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American Indian & Alaska Native Victim Services Resources

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Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside

Overview

Congress annually authorizes set-aside funds from the Crime Victims Fund for a Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) program which provide support to Tribal communities to enhance services for victims of crime, consistent with the requirements of the Victims of Crime Act. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is charged by Congress with administering the Crime Victims Fund.

OVC’s TVSSA formula grant program supports American Indian and Alaska Native communities as they walk in healing with survivors and victims of crime.

OVC FY25 Invited to Apply Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program

Tribal applicants whose OVC FY25 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) Formula Program population certification was accepted will be notified via an email to the applicant primary points of contact and authorized representatives.

Applicants should refer to the OVC FY25 Invited to Apply TVSSA Formula Program Notice of Funding Opportunity for instructions on how to submit their application.

Formula Allocations

OVC will provide applicants with notification when the FY 2025 allocations are available.

At the time of publishing this Notice of Funding Opportunity, Congress has not yet set the amount for the FY 2025 Tribal Set-Aside. When the FY 2025 appropriation is enacted, a formula will be used to calculate the allocations for each applicant.

Applicants can review the FY 2024 Population Certification Tier Table page 7 of the Notice of Funding Opportunity as an example of potential funding allocations.

Allowable Activities

Funding under the OVC FY25 TVSSA Formula Program can be used to support activities such as—

  • direct services to victims of crime;
  • traditional healing practices;
  • needs assessment and strategic planning;
  • victim service program development and implementation;
  • victim service program expansion including expanding populations served and types of crime addressed;
  • community outreach and education about crime victimization and available services;
  • purchasing or procuring tangible items related to victim services;
  • support for families of missing or murdered indigenous persons; and
  • other activities needed to address the individualized needs of victims of any type of crime in Tribal communities.

Support for Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons

Funding under the OVC FY25 TVSSA Formula Program can be used to help Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP). Some examples include—

  • providing services to the family members of MMIP victims;
  • generating awareness of MMIP among community members in general, as well as individual MMIP cases; and
  • collaborating with Tribal, federal, and state and local officials to respond to MMIP cases.

View the MMIP Fact Sheet for more information about TVSSA-funded MMIP projects.

Construction and Renovation Efforts

All applicants proposing to use TVSSA funds for renovation or construction activities must complete and upload the separate TVSSA Construction and Renovation Efforts Questionnaire in addition to the written program narrative or checklist.

Budget Guidance Chart

The Budget Guidance Chart provides examples of program activities and specific costs for which TVSSA grant funds may be used. Use it when developing your Budget Detail Worksheet and Proposal Narrative Questionnaire (which should be consistent with each other) to describe the proposal for OVC review.

Deadlines

  • Grants.gov Deadline: Submit a SF-424 by 8:59 p.m. eastern time on May 9, 2025
  • Application JustGrants Deadline: Submit the full application by 8:59 p.m. eastern time on June 6, 2025

Special Notice

Instead of submitting a traditional program narrative and abstract, applicants will submit a Proposal Narrative Questionnaire created by OVC in JustGrants. Additional instructions can be found in the application in JustGrants. 

You have two options for submitting your Proposal Narrative Questionnaire. 

  1. Applicants may complete the TVSSA Proposal Narrative Questionnaire in JustGrants on their own.
  2. Applicants may schedule a telephone or video conference interview with OVC staff, where an OVC staff member will complete the TVSSA Proposal Narrative Questionnaire using information the applicant provides.

If you choose to complete your Proposal Narrative Questionnaire via interview, please contact us at OVCTribalSetAside@ojp.usdoj.gov. With your request, please indicate whether you plan to conduct renovation/construction/modular building activities, so that staff can schedule sufficient time to complete both the Proposal Narrative Questionnaire and Construction and Renovation Efforts Questionnaire.

When a due date to request a Proposal Narrative Questionnaire interview is determined, it will be posted on this page.

Pre-Application Webinars

OVC will conduct a series of pre-application webinars during which OVC staff will review funding opportunity requirements, provide step-by-step expectations on developing the application and considerations for developing the budget, capture guidance on how to apply, and answer questions. The webinar series may include the following topics:

  • Application Preparation & Submission
  • Developing a Budget
  • Completing a Proposal Narrative
  • Considerations for a Construction Project

Participation in this webinar series, while encouraged for potential applicants, is optional and not required. When the webinars have been scheduled, they will be posted to this page.

OVC Tribal Consultation on FY 2025 Tribal Set-Aside Funding

OVC hosted a virtual Tribal Consultation on the Tribal Set-Aside from the Crime Victims Fund for Fiscal Year 2025 on October 23–24, 2024. The purpose of the consultation was to solicit recommendations about OVC’s administration of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside. 

OVC invited Consultation written testimony from:

  • an elected Tribal leader,
  • an appointed Tribal leader, or
  • someone designated by an elected or appointed Tribal leader (designation must be provided in writing).

An informational Framing Paper on the FY 2025 Tribal Set-Aside and FY 2024 Tribal Set-Aside annual report provided relevant background and questions for participants at the consultation to consider.

Watch the Recordings From Days One and Two of the FY 2025 Tribal Consultation

Consultation on the FY 2025 Tribal Set-Aside From the Crime Victims Fund | Day 1 | 10/23/2024

November 2024
OVC invited elected or appointed leaders of federally recognized Tribes and their authorized designees to participate in a Consultation on the Tribal Set-Aside from the Crime Victims Fund for Fiscal Year 2025. Participants were invited to share their thoughts, recommendations, and concerns about OVC’s administration of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside.

Consultation on the FY 2025 Tribal Set-Aside From the Crime Victims Fund | Day 2 | 10/22/2024

November 2024
OVC invited elected or appointed leaders of federally recognized Tribes and their authorized designees to participate in a Consultation on the Tribal Set-Aside from the Crime Victims Fund for Fiscal Year 2025. Participants were invited to share their thoughts, recommendations, and concerns about OVC’s administration of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside.

Frequently Asked Questions About the TVSSA Distribution

 

Historical Victim Services Set-Aside Program Information