OVC FY 2026 Preventing Trafficking of Girls | O OVC 2026 172694

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVC 2026 172694

The OVC FY 2026 Preventing Trafficking of Girls funding opportunity (NOFO number O-OVC-2026-172694) is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). Its purpose is to fund prevention and early intervention efforts that focus specifically on girls who are at risk of human trafficking or who have already experienced trafficking. The solicitation uses the federal definition of "severe forms of trafficking in persons" found at 22 U.S.C. 7102(11), which generally covers sex trafficking involving force, fraud, or coercion (and any commercial sex act involving a minor) as well as labor trafficking involving force, fraud, or coercion. In practical terms, the program is designed to help communities identify risk earlier, reduce vulnerability factors, and connect girls to timely supports before harm escalates or becomes chronic.

This opportunity is structured as a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) and is categorized under the funding activity area labeled "Information and Statistics." The CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with the program is 16.035. OVC anticipates making approximately 7 awards under this NOFO, with an award ceiling of $500,000 per award. While the source text does not specify a matching requirement or a minimum award, the stated ceiling and expected number of awards signal a competitive national program intended to fund a modest set of projects with enough resources to implement targeted prevention models, partnerships, outreach, and early intervention service pathways.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public and nonprofit entities that are commonly positioned to deliver or coordinate trafficking prevention and victim services. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that category). This wide eligibility pool suggests OVC is seeking local and regional solutions that can be led by governments, community-based organizations, education systems, tribal entities, and housing-related agencies, reflecting how trafficking risk often intersects with housing instability, involvement with child welfare or juvenile systems, school disengagement, and other community safety and public health concerns.

The application deadline listed for this opportunity is September 29, 2026 (Original Closing Date: 2026-09-29), and the opportunity was created on August 20, 2026. Applicants considering this NOFO should pay close attention to the prevention and early intervention emphasis, which typically implies strategies such as identifying and engaging girls at elevated risk, strengthening protective factors, improving access to trauma-informed and victim-centered services, and building coordinated referral networks among schools, youth programs, healthcare, child welfare, juvenile justice, housing providers, and specialized victim service organizations. Even though the brief description does not enumerate required activities, the core intent is clear: supporting programming that prevents trafficking before it occurs and intervenes quickly when exploitation is suspected or confirmed, with services tailored to the needs and realities of girls.

In summary, this OVC grant opportunity offers up to $500,000 per award to a small cohort of recipients (expected 7) to implement and strengthen prevention and early intervention services for girls impacted by or vulnerable to human trafficking, using the federal trafficking definition in 22 U.S.C. 7102(11). It is open to a broad set of governmental, tribal, housing, nonprofit, and higher education applicants, and it is intended to help communities develop practical, coordinated, and service-driven responses that reduce risk and improve safety and recovery outcomes for girls.

• The Office for Victims of Crime in the information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY 2026 Preventing Trafficking of Girls" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.035.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-20.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for O OVC 2026 172694

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