Legal Assistance for Victims
Open Opportunities (1)
Live Grants.gov opportunities funded under this program — you can apply now.
- OVW Fiscal Year 2026 Legal Assistance for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Assault Grant Program Deadline: Jul 31, 2026 · up to $900K
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Program Objective
These grants are for increasing the availability of comprehensive civil and criminal legal services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in matters relating to or arising from the abuse or violence. The goal is to develop innovative, collaborative programs within the legal system that promote victim safety and increase victim economic autonomy.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- State governments
- Public nonprofits
- Other public organizations
- Specialized groups
- Private nonprofits
Eligible grantees for this program are private, nonprofit entities, Indian tribal governments and tribal organizations, territorial organizations, and publicly funded organizations not acting in their governmental capacity, such as law schools.
Beneficiaries
- 11
- 13
- 16
- 4
- 7
- 8
Beneficiaries include public or private nonprofit entities providing legal assistance primarily to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and or stalking and victims of these crimes who receive legal assistance.
How to Apply
Application Procedure
Applicants must apply through the on-line Grants.gov portal and the Department of Justice's JustGrants System.
Award Procedure
Upon approval by the Office on Violence Against Women, online notification is sent to the applicant agency. The Authorized Representative must accept the award online.
Applicants will be notified by the end of the fiscal year.
Program details & compliance
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program provides an opportunity for communities to enhance legal assistance for victims. Funds may be used: (1) to implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and projects between domestic violence, dating viiolence, and sexual assault victim services organizations and legal assistance providers to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault; (2) to implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault by organizations with a demonstrated history of providing direct legal or advocacy services on behalf of these victims; and (3) to implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to provide competent, supervised pro bono legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, except that not more than 10 percent of the funds awarded under this section may be used for this purpose.
Required Documentation
To be eligible for an award under the LAV Grant Program, applicants must certify in writing that they are in compliance with the following statutory requirements:
(1) any person providing legal assistance through a program funded under this section—
(A)
(i) is a licensed attorney or is working under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney;
(ii) in immigration proceedings, is a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative;
(iii) in Veterans’ Administration claims, is an accredited representative; or
(iv) is any person who functions as an attorney or lay advocate in Tribal court; and
(B)
(i) has demonstrated expertise in providing legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking in the targeted population; or
(ii)
(I) is partnered with an entity or person that has demonstrated expertise described in clause (i); and
(II) has completed, or will complete, training in connection with domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault and related legal issues, including training on evidence-based risk factors for domestic and dating violence homicide;
(2) any training program conducted in satisfaction of the requirement of paragraph (1) has been or will be developed with input from and in collaboration with a tribal, State, territorial, local, or culturally specific domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking victim service provider or coalition, as well as appropriate tribal, State, territorial, and local law enforcement officials;
(3) any person or organization providing legal assistance through a program funded under subsection (c) has informed and will continue to inform State, local, or tribal domestic violence, dating violence, or sexual assault programs and coalitions, as well as appropriate State and local law enforcement officials of their work; and
(4) the grantee’s organizational policies do not require mediation or counseling involving offenders and victims physically together, in cases where sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or child sexual abuse is an issue.
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements