2025 Victim Assistance Grant Program (VOCA)

The primary purpose of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Grant Program is to provide direct services and assistance to victims of crime.

This Request for Applications (RFA) outlines how to apply for funding to support services that meet the immediate and long-term needs of victims of crime under the Victim Assistance Grant Program for a three-year period (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2028).

This RFA provides an opportunity for service providers to implement or continue assistance programs that explore ways to improve the reach and breadth of the system supported with VOCA funds.

The Office of Victim Services (OVS) seeks strategies that:

• Encourage innovation with new ideas and approaches that complement existing practices.
• Identify and offer services in areas with the greatest needs and where gaps in services may exist.
• Consider services to underserved, marginalized, or oppressed victim populations such as older adults, young men of color, victims of hate crimes, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, or the LGBTQ+ community.
• Identify victims who do not seek out services.
• Provide trauma-informed services and assistance to victims of crime.

OVS expects that contracts resulting from this procurement will be in effect for three (3) years. Applicants are expected to have read and understood the VOCA statute and regulations before applying under this RFA. In addition to the program eligibility requirements stated in the Victims of Crime Act, the Department of Justice has issued Regulations to implement the VOCA funds: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-28/chapter-I/part-94/subpart-B

Important note : the VOCA Victim Assistance Grant Program is intended to complement program budgets and should not be considered a principal source of funding for any organization. VOCA stipulates that federal funds may not be used by grantee agencies to supplant (i.e., replace) State or local funds. A program receiving a grant award may use the funds only to support the services and costs identified in its application and only to the extent these are approved by OVS and are allowable within the Federal Register/Rules and Regulations and as further defined by VOCA and the SAA.