DOJ – Legal Assistance for Victims (2020)

By NLADA on November 21, 2019 • ( 0 )

Applications are due January 29, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a non-binding Letter of Intent to OVW.LAV@usdoj.gov by January 14, 2019. This letter confirms that the applicant has registered with SAM and Grants.gov.

Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) is designed to increase the availability of legal assistance to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in matters related to or arising out of violence. The goal of this program is to develop innovative and collaborative projects that provide quality representation to victims.

Helpful resources

NLADA recently presented at the MIE Fundraising Conference on how civil legal aid serves victims of crime. Access the PowerPoint here.
The Justice in Government Project at American University has curated research briefs on how civil legal aid assists domestic violence survivors, elder abuse survivors and children. You can access these briefs here.
Want help making your case? The Justice Index scores and ranks states on their adoption of best practices for ensuring access to justice. Find how well your state is doing here.
Seeking individualized technical assistance? Reach us at resourcedesk@nlada.org

Grant information

Funding Title: Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program

Agency Name: Department of Justice – Office on Violence Against Women

Funding Opportunity Number: OVW-2020-17672

Funding Instrument Type: Grant

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes! This grant is designed to support legal services. Funds must be used for one or more of the following purposes: (p. 2)

To implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts and projects between domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault victim service providers and legal assistance providers to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
To implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to provide legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault by organizations with a demonstrated history of providing direct legal or advocacy services on behalf of these victims.
To implement, expand, and establish efforts and projects to provide competent supervised pro bono legal assistance for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, except that not more than 10 percent of the funds awarded may be used for this purpose.

There are several out of scope activities: research projects, representation in tort cases, child sexual abuse cases, cases involving child protection system unless related to abuse of the client, criminal representation of victims, support of law reform initiatives, cases involving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), funds for assistance/support unrelated to legal assistance, and training events that don’t support legal assistance to victims (p. 3-4).

Target Population: Adult and youth victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking

Expected Number of Awards: 58

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No

Estimated Total Program Funding: $34,000,000

Award ceiling: $800,000

Award floor: $600,000

Award information: Applications are due January 29, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a non-binding Letter of Intent to OVW.LAV@usdoj.gov by January 14, 2019. This letter confirms that the applicant has registered with SAM and Grants.gov.

Note: Recipients of an FY 2018 or FY 2019 award under this program are not eligible to apply as the lead applicant on an FY 2020 proposal. OVW will not fund the same entity, as either a lead recipient or partner/subrecipient, on more than two discretionary awards in FY 2020, absent extenuating circumstances.

Current Closing Date for Applications: Applications are due January 29, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Eligible Applicants: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized); Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; and Private institutions of higher education.