FY 2026 Victim of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grant
🏛 Office for Victims of Crime
Can you apply?
This grant is for states and U.S. territories to receive annual victim assistance funding through a formula-based allocation. States and territories use these funds to provide subgrants to local nonprofits, public agencies, and victim service organizations. Eligible activities include crisis counseling, shelter, therapy, criminal justice advocacy, and emergency assistance for crime victims. Organizations must apply through their state administering agency, not directly to OVC.
Program description
This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OVC FY 2026 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Formula Grant. This opportunity provides an annual VOCA victim assistance grant to all states and most territories to provide subgrants to local organizations and public agencies that provide services directly to crime victims. Examples of services provided include crisis counseling, telephone and onsite information and referrals, criminal justice support and advocacy, shelter, therapy, and additional assistance.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Application form (state-specific)
- Project/Program Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Proof of nonprofit status (501c3 or government agency)
- Evaluation plan
- Letters of support or partnership agreements
Program contact
- 👤 Office for Victims of Crime
- 📧 ojp.ResponseCenter@usdoj.gov
- 📞 202-353-2138
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.575 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$165,115,554
-
$153,789,867
-
$142,898,925
-
$124,379,369
-
$118,442,780
-
$113,501,217
-
$106,717,018
-
$101,470,379
-
$96,682,107
-
$91,878,955
Top States by Funding
- CA 4 awards $548.9M
- FL 6 awards $488.8M
- TX 4 awards $424.6M
- NC 8 awards $408.3M
- NY 5 awards $374.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.575). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $778,895,230 | |
| 2025 | $1,267,586,250 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this funding?
States and U.S. territories apply directly to OVC. Local organizations and agencies access funds through state subgrant competitions. Your state administering agency manages the application process.
What services does this grant support?
Crisis counseling, emergency shelter, therapy, criminal justice support, victim advocacy, information and referral services, and other direct victim assistance. Services must benefit crime victims.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is July 8, 2026. States must submit state applications by this date. Subgrant deadlines are set by individual states.
How does VOCA funding reach local organizations?
States and territories receive formula-based allocations from OVC. They then conduct competitive subgrant competitions for local service providers. Funding is distributed geographically across the state.
Is this a competitive grant or automatic funding?
State allocations are formula-based (not competitive). Local organizations compete for subgrants through their state's process.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact your state VOCA administering agency early to learn their local subgrant timeline and requirements. State deadlines differ from the federal deadline.
- Document your organization's direct victim service experience and staff qualifications in your proposal. Demonstrated impact matters for local selection.
- Budget for evidence-based, trauma-informed service delivery. Reviewers prioritize organizations with sound victim support practices.
- Partner with law enforcement, courts, and other criminal justice agencies to strengthen coordination and referrals in your application.
- Track outcomes and victim satisfaction metrics. Strong evaluation plans improve funding prospects in competitive state subgrant rounds.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many local organizations miss state subgrant deadlines because they wait for the federal deadline. Apply early through your state administering agency. Proposals lacking documented experience serving crime victims or clear trauma-informed approaches are less competitive. Weak evaluation and outcome tracking plans reduce selection chances.
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