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. OVC helps communities organize these activities and initiatives by supporting the development and dissemination of the National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide, which provides national statistics on crime and victimization, sample speeches and proclamations, sample press releases, and camera-ready artwork. The 2004 guide is available online; an updated version will be available in December 2004.

In December 2003, OVC competitively selected more than 60 projects from jurisdictions throughout the United States and reimbursed these projects up to $5,000 for public awareness activities and events implemented during National Crime Victims' Rights Week, 2004.

Because of the enthusiasm and support for this funding opportunity verbalized in letters from the field, OVC Director John Gillis decided to offer this funding opportunity for a second consecutive year.

2005 Community Awareness Project Funding

OVC will reimburse approximately 60 communities throughout the nation up to $5,000 for approved expenses incurred while conducting local public awareness activities in support of National Crime Victims' Rights Week , 2005. OVC will competitively select one project per city/county jurisdiction and is seeking proposals for innovative and collaborative approaches to promoting awareness of victims' rights and available services for all types of victims within each community.

Selection Criteria

To spread funding and assistance for NCVRW public awareness campaigns to locations throughout the United States, organizations and coalitions who were selected for funding in 2004 will not be selected for funding in 2005. Please check the list of projects selected in 2004 for communities and organizations previously supported through this initiative.

Applications will be evaluated and competitively selected based on their strength in the following areas:

• Collaboration. The application must describe a project in which a variety of victim service providers and local businesses are collaborating to promote victims' rights and services for victims of all types of crimes.
  
  
• Support. The application must describe the types of financial and in-kind support from participating agencies and local businesses within the project area.
  
  
• Experience in Victims' Issues. The lead agency of the project must have a history of involvement with crime victims and experience in organizing educational events and/or public awareness campaigns.
  
  
• Use of the Media. The application must describe a project that includes using the media (radio, television, and/or print) to raise awareness throughout the community about National Crime Victims' Rights Week, victims' rights, and local victim service programs.
  
  
• Innovation and Impact. The application must describe an innovative project and/or a project that will have an impact on the community at large during National Crime Victims' Rights Week or have an impact over a sustained period of time.
  
  
• Diversity. The project must affect many types of victims, including victims in minority and immigrant communities.
  
  
• Clarity. The application narrative should be concise and should be no more than four pages in length. The project budget should be detailed on a separate page.

Eligibility

Public agencies, nonprofit organizations, community-based victim service organizations, faith-based organizations, tribal organizations, and community coalitions committed to advocating for the rights and services of crime victims are encouraged to apply. Organizations without 501(c)3 status that serve crime victims and VOCA-funded organizations also are eligible to apply. While priority will be given to projects with a local scope, state agencies involved with victims' issues that wish to submit a statewide public awareness plan may apply.

Applications from individuals will not be considered for funding. Individuals with innovative ideas related to this project are encouraged to work in partnership with an organization or community coalition.

Allowable and Unallowable Activities

The following activities may be approved for up to $5,000 reimbursement under this initiative:

• Purchase of advertising in print media, radio, television, or outdoor advertising to promote NCVRW events, victims' rights, and available services.
  
  
• Design and print of promotional or educational materials.
  
  
• Support of NCVRW event speakers (not to exceed $450 per day for each speaker).
  
  
• Design and print of posters, invitations, fliers, and so forth.
  
  
• Purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment used in public awareness events and activities.
  
  
• Rental of space to conduct NCVRW activities and events.
  
  
• Reasonable purchase of refreshments for an educational event open to the public. (Applications with high refreshment-related costs will not be considered highly.)

The following will not be approved for reimbursement under this initiative:

• Salary.
  
  
• Organizational overhead costs.
  
  
• Refreshment costs not associated with public educational events or programs.
  
  
• Entertainment.
  
  
• Costs associated with a fundraising activity.
  
  
• Bar charges or alcoholic beverages.

Please refer to the Office of Justice Programs' Office of the Comptroller Financial Guide for a list of unallowable costs.

Application Process and Deadline

Interested organizations should download and complete the NCVRW Community Awareness Project Application Form. The application should not exceed four pages in length; an additional page is allowed for the project budget. Applicants may also include up to three letters of support from agencies involved with their initiatives.

The form requests applicants to provide the following information:

• Primary contact information and e-mail address.
  
  
• Mission statement for the lead agency and descriptions of the collaborative partner agencies.
  
  
• Experience of the lead agency and collaborative partners related to victim services and public awareness/educational events.
  
  
• Description of the proposed project and intended use of OVC funds.
  
  
• Description of the role of participating agencies in the project, including financial and in-kind contributions.
  
  
• Statement of need for financial support from OVC for the project.
  
  
• Project budget itemizing amounts that will be requested for reimbursement through OVC.

Fax completed applications to the Office for Victims of Crime, Attention: NCVRW Committee, by 5:00 p.m. e.t., December 3, 2004, at 202–514–6383 or 202–305–2440. Do not mail applications to OVC.

Please hold your fax confirmation receipt as confirmation that your application was sent to and received by OVC.

Timeline

OVC staff and our federal partners will review and select approximately 60 projects for funding. By late January 2005, all applicants will receive notification by mail of the status of their applications.

After National Crime Victims' Rights Week, OVC will request that selected organizations submit a two- to three-page NCVRW After-Action Report detailing their NCVRW activities and requesting final reimbursement for approved expenses. Reimbursement will be made to the organization within 30 days of approval of the report through OVC's contractor, Courtesy Associates.

For more information about this funding opportunity, first visit the NCVRW FAQs page. If you cannot find the information you need after visiting the page, contact AskOVC@usdoj.gov and reference the 2005 Community Awareness Project Application for NCVRW.

Back to 2005 NCVRW Fund