OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Engage Men and Boys as Allies in the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Program - Solicitation | O OVW 2023 171498

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVW 2023 171498

The OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Engage Men and Boys as Allies in the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). It is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117-328) and sits under the Consolidated Youth and Engaging Men (CYEM) Program, CFDA 16.888. This solicitation focuses specifically on engaging men and boys as proactive partners in preventing violence, with an emphasis on education and community organizing strategies that support women and girls and reduce harm before it occurs.

The core purpose of the program is prevention. Funded projects are expected to create educational programming and community-based organizing that encourages men and boys to act as allies in efforts to prevent domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking. In practice, this can include structured curricula, workshops, peer leadership development, campaigns that shift harmful norms, and coordinated community initiatives that build accountability and promote healthy, respectful relationships. The solicitation frames this work as complementary to, not a replacement for, victim services, with the idea that engaging men and boys is one important piece of a broader prevention ecosystem.

This Engage Men and Boys (EM) solicitation is one of two related solicitations under CYEM. The other is the Grants to Prevent and Respond to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking Against Children and Youth Program (the CY solicitation). A key rule is that applicants and project partners who apply to both the CY and EM programs can receive only one award, which effectively forces organizations to choose the best fit for their proposed approach. If an applicant is primarily designing services or interventions for children and youth who have been impacted by these forms of violence, OVW directs them toward the CY solicitation rather than the EM solicitation.

Eligibility is broad and includes county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Tribal governments, and Tribal organizations that are not federally recognized Tribal governments. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they hold 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education (as listed in the eligibility field). The solicitation also flags that culturally specific organizations, including Urban Indian organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations, are highlighted among eligible applicants. The notice explains that these groups have historically been eligible under CYEM, but they are being specifically emphasized here, signaling OVW interest in culturally grounded approaches and community-led prevention strategies.

The award structure reflects a relatively modest, targeted portfolio. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $350,000, and OVW anticipated making about 8 awards under this solicitation. The opportunity was created on February 13, 2023, with an original application closing date of March 24, 2023. As a DOJ/OVW funding opportunity, it falls under the funding activity category of Law, Justice, and Legal Services, and the funding instrument type is a grant.

Finally, OVW ties this program to its broader emphasis on measuring effectiveness. The solicitation points applicants to OVW grant program information and to performance measures under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Measuring Effectiveness Initiative, as well as relevant sections of OVW reports to Congress on the effectiveness of VAWA grant programs. In practical terms, that means applicants should be prepared to describe clear prevention goals, explain how activities will lead to measurable changes (such as increased allyship behaviors, improved community norms, or strengthened community capacity), and report progress using OVW-aligned metrics and reporting expectations.

• The Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVW Fiscal Year 2023 Grants to Engage Men and Boys as Allies in the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls Program - Solicitation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.888.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 13, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 24, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $350,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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