Opportunity Information: Apply for OVW 2017 11920
The OVW FY 2017 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program Solicitation is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), designed to expand access to legal help for people harmed by sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. The core purpose is practical and victim-centered: make sure adult and youth victims can obtain the civil and certain victim-related criminal legal assistance they need to pursue safety, stability, and legal remedies connected to the abuse, and to do so at no cost or minimal cost to the victim. The program emphasizes that legal representation can be a critical part of a victim’s ability to secure protection, housing, financial support, immigration relief, and other outcomes that reduce continued harm and promote long-term safety.
A key feature of the solicitation is its focus on legal matters that are "relating to or arising out of" the abuse or violence. In other words, supported services should be tied directly to the victimization and the legal consequences that flow from it. The funding is intended to support direct legal services for victims, meaning representation, advice, advocacy, and other attorney-led assistance aimed at achieving concrete legal relief. While the solicitation recognizes that victims may need help navigating both civil and criminal justice systems, it draws a clear line on what it will not support: LAV funds cannot be used to provide criminal defense services. That prohibition is explicit and is meant to ensure grant dollars are used to advance victim legal needs rather than defend individuals accused of crimes.
The program’s objective goes beyond simply increasing the number of attorneys or cases served. OVW is looking for innovative, collaborative projects that deliver high-quality representation. That collaboration language typically signals an expectation that applicants will coordinate with victim service providers, legal aid organizations, courts, community-based programs, and other stakeholders so victims receive comprehensive and consistent support rather than fragmented services. "Quality representation" also implies an emphasis on competent, trauma-informed legal practice, and on building systems that can reliably serve victims with complex, interrelated legal problems stemming from violence and abuse.
In terms of administration and funding details, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number OVW 2017 11920 and CFDA 16.524. The solicitation was created on January 4, 2017, with an original closing date of February 16, 2017. The award ceiling is $800,000 per award, and OVW anticipated making approximately 60 awards under this announcement. The activity category is aligned with law, justice, and legal services, reflecting the program’s role in strengthening legal responses and access to counsel for victims.
Eligibility is broad across several sectors, which supports the program’s goal of fostering partnerships and reaching victims through different institutional channels. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both those with 501(c)(3) status and those without, excluding higher education institutions in the latter category); and federally recognized Native American tribal governments as well as tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. This eligible applicant pool is consistent with a model where legal service providers, campus-based legal clinics, tribal justice partners, and community nonprofits can compete for funding to build or expand victim legal assistance capacity.
Overall, the OVW LAV Grant Program solicitation reflects a targeted investment in victim legal advocacy: increasing access to low-cost or no-cost legal help, improving the quality and coordination of representation, and supporting projects that can effectively help victims pursue legal remedies tied to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, while expressly excluding any use of funds for criminal defense.Apply for OVW 2017 11920
- The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW FY 2017 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program Solicitation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.524.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 04, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 16, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: OVW FY 2017 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program
What is the OVW FY 2017 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program?
The OVW FY 2017 Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is designed to expand access to legal assistance for people harmed by sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
What is the main purpose of this grant program?
The core purpose is to increase victims' access to practical, victim-centered legal help so adult and youth victims can obtain civil and certain victim-related criminal legal assistance connected to the abuse. The program is focused on helping victims pursue safety, stability, and legal remedies, at no cost or minimal cost to the victim.
Who is the grant intended to help?
The program is intended to help adult and youth victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking who need legal assistance relating to or arising out of the abuse.
What types of legal issues are supported under LAV?
Supported legal services must be for legal matters "relating to or arising out of" the abuse or violence. The solicitation emphasizes legal assistance connected to the victimization and the legal consequences that flow from it, including civil matters and certain victim-related criminal legal assistance.
Does the program fund direct legal services?
Yes. The funding is intended to support direct legal services for victims, including representation, advice, advocacy, and other attorney-led assistance aimed at achieving concrete legal relief.
Can LAV grant funds be used for criminal defense services?
No. The solicitation explicitly prohibits using LAV funds to provide criminal defense services. Grant dollars must be used to advance victims' legal needs, not to defend individuals accused of crimes.
Why does the solicitation emphasize that legal matters must be tied to the abuse?
The solicitation is targeted to legal needs that stem from the victimization. By requiring that the legal matters relate to or arise out of the abuse, the program ensures funding supports legal remedies directly connected to the harm and its consequences.
What outcomes does OVW connect to legal representation under this program?
The solicitation recognizes legal representation can be critical for victims seeking outcomes such as protection, housing, financial support, immigration relief, and other results that reduce continued harm and promote long-term safety.
Is the program only focused on increasing the number of attorneys or cases served?
No. The objective goes beyond volume. OVW is looking for innovative, collaborative projects that deliver high-quality representation and improve access to legal help for victims.
What does "innovative, collaborative projects" mean in this solicitation?
Based on the solicitation language, it signals an expectation that applicants coordinate with relevant partners such as victim service providers, legal aid organizations, courts, community-based programs, and other stakeholders so victims receive comprehensive and consistent support rather than fragmented services.
What does "quality representation" imply for proposed projects?
The solicitation's emphasis on quality representation suggests a focus on competent, victim-centered legal practice and building reliable systems to serve victims who may have complex, interrelated legal needs stemming from violence and abuse.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is OVW 2017 11920.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 16.524.
When was the solicitation created and what was the original closing date?
The solicitation was created on January 4, 2017, and the original closing date was February 16, 2017.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $800,000 per award.
How many awards did OVW anticipate making under this announcement?
OVW anticipated making approximately 60 awards under this announcement.
What activity category does this program fall under?
The activity category is aligned with law, justice, and legal services, reflecting the program's role in strengthening legal responses and access to counsel for victims.
Who is eligible to apply for LAV funding under this solicitation?
Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both those with 501(c)(3) status and those without, excluding higher education institutions in the latter category); federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments.
Are nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The solicitation states that nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status are eligible, with the noted limitation that the "without 501(c)(3)" category excludes institutions of higher education.
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, as well as tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments.
Does the solicitation indicate why eligibility is broad?
The solicitation describes broad eligibility as consistent with fostering partnerships and reaching victims through different institutional channels, including legal service providers, campus-based legal clinics, tribal justice partners, and community nonprofits.
What does it mean that the LAV program is a discretionary grant opportunity?
In the context of the solicitation description provided, it means this funding opportunity is offered through OVW as a competitive grant program rather than a guaranteed entitlement, with OVW anticipating a certain number of awards under the announcement.
What cost to victims does the program aim for?
The program aims to ensure victims can access needed legal assistance at no cost or minimal cost to the victim.
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