Tribal Governments Program

The Tribal Governments Program provides funding to tribes to develop and enhance effective governmental strategies to curtail violent crimes against and increase the safety of Indian women consistent with tribal law and custom; increase tribal capacity to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking crimes against Indian women; strengthen tribal justice interventions; enhance services to Indian women victims; work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies directed towards these crimes; provide programs for supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children; provide transitional housing for victims; provide legal assistance for victims; provide services to address the needs of youth victims; and develop and promote legislation and policies that enhance best practices for responding to these crimes against Indian women.

Program funds can be used for strategic planning, staffing, victim services, children and youth services, criminal justice interventions, training and travel, prevention, equipment and supplies, cultural and traditional practices, and programming for underserved populations.

Eligible applicants are limited to: federally recognized tribes or an organization that is acting as the authorized designee of a federally-recognized Indian tribe.

In 2024, the Tribal Governments Program gave out 48 awards totaling $45.16 million.

This program is authorized by 34 U.S.C. § 10452.

Information About the Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Response Track (START)

In 2024 OVW issued a separate funding opportunity, Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START). This opportunity is targeted toward Tribal governments, or their designees, that have never, or not recently, received funding through the OVW Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program.

Tribal Governments START grantees  focus on capacity building early in the project period and  receive additional training, technical assistance, and support. Tribal Governments START grantees will engage in a comprehensive assessment process that identifies the strengths and gaps of their community's responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking.

Following the assessment, a customized project implementation plan is developed in consultation with an OVW-designated Technical Assistance Provider(s).

In 2024, the Tribal Governments Program gave out nine awards totaling $7.57 million through START.

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