Background
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims' Rights Week, calling for "a renewed emphasis on, and an enhanced sensitivity to, the rights of victims." Each April since then, communities across the Nation have held public rallies, candlelight observances, and commemorative activities to promote awareness of victims' rights and needs. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) helps communities organize these activities and initiatives by supporting the development and dissemination of the NCVRW Resource Guide, which provides national statistics on crime and victimization, sample press releases, camera-ready artwork, and sample speeches and proclamations. (The 2004 NCVRW Resource Guide is forthcoming in December 2003.)

What Are NCVRW Community Awareness Projects?
For the first time, OVC will reimburse 60 communities across the United States up to $5,000 for expenses incurred in conducting allowable, local public awareness activities in support of NCVRW. OVC will select one project per city/county jurisdiction and is seeking proposals for innovative and collaborative approaches to promoting community awareness and outreach activities.

Use of Funding
Funds may be used to—

• Design and print promotional and educational materials.
• Support event speakers.
• Purchase print advertising space or broadcast media time.
• Design Web sites or pages.
• Purchase materials used in public awareness activities.
• Conduct additional types of promotional outreach strategies or activities.

Please refer to the Office of Justice Programs' Office of the Comptroller Financial Guide for a list of unallowable costs. Note: For this specific project, salary or organizational overhead costs are unallowable.

Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis after recipients submit a two-page final report of project activities and outcomes, including an itemized list of financial expenditures.

Eligibility
Public agencies, nonprofits, community-based victim service organizations, faith-based organizations, and community coalitions with a commitment to advocating for the rights and services of crime victims may apply. OVC is particularly interested in proposals that clearly demonstrate community collaboration and show a history of promoting crime victims' rights and services.

Application Process
Interested agencies should submit no more than a three-page proposal to OVC, using the format provided in the NCVRW Proposal Application. Proposals should be faxed to the Office for Victims of Crime, Attention: NCVRW Committee, by 5:00 p.m. e.t., December 5, 2003, at 202-514-6383 or 202-305-2440. Proposals should include the following components:

• Primary contact information.
• Organization mission statement.
• Organization or coalition background (e.g., years in existence, names and titles of principals, experience promoting related events).
• Description of planned NCVRW activities and intended use of funds.
• Description of planned collaborations and cosponsors of proposed activities.
• Documentation of financial commitment from other sources for proposed NCVRW events.
• Statement of need.
• Project budget (one page) with a short narrative.

You may also include up to three letters of support from related agencies (e.g., law enforcement, social services, victim services, the faith community).

Selection Criteria
OVC is especially interested in innovative and collaborative activities at the local level that may both serve as model projects for public education and community awareness and have an impact that extends beyond NCVRW 2004. Projects will be competitively evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Innovativeness and anticipated impact.
• Communitywide support and collaboration, including partnerships with faith-based organizations.
• Clarity and detail in the description of need and project budget.
• Documentation of financial commitment from other sources.
• History and experience related to coordinating public awareness and educational events on victims issues.
• Geographic diversity and the diversity of affected populations.

Download this Application

• Fillable PDF (38 kb)
• Non-fillable PDF (131 kb)
• Fillable Word file (1.43 mb)

NCVRW FAQs

See OVC-Related Links

• National Crime Victims' Rights Week
• Helping Outreach Programs to Expand
• Grants and Funding

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to read all PDF documents.

The Office for Victims of Crime is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.