OVW Fiscal Year 2021 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking on Campus Program Solicitation | O OVW 2021 47006

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the OVW Fiscal Year 2021 Campus Program grant?

The OVW Fiscal Year 2021 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking on Campus Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is designed to help colleges and universities strengthen coordinated campus responses to interpersonal violence, with a focus on safety, accountability, and survivor-centered support.

Which federal office administers this program?

This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

What is the legal authorization for this grant program?

The program is authorized under 34 U.S.C. 20125.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 16.525.

What types of violence does the program address?

The program focuses on reducing and responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the campus context.

What is the overall purpose of the Campus Program?

The purpose is to help institutions of higher education build stronger, more coordinated systems to prevent and respond to interpersonal violence on campus, improving safety, accountability, and survivor-centered services. The solicitation emphasizes that effective campus responses typically require coordination across multiple departments and community partners rather than operating in silos.

Why does the solicitation emphasize coordination across departments and partners?

Because campus incidents can involve students, staff, faculty, or visitors, and prevention and response often span multiple functions (for example, campus security, student affairs, housing, health services, and external community partners). The program encourages coordinated response practices instead of disconnected efforts.

What are the three main areas of work supported by the program?

The program encourages institutions to develop and strengthen work in three major areas: (1) enhancing campus security and investigative strategies, (2) expanding and improving victim services for campus-related cases, and (3) implementing prevention education and awareness programming aimed at sustained campus-wide cultural change.

What kinds of activities fall under enhancing campus security and investigative strategies?

Examples described include improving policies and procedures, strengthening investigative capacity and coordination, and ensuring responders understand trauma-informed approaches and victim safety considerations so reports are handled consistently, promptly, and effectively.

How does the program describe a strong response to reports of violence?

A strong response is described as one that is consistent, prompt, effective, and informed by trauma-informed approaches and victim safety considerations, supported by clear policies, procedures, and coordinated investigative practices.

What kinds of victim services does the program aim to expand or improve?

The solicitation highlights that survivors may need confidential advocacy, safety planning, medical and mental health referrals, academic and housing accommodations, and assistance navigating campus and criminal justice processes.

Does the program prioritize confidential advocacy and safety planning?

Yes. The opportunity recognizes survivor needs such as confidential advocacy and safety planning as key components of campus-related victim services.

What is meant by prevention education and awareness programming in this grant?

Prevention efforts supported by the program are intended to reduce perpetration and victimization through education, bystander engagement, and sustained campus-wide cultural change, rather than one-time events.

Is the program focused on one-time awareness events or long-term prevention?

The solicitation prioritizes sustained campus-wide cultural change rather than one-time events, supporting prevention education and awareness strategies that have broader and longer-lasting impact.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The solicitation also notes an additional eligibility category described as "others," depending on the specific clarification in the solicitation.

What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a grant.

How is this opportunity categorized?

The opportunity is categorized under Law, Justice, and Legal Services.

How many awards were anticipated for FY 2021?

For FY 2021, OVW anticipated making approximately 52 awards.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling for this opportunity is $750,000 per award.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on January 12, 2021.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was March 2, 2021.

How long was the application window between posting and the original deadline?

Based on the posted date (January 12, 2021) and the original deadline (March 2, 2021), the solicitation reflected a relatively short application window, which typically means applicants need partnerships, project plans, and internal approvals organized early.

What is OVW's Measuring Effectiveness Initiative?

OVW ties this program to broader accountability and results expectations through its Measuring Effectiveness Initiative, which includes performance measures that track how funded activities contribute to program goals and outcomes.

What kinds of performance expectations are associated with this grant?

Applicants and award recipients are generally expected to collect and report data demonstrating progress, such as improvements in coordinated response practices, training and prevention reach, enhancements in victim service access, and system changes that strengthen institutional capacity over time.

What types of outcomes or progress might grantees need to track and report?

The solicitation indicates performance measures may capture progress like improved coordinated response practices, the reach of training and prevention activities, increased or improved access to victim services, and institutional system changes that build long-term capacity.

Where does the solicitation direct applicants to find additional guidance or examples of effective approaches?

The solicitation points applicants to OVW program information pages, VAWA performance measurement resources, and examples of effective approaches highlighted in OVW reporting to Congress, including the 2018 Biennial Report.

What is the grant trying to help campuses move beyond?

It is aimed at helping campuses move beyond compliance-only approaches and toward comprehensive, coordinated, survivor-centered systems that prevent violence where possible and respond effectively when it occurs.

What kinds of institutional changes does the program ultimately seek to build?

The program emphasizes building lasting institutional infrastructure through partnerships, policies, training, victim services, and evidence-informed prevention efforts.

Who might be involved in campus incidents addressed by this program?

The solicitation notes that campus incidents may involve students, staff, faculty, or visitors, reflecting the broader campus environment and the need for coordinated response systems.