OVC FY 2021 National Center for Culturally Responsive Victim Services | O OVC 2021 32002

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVC 2021 32002

The OVC FY 2021 National Center for Culturally Responsive Victim Services grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), designed to create and operate a national hub focused on improving how victim services reach communities that have historically been underserved, marginalized, or harmed by inequality. The central purpose is to develop, manage, and run OVC's National Center for Culturally Responsive Victim Services (the Center), which will deliver national-scale training and technical assistance to strengthen access to both victim services and victim compensation. In practical terms, this opportunity is about building a strong, coordinated national resource that helps local and community-based providers deliver services that actually fit the cultural context and lived realities of the people they serve, especially communities of color and other groups identified as underserved in Executive Order 13985 on advancing racial equity.

A key emphasis of the program is capacity-building for community-based organizations. The Center is expected to help organizations improve their ability to provide culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and victim-centered services. That means the work is not limited to awareness-raising or general education; it is aimed at improving the real-world effectiveness of victim service systems by equipping providers with skills, tools, and support that translate into better access, stronger service quality, and fewer barriers for victims seeking help. The Center's work is also framed as part of a broader Department of Justice commitment to civil rights, access to justice, public safety, and trust-building between law enforcement and communities, with a specific alignment to the federal government's equity goals laid out in Executive Order 13985.

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically signals a more hands-on relationship with the funding agency than a standard grant. Under a cooperative agreement, the recipient generally works closely with OVC on implementation, coordination, and performance expectations, reflecting the national scope and the importance of consistent quality and alignment with federal priorities. The funding opportunity anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an award ceiling of $3,000,000, indicating OVC's intent to select one lead entity to operate the Center at a national level rather than distributing funds across many smaller projects.

Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other entities as further clarified in the solicitation. The listing is associated with CFDA 16.582 and falls under the funding activity category of income security and social services, which matches the program's focus on supporting victims and improving access to compensatory and supportive systems. The opportunity was posted May 27, 2021, with an original application closing date of July 12, 2021.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as federal investment in a national technical assistance and training engine meant to reduce inequities in victim service access and outcomes. By strengthening culturally responsive practices and helping providers better serve people who have often faced structural barriers to support, the Center is positioned to influence victim services across the country, not just in one region or service network, while advancing DOJ and federal equity goals.

• The Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY 2021 National Center for Culturally Responsive Victim Services" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.582.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 27, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 12, 2021. (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 $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for O OVC 2021 32002

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