Victims of Crime Act Lead Entity Services to Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Child Advocacy Center Services to Child Abuse Victims

Victims of Crime Act Lead Entity Services to Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, or Child Advocacy Center Services to Child Abuse Victims

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to fund core services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse in an advocacy center. Through this opportunity, lead entities will distribute funds to sub-grantees and be responsible for the fiscal oversight and quality assurance of its sub-grants. The applicant will conduct structured monitoring of all sub-grantees and provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance to sub-grantees, that follow exact policies and procedures established by the grantor and abide by all Federal rules and guidelines related to the Department of Justice grants, specifically the Office on Victims of Crime.

Please reference the NOFO instructions document on the ICJIA funding opportunities website (https://icjia.illinois.gov/grants/funding)

Details

• Awarding Agency: Criminal Justice Info Authority
• CSFA Number: 546-00-1745
• CSFA Popular Name: VOCA
• Funding Opportunity Number: 1745-0330
• Assistance Listings Number: 16.575
• Announcement Type: Initial Announcement
• Award Type: Competitive
• Total Funding Available: $26,681,628.00
• Expected Number of Awards: 3
• Funding Sources: Federal Or Federal Pass Through
• Capital Grant: No
• Indirect Costs Allowed: Yes
• Posted Date: 2026-03-26
• Award Period: 2026-07-01 – 2027-06-30

Funding Source Description

The Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was passed in 1984 for the purpose of compensating and assisting victims of crime and providing funds for training and technical assistance.

ICJIA is the state agency charged with the administration of the Illinois’ Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program. This program is supported by fines and penalties levied against criminals convicted of federal crimes and allocated to states by formula by the Office for Victims of Crime of the U.S. Department of Justice. In federal fiscal year 2025, Illinois received a VOCA award of $44,080,430 million.

VOCA grants must support the provision of direct services to victims of crime. States are required to allocate a minimum of 10 percent of funds received for services to each of the following: victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and underserved victims of violent crime. VOCA funds may not be used to supplant or replace state and local funds that would otherwise be available for crime victim services and must be used to develop new projects or expand existing projects.

For more information on the VOCA Program please visit: http://ojp.gov/ovc/about/victimsfund.html

In 2025, ICJIA convened the Victim Service Planning Ad Hoc Committee to recommend priority funding areas for victim service funds. To better coordinate federal funding for victim services in Illinois, ICJIA uses the Committee’s recommendations to guide the administration of VOCA funds. Historically, this committee has been comprised of representatives from victim service and community-based organizations, child welfare, public health, criminal justice stakeholders, such as law enforcement and prosecutors, and ICJIA Board members. To help increase equity and address racial and ethnic disparities in victim services, ICJIA makes a targeted effort to ensure that the Committee is diverse and that underserved victim populations are represented. The final report’s recommendations were approved by ICJIA Board in February 2026. These recommendations outline a comprehensive plan to address victims’ needs in Illinois and are reflected in this funding opportunity where appropriate.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is a state agency dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice. ICJIA brings together key leaders from the justice system and the public to identify critical issues facing the criminal justice system in Illinois, and to propose and evaluate policies, programs, and legislation that address those issues. The statutory responsibilities of ICJIA fit into four areas: grants administration; research and analysis; policy and planning; and information systems and technology.

Section 7 of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act grants ICJIA authority “to apply for, receive, establish priorities for, allocate, disburse, and spend grants of funds that are made available by and received on or after January 1, 1983 from private sources or from the United States pursuant to the federal Crime Control Act of 1973, as amended, and similar federal legislation, and to enter into agreements with the United States government to further the purposes of this Act, or as may be required as a condition of obtaining federal funds” and “to receive, expend, and account for such funds of the State of Illinois as may be made available to further the purposes of this Act.” (20 ILCS 3930/7(k), (l))

Neither the State of Illinois nor ICJIA are obligated to make any award as a result of this announcement. The ICJIA Executive Director or designee has sole authority to bind ICJIA to the expenditure of funds through the execution of grant agreements.

This application is subject to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Any information that the applicant believes should be exempt under FOIA should clearly highlight the information that is exempt, and the basis of the exemption.

Funding Restrictions

Please reference the NOFO instructions document on the ICJIA funding opportunities website (https://icjia.illinois.gov/grants/funding)

Indirect Cost Description

In order to charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA).

There are three types of NICRAs:
A) Federally Negotiated Rate. Organizations that receive direct federal funding, may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federally NICRA.
B) State Negotiated Rate. The organization may negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate. If an organization has not previously established in indirect cost rate, an indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted through the GATA Grantee Portal no later than three months after receipt of a Notice of State Award (NOSA). If an organization previously established an indirect cost rate, the organization must annually submit a new indirect cost proposal through the GATA Grantee Portal within six months after the close of the grantee’s fiscal year.
C) De Minimis Rate. An organization that has never negotiated an indirect cost rate with the Federal Government of the State of Illinois is eligible to elect a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct cost (MTDC). Once established, the De Minimis Rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the De Minimis Rate.

All grantees must complete an indirect cost rate negotiation or elect the De Minimis Rate to claim indirect costs. Indirect costs claimed without a negotiated rate or a De Minimis Rate election on record in the GATA Grantee Portal indirect cost rate system may be subject to disallowance.

Limitations on indirect costs restrict the amount and/or type of indirect costs that are allowed to be charged to grant awards. Indirect cost limitations and restrictions must be clearly stated in this section. For example, the grant award may be subject to state and federal statutory requirements that limit the allowability of costs. The maximum amount allowable under a limitation cannot exceed the total amount under the NICRA. State and federal statutes may restrict the amount of salary that can be charged to a grant award, if the base salary exceeds the Federal Executive Level II Pay Scale. If additional statutory restrictions or limitations are imposed, such as parameters for direct administrative costs, facility costs, and indirect administrative cost levels, those restrictions or limitations must be stated in this section. The statutory reference or guidance imposing the indirect cost limitation or restriction must also be stated within this section.

Grantees have discretion not to claim payment for indirect costs. Grantees that elect not to claim indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs. The organization must record an election to “Waive Indirect Costs” into the GATA Grantee Portal.

Indirect Cost election must be completed annually, for every entity’s fiscal year. More information regarding the indirect cost election process can be found here.

Code of Federal Regulations / Title 2 - Grants and Agreements / Vol. 1 / 2014-01-
01191

Restrictions on Indirect Costs

No

State Award Notices

The ICJIA Budget Committee is scheduled to review and approve designations in June 2026.

The following documents must be submitted prior to the execution of an agreement:

• Civil Rights Compliance Questionnaire (for federal grants only)

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

In addition to implementing the funded project consistent with the approved project proposal and budget, agencies selected for funding must comply with applicable grant terms and conditions and other legal requirements, including, but not limited to, the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 and related regulations, the ICJIA Financial Guide and Policy and Procedure Manual, the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act, and the U.S. Department of Justice Grants Financial Guide, which will be included in the award documents, incorporated into the award by reference, or are otherwise applicable to the award.

Additional programmatic and administrative special conditions may be required.

Reporting

Recipients must submit periodic financial reports, periodic performance reports, final financial and performance reports, and, if applicable, an annual audit report in accordance with the 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Requirements. Future awards and fund drawdowns may be withheld if reports are delinquent.