U.S. Department
of Justice
Tribal Governments Program Application: Proposal Narrative Sample
Grants.gov Opportunity Number: O-OVW-2025-172395
The grants.gov deadline for this solicitation is 11:59 p.m. ET on June 24, 2025, and the JustGrants deadline is 8:59 p.m. ET June 26, 2025.
This completed Proposal Narrative Sample may be submitted to meet the Proposal Narrative application requirement for the FY 2025 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program grant application.
This document may be saved and uploaded to JustGrants with the applicant’s application as a Word or PDF file.
File Name: The file should be saved as/named: APPLICANTNAME_TGP_NARRATIVE and should not exceed 20 pages when submitted.
Required Sections: Applicants may choose to submit the standard Proposal Narrative OR this Sample Proposal Narrative. Guidance can be found on p.16 of the FY 2025 Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program NOFO found on the OVW Notice of Funding Opportunities page.
Please note that ALL three sections within this sample must be completed if submitting as the application Proposal Narrative. The three sections include:
- I. Purpose of Proposal
- II. What Will Be Done
- III. Who Will Implement
Can applicants edit or change this sample proposal narrative document?
Applicants can make the following changes to this sample:
- Delete table rows that are not applicable (ex: delete table rows for purpose areas that are not being addressed)
- Switch the orientation to portrait instead of landscape
- Delete the instruction page and any additional instructions on subsequent pages
- Add or delete tables as necessary
In general, any edits can be made to this document as long as they comply with the formatting requirements provided in the NOFO.
Questions? Email OVW.TribalGovernment.usdoj.gov.
Section 1: Purpose of the Proposal
Non-competitive continuation applications: 40 points
START applications: 60 points
Complete this section in its entirety.
Purpose of the Proposal
| Applicant Name | |
|---|---|
(1) Application Type (To review the application types, refer to page 11 of the NOFO) | ☐ Non-competitive Continuation, 36-month project period (Must have current Tribal Governments Program award) ☐ Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START), 36-month project period (For applicants that do not have a current Tribal Governments Program award) |
| (2) Describe the communities to be served by the proposed project. | |
| (3) If applicable, describe how the proposal will address priority one (human trafficking and transnational crime) and/or priority two (under-resourced rural and remote areas, Tribal nations, and small towns). |
Projects Purpose Area(s) and Explanation of Need
| (4) Statutory Purpose Areas: Check all applicable purpose areas. Select only purpose areas that will be funded by this project. | (5) Explanation of Need: Provide an explanation for the selected purpose area(s). Explanations may include how the proposed project is responding to a current, or emerging, need; how the project is complementing other services; how the project is filling service gaps; how the project is improving services for victims; etc. |
|---|---|
| ☐ 1. Develop and enhance effective plans for the Tribal Government to respond to crimes against Indian women | |
| ☐ 2. Increase tribal capacity to respond to domestic violence/dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking crimes against Indian women. | |
| ☐ 3. Strengthen tribal justice interventions including tribal law enforcement, prosecution, courts, probation, and correctional facilities. | |
| ☐ 4. Enhance services to Indian women victimized by domestic violence/dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. | |
| ☐ 5. Work in cooperation with the community to develop education and prevention strategies directed toward issues of domestic violence/dating violence and stalking programs and to address the needs of children exposed to domestic violence. | |
| ☐ 6. Provide programs for supervised visitation and safe visitation exchange of children in situations involving domestic violence/dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking committed by one parent against the other with appropriate security measures, policies, and procedures to protect the safety of victims and their children. | |
| ☐ 7. Provide transitional housing for victims of domestic violence/dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including rental or utilities payments assistance and assistance with related expenses such as security deposits and other costs incidental to relocation to transitional housing, and support services to enable a victim of domestic violence/dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking to locate and secure permanent housing and integrate into a community. | |
| ☐ 8. Provide legal assistance necessary to provide effective aid to victims of domestic violence/dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence, at minimal or no cost to victims. | |
| ☐ 9. Provide services to address the needs of youth (ages 11-24 years old) who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, or stalking and the needs of youth and children exposed to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, including support for the non-abusing parent or caretaker of the youth or child. | |
| ☐ 10. Develop and promote legislation and policies that enhance best practices for responding to violent crimes against Indian women, including the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking. | |
| ☐ 11. Develop, strengthen, and implement policies, protocols, and training for law enforcement regarding cases of missing or murdered Indians, as described in section 5704 of title 25; | |
| ☐ 12. Compile and annually report data to the Attorney General related to missing or murdered Indians, as described in section 5705 of title 25. |
Section 2: What Will Be Done
Non-competitive Continuation applications: 40 points
START applications: 20 points
The application must provide a clear link between the proposed activities and the need identified in the “Purpose of the Proposal” section, above. Do not include any of the activities listed as unallowable costs in the Funding Restrictions section of this NOFO. Applicants can add tables to capture all project Goals, if needed, as well as delete these instructions, or unused tables.
Note: START applicants should complete this section to the best of their ability. If awarded, START grantees will work closely with OVW to review proposed projects and OVW will assist with developing a project implementation plan.
1. State the project goals and what purpose area they address, activities, deliverables (if applicable), project timeline, staff/partner responsible, and how you will know you have achieved the stated goal.
| Goal 1 | |
|---|---|
| Purpose Area addressed by this goal | |
| Activities | |
| Deliverables (if applicable) | |
| Timeline | |
| Staff(position/title)/Partner Responsible | |
| How will you know you have achieved this goal? |
| Goal 2 | |
|---|---|
| Purpose Area addressed by this goal | |
| Activities | |
| Deliverables (if applicable) | |
| Timeline | |
| Staff(position/title)/Partner Responsible | |
| How will you know you have achieved this goal? |
| Goal 3 | |
|---|---|
| Purpose Area addressed by this goal | |
| Activities | |
| Deliverables (if applicable) | |
| Timeline | |
| Staff(position/title)/Partner Responsible | |
| How will you know you have achieved this goal? |
Section 3: Who Will Implement
Non-competitive continuation applications: 10 points
START applicants: 10 points
Applicants can add tables to capture all staff and partners, if needed.
1. Identify the key people and organizations, including project partners involved in the proposed project. Provide their position title, percentage of time allocated to the project, duties/responsibilities, and qualifications.
| Who Will Implement: Key People and Partners | |
|---|---|
| Staff Member (if known) or Partner Organization | |
| Position/Title | |
| Percentage of Time/Effort allocated to the project | |
| Summary of Duties/Responsibilities | |
| Qualifications |
| Who Will Implement: Key People and Partners | |
|---|---|
| Staff Member (if known) or Partner Organization | |
| Position/Title | |
| Percentage of Time/Effort allocated to the project | |
| Summary of Duties/Responsibilities | |
| Qualifications |
| Who Will Implement: Key People and Partners | |
|---|---|
| Staff Member (if known) or Partner Organization | |
| Position/Title | |
| Percentage of Time/Effort allocated to the project | |
| Summary of Duties/Responsibilities | |
| Qualifications |