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Victim Services Support Program

Iowa Attorney General's Office Victim Assistance 

 

Victim Services Review and Appeals  Schedule  
Appeals Process  
How to Submit an Appeal   
Grant Review

The Criminal Justice and Victim Services funding opportunities have closed

When there is a competitive grant cycle, the Victim Assistance Section of the Iowa Attorney Generals' Office will issue a request for proposals and post updates this webpage. At this time there are no funding opportunities available. When there is an active solicitation for grant submissions, the AG's office will  seek grant proposals from victim service agencies, nonprofit agencies and governmental agencies for projects or programs designed to strengthen effective and holistic responses to victimization in Iowa. 

See below for the additional information regarding submitted proposals for the Victim Services Grant Competition

The victim services schedule is updated as follows: 

April 28, 2023 - Applications reviews to be completed by reviewed by review committees.
May 12, 2023 - Recommendations for funding presented to CVA Board at their board meeting.
May 12, 2023 - Denial and award letters sent to applicants.
May 26, 2023 - Appeals or requests for reconsideration due from applicants.
June 23, 2023 - CVA Board will review appeals and requests for reconsideration.

Requests for Reconsideration or Appeal Process (Appeals)

[Administrative Rule 61-9.59(13)(1-3)]

Applicants may file a request for reconsideration (appeal) to the CVA Board regarding the denial of a grant proposal or the award amount of proposal. The request for reconsideration must be submitted within ten working days of the date the notice of decision is issued by the Victim Assistance (formerly CVAD) to the applicant. The written request must be on agency letterhead, include the organization's name, the funding opportunity, and the name of the project OR the application number. It must also state the specific grounds for reconsideration and be signed by the authorizing official.  Appealing a funding decision is to be based on Victim Assistance misconduct, ineffective review processes, disparities in funding or miscalculation of funding amounts. The appeals process is not an opportunity to resubmit an application or to provide additional information for consideration. 

Upon receipt of a request for reconsideration or appeal,  a notice will  be sent to applicants whose funds may be affected by the appeal. Victim Assistance staff will provide a written response to the appellant regarding their request for reconsideration. The CVA Board or designated committee will be provided the following materials to review when considering appeals: 

  • appellant’s grant application 
  • appellant’s letter of appeal and any supporting documentation
  • award notification letter
  • application review notes and recommendation
  • Victim Assistance response to the appeal

 The CVA Board will conduct an appeal hearing to review appeals and determine final funding awards. The CVA Board allows the appellant to address the denial, or award recommendation in-person, or virtually. Any applicant who may be adversely affected by the appeal is also invited to attend and participate in the appeal. CVA Board members may ask questions of the appellant. A decision of the board or designated committee shall constitute final agency action.

Funds shall not be disbursed pending a request for reconsideration to the extent the funds are affected by the outcome of the request. Every applicant who could be adversely affected shall be notified if a request for reconsideration is approved, and awards are reduced as necessary.

In the event an original award denial or amount decision is overturned, adjustments are made to any other awards affected in the region, zone, project category, or service category for which the appeal was made. All affected grantees will be notified of the adjustments.

How to Submit an Appeal

Appellants must submit a letter on agency letterhead signed by the organization's authorized official requesting the appeal and detailing the reasons for the appeal. Appellants can provide documentation to support their appeal. Keep in mind  appealing a funding decision is to be based on Victim Assistance misconduct, ineffective review processes, disparities in funding or miscalculation of funding amounts. The appeals process is not an opportunity to resubmit an application or to provide additional information for consideration. 

Applicants wishing to submit an appeal may do in one of three ways: 

1) Submit a written appeal through Iowa GVS by uploading a letter on letterhead, signed by the organization's authorized official that includes the organization's name, the funding opportunity, and the name of the project OR the application number. The deadline is March 17, 2023. 

2) Email Lori Miller at lori.miller@ag.iowa.gov  with the subject line "Appeal submitted for (project title). The email must include a letter on letterhead, signed by the organization's authorized official that includes the organization's name, the funding opportunity, and the name of the project OR the application number. The deadline is March 17, 2023. 

