Crime Victim Services

The FY2026 Justice Grants Consolidated Request for Applications (RFA) is administered by the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG), which is part of the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia. OVSJG functions as the State-Administering Agency responsible for criminal justice planning, coordination, technical assistance, and the oversight of programs addressing violence, public safety, and justice-related services. The agency directs federal and District funds towards local initiatives aimed at supporting victims and preventing crime. It also provides strategic advice to the Mayor's Office on policies concerning victims and offenders in the justice system. This funding opportunity offers competitive grants to support a wide array of juvenile and criminal justice initiatives. Under juvenile justice, grants support services in delinquency prevention, restorative justice, Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act (YRA) support, juvenile reentry, special education legal services for youth charged as adults, and technological enhancements for engaging system-involved youth. Criminal justice funding supports reentry services, direct client assistance, Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), and the implementation of the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act (IRAA) and Second Look Act. Funding for this program comes from local appropriations and federal sources including the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To be eligible, applicants must be public or private community-based nonprofit organizations or institutions providing services in the District of Columbia. For-profit organizations are eligible for local funds but cannot include profit in their application. All applicants must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM), possess a Unique Entity ID, and hold a valid District business license. The application process requires submission through GovGrants, OVSJG’s electronic grants system, by 11:59 PM ET on June 24, 2025. No hard copies will be accepted. A pre-bidder webinar will be offered, and technical questions must be submitted by June 13, 2025, via email. Applications must include a range of documents such as a project narrative, work plan, budget, letters of support or MOUs, audited financial statements, and certifications. The narrative must address need, population served, implementation plan, community and trauma-informed approaches, and evaluation methods. Each application is scored based on completeness, clarity, alignment with grant objectives, use of evidence-based practices, and the applicant’s ability to collect and report data. Additional administrative documents such as IRS determination letters, board rosters, resumes, and compliance with the District’s tax and insurance requirements are also mandatory. The application review process involves both internal and external peer reviewers. Final award decisions are made by the Director of OVSJG, with notification expected between August 28 and September 9, 2025. The funding period will run from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. The grant is not offered on a rolling basis but may recur annually depending on funding availability. Matching funds are not required, though specific reporting and oversight requirements are in place for grantees, including quarterly financial and programmatic reports. For questions related to the RFA, applicants can contact OVSJG at [email protected]. Technical assistance with the submission system can be sought via [email protected]. All answers to applicant inquiries and any updates to the RFA will be posted on the OVSJG funding opportunities website.