Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) STOP Grant Program
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) STOP Grant Program supports Massachusetts victim-service and justice partners with services and training to improve survivor safety, access to justice, and offender accountability.
This grant was recently updated
State colleges and universities are now explicitly instructed to use the Non-State Agencies budget worksheet, rather than the State Agencies worksheet. The FFY26 VAWA Questions & Answers are now available, replacing “coming soon,” and guidelines for specialized domestic violence civilian advocates in police departments have been added.
Funder: Office of Grants and Research
Due Dates: October 14, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (Questions) | October 23, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (Application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $150,000 in federal funding for 12 months; approximately $3.4 million available
Summary: Supports Massachusetts victim-service and justice-system projects addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking.
Key Information: Applicants must be Massachusetts-based and experienced in victim services or technical assistance; research projects are out of scope.
Description
The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) administers Massachusetts’ STOP—Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors—program using federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. The competitive program supports specialized and innovative projects that strengthen responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. Its goals are victim protection and safety, stronger services, improved access to justice, and offender accountability.
Funding supports coordinated work among victim-service providers, police, prosecutors, courts, and community partners. Massachusetts has selected 12 allowable purpose areas, emphasizing direct services and training rather than forensic testing programs. Services must be accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive to eligible survivors. Projects may target particular age groups or victimization types, including older survivors or minor victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking.
