Victim Services Support Program
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. CVAD's victim service funding is concentrated into two focus areas: criminal justice grants and victim services grants. CVAD anticipates releasing the next round of funding in two phases. The request for criminal justice funding applications/grant solicitation is expected to be released in November 2021. The request for victim services funding applications/grant solicitation is expected to be released in January 2022.
Criminal Justice Grants
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 grant 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
Victim services grants are awarded to non profit organizations, govermental 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.
CVAD is transitioning to a new grants management system and will update this page as we complete our transition to the new system.
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.
The VSS Program administers grant funds that provide partial funding to local and statewide crime victim service programs in Iowa.
- Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance funds are awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime. The funds come entirely from fines and penalties assessed against convicted federal criminals.
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA or VW) funds are awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Congress appropriates the funds annually. Iowa's VAWA Implementation Plan.
- Federal Family Violence Prevention & Services Act Grant (FVPSA) funds are awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families. Congress appropriates the funds annually.
- Federal Sexual Abuse Services Program (SASP) funds are awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. Congress appropriates the funds annually.
- Iowa’s Domestic Abuse (DA) and Sexual Abuse (SA) funds are appropriated by the Iowa General Assembly annually.
Grantee Resources
Contact Information
Office of the Attorney General of Iowa
Crime Victim Assistance Division
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 Administrator Lori Miller.
