthen culturally relevant prevention and response systems for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus, especially at institutions that are new to OVW Campus Program funding or have not had a recent award. The funded work is expected to build durable campus capacity through stronger protocols, survivor services, coordinated partnerships, trauma-informed practices, and effective prevention education that fits the campus culture and student population.

• The Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Strengthening Culturally Specific Campus’ Approaches to Address Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.525.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-31. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for O OVW 2024 171956

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: