Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) STOP Grant Program

The VAWA Grant Program aims to develop and strengthen effective responses to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Overview

PLEASE NOTE: This program is not currently accepting applications for funding.

The VAWA STOP grant program helps to provide victims with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives, while improving communities’ capacity to provide justice for victims and hold offenders accountable. This is accomplished by forging state, local and tribal partnerships among police, prosecutors, judges, victim advocates, health care providers, faith leaders, organizations that serve culturally specific and underserved communities, and others.

The VAWA STOP grant is a vital resource that supports a variety of specialized and innovative projects throughout the Commonwealth. Some initiatives supported by these grant funds include:

• Services specifically devoted to preventing, identifying, and responding to violent crimes against women;
• Trainingopportunities for judiciary, court, and probation personnel, in addition to law enforcement and victim service providers;
• Developing partnerships between law enforcementand victim service providers to provide compassionate outreach to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking; and
• Supportingprosecutors working closely with victim witness advocates, probation, law enforcement, and state agencies to target high-risk cases and increase offender accountability.

Eligibility

Applicants limited to current recipients of the FY 2024 STOP grant award. This is a continuation grant, not a competitive grant opportunity.

Key Dates and Application Materials

Key Dates:

AGF Posted: September 25, 2025
Applications Due: October 24, 2025
Anticipated Award Notification: December 2025
Grant Award Period: January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026

Application Materials:

SFY25 VAWA STOP AGF (Revised 09.29.25)

FFY25 Violence Against Women Act Online Application Form

Required for all Applicants:

Attachment A: Budget Worksheets    
Please select the appropriate Budget Worksheet:

• For Non-State Agencies
• For State Agencies

Attachment B: Sub-Grantee Risk Assessment

Notice of Statutory Requirements to Comply with the Confidentiality and Privacy Provisions of VAWA

IF APPLICABLE:

Attachment C: Certification of Consultation for Courts and Prosecution Applicants

Attachment D: Certification of Consultation/MOA for Law Enforcement Applicants

Attachment E: Certification Letter for Applicants Proposing to Provide Legal Assistance

Additional Information:

Notice for OVC VOCA Victim Assistance and OVW Grantees Regarding Unallowable Costs Under the Award (re: legal services to certain aliens)

Date: November 19, 2025

Subject: Notice for OVC VOCA Victim Assistance and OVW Grantees Regarding Unallowable Costs Under the Award (re: legal services to certain aliens)

By its express terms, the Legal Services for Aliens provision of the DOJ Grants Financial Guide (which generally disallows the costs of providing legal services to any removable alien (see 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(e)(2)) or to any alien otherwise unlawfully present in the United States from being charged against DOJ grant awards) does not apply where “such disallowance would contravene any express requirement of any law … applicable to the award.”  Regulations currently in effect (which thus have the force of law) and applicable to VOCA Victim Assistance grants (28 C.F.R. Part 94, Subpart B) made by the Office of Justice Programs’ Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and grants made by the Office on Violence Against Women (“OVW”) (28 C.F.R. Part 90) variously provide that victim eligibility for direct services under such grants is not dependent on the victim's immigration status.  Accordingly, costs for such services under those grants are not disallowed by the Legal Services for Aliens provision of the DOJ Grants Financial Guide (ch. 3.13 "Unallowable Costs"). 

Violence Against Women Act Advisory Committee

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Advisory Committee is composed of a multi-disciplinary group of professionals from prosecution, law enforcement, public health, sexual assault and domestic violence service providers, judiciary and social service agencies. The Committee provides the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security with expertise, guidance and recommendations to assist in the development of a statewide implementation plan and identification of need in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

Resources for Grant Recipients

Resources for Massachusetts recipients of VAWA funding - find quarterly reporting documents, including the Grant Award Modification (GAM) Request Form and Guidance, as well as the Quarterly Reporting Technical Assistance Training presentation and other resources.