3) US Postal Service to Lori Miller, Lucas Office Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines Iowa 50319. The letter must be received on or before March 17, 2023 (NOT POSTMARKED). The appeals letter must be on letterhead signed by the organization's authorized official that includes the organization's name, the funding opportunity, and the name of the project OR the application number.

Iowa GVS Instructions to submit appeals: 

  1. Log onto Iowa GVS. From My Opportunities panel, select Appeal, click Proceed
  2. On the right navigation panel, find Appeal Information Page. It is located near the top of the navigation panel. 
  3. From the appeal information page, select Grant Award Reconsideration as the type of appeal
  4. Follow the instructions on the appeals page and on this page. You must upload a letter on letterhead signed by the organization's authorized official that includes the organization's name, the funding opportunity, and the name of the project OR the application number.  You can also upload additional information or provide comments in a comment box. 
  5. Change the status to SUBMIT APPEAL  in the left navigation panel

Prepare to be a Victim Assistance Grant Recipient

If your organization is interested in applying for Victim Assistance  funding, consider reviewing the grant manual. You'll learn about the requirements to successfully obtain and manage federal funding. These requirements include policies and procedures specific to administering federal victim services grants, programmatic and financial reporting, financial match, confidentiality, civil rights and much more.  

Applicants New to Victim Assistance Funding:

Organizations not already registered in our grant management system, Iowa Grants for Victim Services, must register prior to submitting a grant application.  More information about Iowa GVS is provided in the Iowa GVS Grantee Manual, which provides new and existing users information on navigating Iowa GVS.

Iowa Grants for Victim Services, General Grant Funding, Application and Review Process

The Crime Victim Assistance Division of the Iowa Attorney's Office generally awards their victim services grant funds for three-year grant cycles.  Organizations not already registered in our grant management system, Iowa Grants for Victim Services, must register prior to submitting a grant application.  

Organizations must register in Iowa GVS by going to the New User? Register Here! link under the Login panel on the right side of the screen. The initial registration for your organization must be completed by your authorized official, and after that the Authorized Official will be able to add additional user for your organization in Iowa GVS. 

You will be required to provide: 

• Personal information - provide your work address, phone, email, etc. 
• Organizational information 
• Details about your organization 
• Financial information

Each person who should have access to your CVAD grants must have an account in Iowa GVS as well. 

Criminal Justice Grants - The deadline to apply for these competitive grants is past.

Criminal justice grants are awarded to non profit organizations, law enforcement agencies, courts, victim witness coordinators and prosecutors. The majority of funding for criminal justice grants is STOP and VOCA; the projects funded include violence against women prosecutors, victim witness coordinators, DART and SART teams, violence against women law enforcement efforts and community coordinated response teams. 

Victim Services Grants - The deadline to apply for these grants is past. 

Victim services grants are awarded to non profit organizations, governmental agencies and institutes of higher education. Victims services grants fund projects and programs designed to assist crime victims with healing after victimization.  These grants are for comprehensive victim services agencies, culturally specific agencies and organizations who serve victims in specific capacity.  

Grant Review

The submitted proposals are reviewed and evaluated by a volunteer grant review committee. The committee is made up of persons with expertise in victim services, grant management, and public policy.

The review committee and CVAD staff submit their recommendations for funding to the Crime Victim Assistance Board. The Board determines final grant awards to the extent funds are available and to the extent the applicants meet eligibility criteria.

Click here for more information on grant eligibility, required grant certificates, and required grant reports.

Click here for administrative rules governing the VSS Program.

Grant Reviewers Needed

CVAD seeks grant reviewers from diverse backgrounds, professions, geographic locations around Iowa (rural and urban), race, ethnicity, gender, age, ability and more to ensure a fair and equitable grant review process. Reviewers should have a good understanding of victim services; other relevant expertise in the purpose areas for which we issue grants; and/or from the specific type of community being served by grant proposals.

For more information or to apply to be a reviewer

The Iowa Attorney General's Office administers the following grant funds:  

 

Contact Information

Office of the Attorney General of  Iowa
Victim Assistance
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319

Phone: 515-281-5044
Toll-Free: 800-373-5044
FAX: 515-281-8199

For more information contact Victim Services Support Program.

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