Victim Services and Prosecution Funding: Empowering Justice

Funding for victim services and prosecution programs can feel out of reach, especially for teams that are short on time or staff. Grant writing is time-consuming, complex, and competitive, but it's often the only path to securing the resources needed to serve survivors and strengthen justice outcomes. The right grant writing partner can make all the difference.

Why Work with ERI Grants

District Attorney offices often lack the dedicated staff and bandwidth to write competitive grant proposals while managing heavy caseloads and court schedules. External contracting for grant writing and management allows your office to access specialized expertise without straining internal resources.

We built ERI Grants to make this process simple and fair. We write winning proposals and manage the process from start to finish, so your team can focus on serving survivors and strengthening justice outcomes. Our contingency based grant writing means there is no upfront cost. You pay us only if you win.

This risk-free model supports underfunded agencies and community nonprofits that need a trusted partner. We lead with equity and focus on social emotional learning, safety and security, and educational technology where they advance healing and justice.

Victim Services and Prosecution Grants: Goals and Clientele

Grants in this space fund crisis response, advocacy, legal support, and system improvements that help survivors and improve case outcomes. A grant for victim services and prosecution funding can support multidisciplinary teams, data systems, and training that improve safety and accountability.

Common Program Goals

These grants typically aim to increase survivor safety, stability, and access to care while improving prosecution of violent crimes and repeat offenses. They work to build strong coordination among prosecutors, law enforcement, courts, and service providers. Programs also focus on expanding language access and culturally responsive services, and strengthening data collection and performance tracking to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.

Who These Grants Serve

These grants serve survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, and other crimes. They support prosecutors, law enforcement, courts, and coordinated response teams who work directly with these cases. Nonprofit victim service providers, shelters, legal aid groups, and advocacy organizations benefit from this funding. The grants also prioritize tribal, rural, and underserved communities that face historic barriers to access.

Major Funding Sources and Programs

Victim services and prosecution funds come from federal, state, local, tribal, and private sources. Each source has its own rules, timelines, and reporting needs.

Federal Programs

Federal opportunities often include formula and competitive awards for direct services, training, and system improvements. Common areas include crisis counseling, shelter, legal services, prosecutor training, coordinated community response, and data system upgrades.

State Administering Agencies and Pass-Through Funds

State agencies manage and pass through many federal victim service and prosecution funds to local partners. States set priorities, eligibility, and scoring. Most states fund direct services such as advocacy, shelter operations, legal assistance, and clinical services, as well as prosecution strategies, technology upgrades, and cross agency training.

Local, Private, and Tribal Sources

Local governments may fund special initiatives, task forces, and court improvements. Tribal set asides and tribally led programs support culturally grounded services, justice systems, and community healing. Private foundations and corporate giving are available in some regions and often support pilots, evaluation, and capacity building.

Eligibility and Allowable Activities

Funding rules vary by program. We confirm eligibility, check allowability, and align each plan with the funder's goals and rules.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants typically include state, local, and tribal governments and their agencies. Prosecutor offices, courts, and law enforcement can apply, as can nonprofit victim service providers and advocacy groups. Legal service organizations and community based partners are often eligible. School districts and public health partners may also apply when they serve crime victims.

Allowable Costs and Services

Allowable costs and services generally cover crisis response, shelter, advocacy, case management, and counseling. Legal assistance related to victim safety and rights is typically fundable, as are prosecution strategies, investigator support, and specialized units. Training for prosecutors, law enforcement, and service providers is often included. Language access, accessibility features, and outreach are commonly supported. Technology, data systems, and performance measurement are allowable, as are program evaluation and continuous improvement activities.

Unallowable or Restricted Costs

Unallowable or restricted costs typically include lobbying and general fundraising. Broad capital projects without a clear tie to services are usually not permitted. Activities that conflict with victim safety or confidentiality are prohibited, as are costs outside the grant period or unrelated administrative costs.

How to Apply and Build a Competitive Proposal

We guide you through each step so your team can submit a proposal that reflects your vision and demonstrates your capacity to create meaningful change. Our process helps you tell a compelling story while meeting all requirements.

Before applying, take time to understand the community and listen to those with lived experience. Build partnerships rooted in shared values and mutual commitment. Envision the team and resources needed to bring your approach to life, and create a roadmap that inspires confidence and clarity.

Your narrative should paint a picture of the community you serve, the change you seek, and the path forward. Describe how your work will create safer, more responsive systems. Draw on approaches that honor dignity, promote healing, and strengthen community connections. Show how equity and inclusion will shape every dimension of your program.

