The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) FY 2025 Training and Technical Assistance Initiative (TA Initiative) is a funding opportunity provided by the U.S. Department of Justice. The program is designed to enhance the capacity of civil and criminal justice system professionals and victim service providers to address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The initiative seeks to ensure a coordinated community response and promote collaboration between organizations that may not traditionally work together. This effort aims to improve the effectiveness of projects supported by OVW grants by providing training and technical assistance (TTA) to OVW recipients and subrecipients.

The purpose of the OVW TA Initiative is to strengthen the ability of service providers and justice professionals to address gender-based violence comprehensively. By offering specialized training and technical assistance, the initiative supports organizations in implementing federally funded projects effectively. Some specific purpose areas under this initiative are supported by the OVW Innovation Fund, which funds pilot and demonstration projects aimed at improving responses to gender-based violence across various levels of government and community organizations​.

The funding scope for the FY 2025 initiative includes an expected total funding amount of $44,000,000, with an anticipated 66 awards. Individual awards range from $275,000 to $1,500,000, and project periods can last from 12 to 36 months. The funding will support efforts to provide direct training and technical assistance to OVW-funded programs, allowing for knowledge transfer and skills development that benefit justice professionals and victim service providers at all levels​.

Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity include national, Tribal, statewide, and other nonprofit organizations with the capacity to provide training and technical assistance at a national level. In rare circumstances, institutions of higher education, state, local, or Tribal governments, governmental agencies, or local non-profit organizations may be eligible. However, such entities must demonstrate a strong history of providing training and technical assistance on a national scale and justify their ability to meet the initiative’s requirements​.

The application process involves several steps, including submitting the Standard Form SF-424 via Grants.gov by March 18, 2025 (11:59 PM ET) and completing the full application submission in JustGrants by March 20, 2025 (8:59 PM ET). While a Letter of Intent (LOI) is optional, applicants are encouraged to submit it by February 25, 2025. The review process will include peer and programmatic reviews based on the completeness of applications, risk assessments, and responsiveness to funding criteria​.

Evaluation criteria will focus on the quality of the proposed training and technical assistance, the applicant’s capacity to provide nationwide assistance, and how well the application aligns with OVW’s priorities. Applicants are encouraged to submit complete and well-documented proposals, as missing key components could lead to disqualification. OVW anticipates notifying applicants of funding decisions by September 30, 2025.