OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program (Rural Grant Program) | O OVW 2026 172579

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2026 172579

The OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program (often called the Rural Grant Program) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is designed specifically to strengthen safety, support, and justice system responses for child, youth, and adult victims in rural communities where services can be scarce, distances are large, and coordinated responses are harder to sustain. The program’s purpose is rooted in federal statute (34 U.S.C. 12341(a)) and focuses on building practical, on-the-ground capacity to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in rural areas.

Funding under this program can support a wide range of activities that together improve both victim access to services and the accountability of offenders. On the victim services side, the grant can fund or expand advocacy and supportive services, legal assistance, and shelter or housing-related supports that help victims reach safety and stability. It also supports community-based efforts that connect victims with resources and guide them through complex systems. On the public safety and justice side, the program can fund improvements to investigation, prosecution, adjudication, and community supervision functions such as parole and probation. The intent is not just to fund isolated services, but to strengthen the full continuum of response so victims in rural communities can get timely help and cases can be handled effectively from first report through court outcomes and supervision.

A central emphasis of the Rural Grant Program is collaboration. The statute and program description highlight the goal of encouraging coordinated partnerships among nonprofit victim service providers, law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and other key stakeholders in rural areas. It also aims to establish and expand nonprofit victim services where gaps exist, and to increase the safety and well-being of women and children in rural communities. Another specific priority is ensuring that victims in rural areas have access to sexual assault medical forensic exams, recognizing that rural geography, limited medical infrastructure, and staffing constraints can create serious barriers to obtaining these exams promptly and safely.

Eligible applicants include a broad mix of governmental and nonprofit entities that serve rural communities. This includes state governments and U.S. territories, county and city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments as well as other Native American tribal organizations. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, including Tribal nonprofit organizations. The eligibility list also includes public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education, along with other entities as allowed by the solicitation. This wide eligibility is intended to reflect the reality that rural service networks may be anchored by different types of organizations depending on the region.

The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) number 16.589 and falls within the Law, Justice, and Legal Services activity category. OVW expects to make about 55 awards under this solicitation. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $950,000 per award. The opportunity was created on June 1, 2026, and the original application closing date is July 24, 2026. The funding opportunity number is O-OVW-2026-172579, and the awarding agency is the Office on Violence Against Women.

• 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 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Grant Program (Rural Grant Program)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.589.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-24. (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 $950,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 55 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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.

Apply for O OVW 2026 172579

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