Build a budget that reflects integrity and intention. Every line should support your vision and advance your mission. We help you develop financial plans that are clear, defensible, and aligned with your program design, ensuring reviewers can see the connection between resources and results.

Share your vision for lasting impact beyond the grant period. Show how you will build capacity, deepen partnerships, and cultivate diverse support. Establish meaningful measures that reflect real progress—not just activity, but transformation. We help you design learning systems that drive continuous improvement and demonstrate accountability.

Compliance, Reporting, and Equity Considerations

Strong programs honor both funder expectations and the dignity of those they serve. We help you build systems that uphold trust, transparency, and ethical practice.

Steward resources with care and accountability. Establish practices that protect public trust while keeping operations nimble. When working with partners, build relationships anchored in shared learning and mutual support. We help you create systems that are both rigorous and sustainable.

Services should welcome everyone with dignity and respect. Create pathways that honor different languages, abilities, and life circumstances. Reduce barriers and expand access for communities that have been historically marginalized. Measure your reach and refine your approach to ensure no one is left behind.

Protect survivor information as a sacred trust. Build practices that honor autonomy, ensure safety, and maintain confidentiality. We help you design systems that safeguard privacy while gathering the insights needed to improve and learn.

Timelines, Review Process, and Common Pitfalls

Grant opportunities require both preparation and momentum. A thoughtful approach and early engagement position your team for success.

Funding opportunities follow their own rhythms. Stay connected to the landscape and plan ahead. Build in time for collaboration, reflection, and institutional approvals that honor your process.

Reviewers seek proposals that demonstrate clear vision, thoughtful design, organizational readiness, and commitment to equity. Make your case with clarity and confidence. Use structure and storytelling that make it easy for reviewers to recognize your strengths.

Common pitfalls include rushing the process without adequate preparation or losing alignment between vision, strategy, and resources. Many proposals lack specificity about intended outcomes or fail to demonstrate how success will be measured. Missing documentation, outdated information, or overlooked requirements can undermine otherwise strong applications. Taking time to ensure completeness and coherence strengthens every submission.

Conclusion

Grants for victim services and prosecution funding can change lives when proposals are clear, data informed, and survivor centered. If you need a partner to develop a grant for victim services and prosecution funding, we are ready to help. We work on a contingency basis so there is no upfront cost and you pay us only if you win. Our process is practical, equity focused, and built on deep experience with education, public health, and justice systems. Learn more about our services, our story and mission, and meet our team. We can work together to secure funding that strengthens safety, expands access, and supports lasting justice for survivors and communities we serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can a grant for victim services and prosecution funding cover?

A grant for victim services and prosecution funding can support crisis response, shelter, advocacy, counseling, and legal assistance; prosecution strategies and investigator support; cross-agency training; language access and accessibility; technology and data systems; and program evaluation. Funders expect clear links between each activity and outcomes like increased safety, improved case progression, and faster service connection.

Who is eligible to apply for victim services and prosecution grants?

Eligibility commonly includes state, local, and tribal governments; prosecutor offices, courts, and law enforcement; nonprofit victim service providers, shelters, legal aid, and advocacy groups; community-based partners; and, in some programs, school districts and public health agencies serving crime victims. Always confirm the specific program's eligibility rules and scoring priorities before applying.

How do I build a competitive proposal for a grant for victim services and prosecution funding?

Start with local data and survivor input, confirm eligibility, and secure partners early. Use plain-language narratives tied to evidence-based practices, equity, and measurable outcomes. Align the budget to activities, document match sources, and set clear performance measures. Plan sustainability, monthly reviews, and strong financial controls to demonstrate capacity.

What costs are typically unallowable in victim services and prosecution grants?

Commonly unallowable costs include lobbying, general fundraising, broad capital projects without a direct service tie, activities that jeopardize victim safety or confidentiality, and expenses outside the grant period or unrelated administrative costs. Review each solicitation's allowability rules and ensure your budget and narrative consistently align with those requirements.

Which federal programs most often fund victim services and prosecution work?

Key sources include OVC's VOCA Victim Assistance, OVW's VAWA programs (e.g., STOP), and BJA's Byrne JAG for prosecution training and technology. HHS's FVPSA supports domestic violence services, and many programs include tribal set-asides. Monitor federal, state pass-through, and local cycles to target a grant for victim services and prosecution funding effectively.