Fiscal Year 2026 Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Initiative – Invitation to Apply
🏛 Office on Violence Against Women (USDOJ-OJP-OVW)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 5, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Tribes to work with their local U.S. Attorneys' Offices on VAWA crime prosecution. Eligible applicants are specific tribal nations listed by the OVW. Each awarded Tribe hires an attorney jointly approved by the Tribe and USAO. The attorney works as both a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and Tribal prosecutor. Funding supports staffing, not infrastructure or equipment.
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Program description
The Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Initiative (Tribal SAUSA Initiative) supports Tribes and United States Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) in their investigation and prosecution of VAWA crimes in Indian country. Tribes receive funds to work with their USAO partner to hire or retain a mutually agreed upon attorney to be cross-designated as both a SAUSA and a Tribal prosecutor. The goals of the initiative are to fill gaps in jurisdictional coverage; increase communication and coordination among Tribal, federal, and state law enforcement agencies; establish consistent relationships between federal prosecutors and Tribal community(ies); and improve the quality of investigation and prosecution of VAWA crimes.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (federal form)
- Project narrative
- Budget and budget narrative
- USAO partnership letter or MOU
- Tribal organizational documentation
- Law enforcement coordination agreements (if available)
Program contact
- 👤 Office on Violence Against Women
- 📧 OVW.TribalSAUSA@usdoj.gov
- 📞 0000000000
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 16.055 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,250,000
-
$1,250,000
-
$1,250,000
-
$1,000,000
-
$830,000
-
$830,000
-
$830,000
-
$830,000
-
$829,999
Top States by Funding
- OK 2 awards $2.3M
- AZ 2 awards $2.1M
- WA 1 awards $1.3M
- OR 1 awards $1.3M
- NE 1 awards $1.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 16.055). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2022 est. | $3,000,000 | |
| 2023 | $4,149,999 | |
| 2024 est. | $3,750,000 | |
| 2025 est. | $3,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only specifically listed tribal nations eligible for this funding cycle. Check the solicitation carefully. Your Tribe must be prepared to partner with a U.S. Attorneys' Office.
What is the award amount?
Awards are fixed at $1,460,000 per funded Tribe. No variation based on application strength or budget justification.
What does the SAUSA attorney do?
The attorney investigates and prosecutes Violence Against Women Act crimes in Indian country. They have dual authority as a federal prosecutor and tribal prosecutor.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. This is a 100% federally funded grant with no required match or cost-sharing.
Can my Tribe apply if we don't have a USAO nearby?
Your Tribe must have an existing relationship or partnership ready with a U.S. Attorneys' Office to be competitive. Coordination is essential.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your Tribe is on the eligible applicants list before investing time in the application.
- Secure USAO buy-in early. The federal prosecutor's office must agree to the cross-designation arrangement.
- Highlight existing gaps in VAWA investigation or prosecution your community faces. Use data if available.
- Emphasize coordination plans with tribal law enforcement, state agencies, and the USAO. Show concrete strategies.
- Plan attorney recruitment realistically. Budget sufficient time to hire or retain the right qualified attorney.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirmed USAO partnership support undermines competitiveness. Lacking clear documentation of VAWA crime gaps or prosecution challenges weakens your narrative. Insufficient detail on coordination mechanisms with tribal law enforcement and federal partners makes review difficult.
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