Culturally Specific Victim Services Program 2026
🏛 Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
✓ Free, no account · Source: Illinois GATA Catalog (CSFA) · Last verified Jul 1, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for culturally specific community-based organizations addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Illinois. Applicants must be community organizations focused on serving victims and survivors from specific cultural communities. Organizations must align with the Illinois STOP Violence Against Women Implementation Plan and comply with federal DOJ requirements.
Eligible activities include victim services, training for criminal justice professionals, and improving policies and protocols. Organizations may also work on coordination between criminal justice agencies and community partners. Sexual assault services are a required focus area.
Geographic scope is limited to Illinois. Applicants must demonstrate cultural competency and connection to underserved communities. Prior experience serving victims and survivors is expected.
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Program description
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) established the Services, Training, Officers, Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program to support a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
The STOP Program is designed to strengthen the criminal justice system’s response to victims and survivors through:
• Enhancing victim services.
• Supporting training and education for law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, court personnel, probation officers, victim service providers, and other professionals.
• Improving policies, protocols, and practices that promote victim safety and offender accountability.
• Strengthening collaboration among criminal justice agencies, victim service providers, and community partners.
Federal law requires states to allocate a portion of STOP funding to culturally specific community-based organizations and to programs that address sexual assault. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) administers STOP Program funding in Illinois in accordance with federal requirements and the Illinois STOP Violence Against Women Implementation Plan. a) Federal Financial Guide.** Applicants must comply with the current edition of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Grants Financial Guide, which provides guidance on allowable and unallowable costs and is available at: https://ojp.gov/financialguide/doj/pdfs/DOJ_FinancialGuide.pdf.
All costs charged to the award must be reasonable, necessary, allocable, and allowable under applicable federal regulations, the DOJ Grants Financial Guide, and the terms and conditions of the award. ICJIA reserves the right to determine the allowability of proposed or incurred costs, including costs not expressly addressed in the DOJ Grants Financial Guide. Federal Assistance Listing: 16.588. Administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 546-00-1744).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative and Statement of Need
- Budget Detail and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity Statement
- Letters of Support from Criminal Justice Partners
- Proof of 501(c)(3) Status
- Compliance with DOJ Grants Financial Guide
Program contact
- 👤 Shataun Hailey
- 📧 Shataun.Hailey@Illinois.gov
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.588 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$16,675,442
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$16,562,077
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$16,188,360
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$14,545,787
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$14,332,066
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$14,055,460
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$13,951,300
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$13,935,716
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$10,880,622
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$10,520,852
Top States by Funding
- CA 5 awards $77.8M
- TX 6 awards $73.8M
- NY 8 awards $62.9M
- FL 4 awards $36.5M
- NC 7 awards $31.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
What types of organizations can apply?
Culturally specific community-based organizations serving victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Organizations must be based in Illinois.
What activities are fundable under this grant?
Victim services, training for law enforcement and justice professionals, improving protocols and policies, and strengthening collaboration between agencies and community partners.
Is there a cost-sharing requirement?
No, federal law does not require cost sharing for this STOP Program allocation.
What is the typical funding range?
Awards typically range from $75,000 to $100,000 for individual projects. Total program funding is $825,000 across all awards.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is July 20, 2026. Applicants should verify this date with ICJIA closer to the deadline.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate strong cultural competency and authentic connections to the specific community you serve. Reviewers prioritize organizations with demonstrated trust and accessibility within their cultural communities.
- Align your project with the Illinois STOP Violence Against Women Implementation Plan. Review ICJIA's statewide priorities before drafting your proposal.
- Include detailed job descriptions and qualifications for all proposed staff. Personnel costs must be reasonable and directly support victim services or training activities.
- Document coordination with local criminal justice agencies and other victim service providers. Show how your work strengthens the broader response to violence.
- Use the current DOJ Grants Financial Guide to ensure all proposed costs are allowable. Familiarize yourself with federal restrictions on spending before finalizing your budget.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Organizations fail to demonstrate genuine cultural competency or deep community connections. Applicants propose activities that duplicate existing services instead of filling identified gaps. Budgets include unallowable costs not compliant with the DOJ Grants Financial Guide or fail to clearly link costs to proposed activities.
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