The Office for Victims of Crime supports eligible organizations that wish to award scholarships to crime victims or survivors who wish to attend a national or state conference. Since the Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship program is awarded to an organization, rather than to individuals, the organization administers the scholarship awards.

Awards to eligible organizations are based on program eligibility requirements, are limited to available funds, and are nontransferable. Applications are processed in the order received. The maximum amount of a Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship award is $10,000 per organization per 12-month period from the start date of the event. If being awarded for organizations sponsoring a state conference, the maximum award is $10,000 per state per 12-month period from the start date of the event. OVC TTAC must receive the completed Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship application and all application materials at least 90 calendar days prior to the event or the request will be rejected - NO EXCEPTIONS.

Eligibility Requirements

Awards are made to organizations based on the following requirements:

• Applicants must be organizations that provide services to crime victims throughout their state or on a national scale. Eligible conference support recipients include, but are not limited to, the following:
• National coalitions.
• State coalitions.
• State government agency.
• Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) agencies.
• Community and/or faith-based nonprofit organizations.
• Private nonprofit organizations that address the needs of underserved victims.

Ineligible applicants include:

• Organizations sponsoring a regional, citywide, or countywide conference.
• Organizations that receive other OVC discretionary or formula grant funding designated for conference support.
• Organizations that do not support OVC's mission, goals, and stated priorities.

Award Criteria

Awards are based on the following criteria:

• The organization has the capacity to administer a scholarship program.
• One Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship program award may be awarded to one organization per 12-month period from the start date of the event if sponsoring a national conference and may be awarded to one state per 12-month period from the start date if sponsoring a state conference.
• An organization administering Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship funds may only award up to $1,000 per individual per event.
• The crime victim scholarship recipients must have at least one (1) year of volunteer/advocacy service to other victims.
• The goals of the conference further the mission, goals, and stated priorities of the Office for Victims of Crime.
• A primary goal of the conference is to focus on victims' rights, services, and/or skills and educational development for victim service providers and allied professionals.
• As part of their submission, applicants must submit a copy of the conference agenda along with detailed information about any/all conference cosponsors.
• The organization has demonstrated a strategy for addressing underserved victims of crime in the conference (for example, through workshop topics or audiences identified in conference materials).
• OVC TTAC must receive the completed Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship application and all application materials at least 90 calendar days prior to the event or the request will be rejected - NO EXCEPTIONS.
• The organization/agency must provide an overall budget for the conference and share information on other sources of support.

• What is the maximum amount that can be awarded?
• When is the application due?
• When will I be notified of an award decision?
• What requirements will I need to fulfill if approved?
• What are the reimbursement requirements?
• Can my organization receive an OVC Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship, Training by Request (TBR) and Customized Training and Technical Assistance Program award in the same year?
• How do I apply?
• What if I have additional questions?
• Where do I send completed applications?

What is the maximum amount that can be awarded?

• No more than $10,000 will be awarded to an organization per 12-month period from the start date of the event if sponsoring a national conference and one state per 12-month period from the start date of the event if sponsoring a state conference regardless of the number of organizations applying for the program. The recipient organization may award no more than $1,000 in scholarship support to any single recipient per event.
• Scholarship support is awarded based on the availability of funding.

When is the application due?

Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. OVC TTAC must receive the completed Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship application and all application materials at least 90 calendar days prior to the event or the request will be rejected - NO EXCEPTIONS.

When will I be notified of an award decision?

Program applicants are notified of OVC's decision at least 45 days prior to the start of their conference under normal circumstances.

What requirements will I need to fulfill if approved?

• If awarded, the organization will be asked to:
  1. Provide conference-related information to OVC to allow for advance postings on the OVC Web site and National Calendar of Crime Victim Assistance-Related Events, and for dissemination of NCJRS JUSTINFO e-announcements and OVC listservs as appropriate.
  2. Identify OVC as a conference cosponsor on all conference promotional materials and electronic announcements.
  3. Include OVC-approved language on all conference promotional materials and electronic announcements. This language will be provided upon award of support.
  4. Upon request, accommodate complimentary space for an OVC conference exhibit and/or demonstration by OVC TTAC and the Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center (OVCRC) including Internet connection(s) if applicable and waive conference registration fees for OVCRC and OVC TTAC staff attending the conference to support this activity.
  5. Allow OVC to audit a conference at any time with or without notice and OVC may request one paid registration in the award letter.
  6. Ensure that the OVC Consultant Script or video highlighting OVC capacity building resources (when available) is presented in entirety at the beginning of each of the
     OVC-supported workshops.

What are the reimbursement requirements?

• Scholarship funds are provided through a reimbursement process after the conference.
• Reimbursement information must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days after the event.
• The organization receiving the award must expend funds, and submit appropriate invoices in order to be reimbursed.
• Support available via the Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship program may not be used to replace funding previously allocated for conference support.

Can my organization receive an OVC Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship, Training by Request (TBR) and Customized Training and Technical Assistance Program award in the same year?

No, only one OVC Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship, TBR or Customized Training and Technical Assistance award may be awarded to a single organization in a 12-month period from the start date of the organization's last OVC-supported event.

How do I apply?

• Complete the application form and submit it by e-mail to ttac@ovcttac.org.
• Please see the Apply for Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarships page for full application instructions.

What if I have additional questions?

If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact the OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center at 1-866-OVC TTAC (1-866-682-8822), (TTY 1-866-682-8880), or by e-mail at ttac@ovcttac.org.

Where do I send completed applications?

Please e-mail the completed application to ttac@ovcttac.org.

OVC TTAC must receive the completed Crime Victim/Survivor Scholarship application and all application materials at least 90 calendar days prior to the event or the request will be rejected - NO EXCEPTIONS. If you have any questions, contact OVC TTAC at 1-866-OVC TTAC (1-866-682-8822), (TTY 1-866-682-8880), or by e-mail at ttac@ovcttac.org.

Apply by E-mail

Complete the application form and submit it by e-mail to ttac@ovcttac.org:

Application (PDF 701 kb)