Rural Program

The Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program (Rural Program) seeks to enhance the safety of rural victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and support projects uniquely designed to address and prevent these crimes in rural areas. This program encourages collaboration among criminal justice agencies, victim services providers, social services agencies, health professionals, and other community organizations to overcome the problems of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in rural communities.

The Rural Program funds projects that implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts among law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim service providers, and other related parties to investigate and prosecute incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; provide treatment, advocacy, counseling, legal assistance, or other victim services to victims in rural communities; or develop or strengthen programs addressing sexual assault, like Sexual Assault Response Teams and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Programs.

Eligible applicants are limited to: states, Indian tribes, territories, local governments, and nonprofit (public or private) entities, including tribal nonprofit organizations.

In 2024, the Rural Program gave out 54 awards totaling $36.09 million.

To view grantees under this program and others for previous fiscal years, please visit OVW's awards webpage.

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 12341.