FY2025 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)

MBCC is soliciting proposals to offer comprehensive specialized services, tailored to the distinct needs of victims of crime under the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), to be funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime. VOCA Federal Guidelines state that services are defined as those efforts that: 1.)respond to the emotional and physical needs of crime victims; 2.) assist primary and secondary victims of crime to stabilize their lives after a victimization; 3.) assist victims to understand and participate in the criminal justice system; and 4.) provide victims of crime with a measure of safety and security. For the purposes of this program, a crime victim is a “person who has suffered physical, sexual, financial, or emotional harm as a result of the commission of a crime.” The four federally required service categories include victims of child abuse, victims of domestic violence, victims of sexual assault, and underserved victim populations. The application process is competitive. Distributed available funds to successful applicants per Board approved funding decisions. (Preliminary awards are approved by the Victims ARC Committee in April with final approval by the full board in June each year). Funding decisions are based on multiple factors including the total number of successful applicants, total funds available, total priority points awarded to applications, and ensuring the balanced distribution of funds across rural and urban communities. Please be aware, if MBCC receives funding reductions at the federal and/or state level, individual awards may be less than the amount applied for in the grant application. Any potential funding reductions will be evenly distributed across all approved grant awards. Funding reductions resulting from state and/or federal funding cuts are not subject to appeal (unless there is an additional qualified reason such as a mistake made by MBCC staff). Previous funding does not guarantee an award during this funding cycle. Because federal funds are not always available immediately following the award date, applicants should prepare for this contingency. * Match has been waived for this opportunity, grant cycle July 1, 2025-June 30, 2027. Matching contributions of 20% (cash or in-kind) of the total cost of the VOCA project (federal funds plus local match) are required and must be derived from non-federal sources. All funds designated as match are restricted to the same uses as the federal funds and must be expended within the grant period. Applicants that are a Federally Recognized Tribe or provide services on a Native American reservation are not required to provide match. A match waiver may be requested through the MBCC. For more information, please refer to B-07 on the MBCC Policies and Bylaws webpage. * Match requirements for first time applicants will be required for this application and match has not been waived as stated in "Cash or In-kind Match" section. First-Time VOCA applications must: 1) demonstrate a record of providing direct services to crime victims and survivors; and 2) show that 25% of the project budget contains funds from non- federal sources; description should be included in the Budget Narrative. This requirement should not be confused with the VOCA required 20% match of the federal (MBCC share). When first- time VOCA applicants demonstrate the 25% nonfederal source in the budget narrative, it can include all or a portion of the 20% match of nonfederal sources.

Applicants having questions or requiring clarification or interpretation of any section within this funding opportunity must address these issues via the email address listed above by the question submission close date. Clear reference to the funding opportunity section and item in question must be included in the request. Questions received after the close date will not be considered. Program-specific questions cannot be addressed during the solicitation period. Written responses to all questions received by the deadline will be posted in the Opportunity Details section of this funding opportunity within seven calendar days. Applicants should consult the Question Submission response prior to posting a question to avoid duplication and prior to submitting an application to avoid missing potentially assistive material. Any other form of interpretation of this funding opportunity will not be binding upon MBCC.

Eligible applicants include state, local, and Tribal courts (including juvenile courts); Tribal governments; units of local government, and nonprofit, nongovernmental victim services programs, including community-based organizations.