Culturally Specific Services Program

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The Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program (Culturally Specific Services Program) supports culturally specific community-based organizations in addressing the critical needs of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking victims in a manner that affirms a victim’s culture.

Advocates report that survivors are more inclined to seek services from organizations that are familiar with their culture, language, and background and that there is no “one size fits all” approach to adequately address these critical needs. Culturally specific community-based organizations are more likely to understand the complex, multi-layered challenges and obstacles that victims from their communities face when attempting to access services. Culturally specific community-based organizations are also better equipped to form essential relationships and engage their communities in the creation and implementation of services relevant to the diverse and unique needs of the victims.

Eligible applicants are limited to: private nonprofit organizations for which the primary purpose of the organization as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts), Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, Blacks, or Hispanics.

In 2024, the Culturally Specific Services Program gave out 52 awards totaling over $22.97 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. § 20124.