Welcome! At NCAI Fund, we are committed to providing victim centered and tribal informed technical assistance to eligible applicants who are interested in applying for the 2021 NCAI Fund Victim Services Micro-grant Program. To help accomplish this, the NCAI Fund has partnered with the Tribal Law and Policy Institute (TLPI) to provide capacity building and technical assistance to Applicants. We are here to assist you as you develop your application and with any questions concerning the 2021 NCAI Fund Victim Services Micro-grant Program.
We can assist you with:
- Questions about what is allowable or unallowable.
- Planning for budget items such as personnel, equipment, or funding for domestic violence, sexual assault, and crime victim service planning.
- Questions about how to use the funding to provide culturally appropriate services.
- Questions about Strategic Planning or Community Needs Assessment for victim services.
- Technical difficulties.
Any other questions? Please contact Lonna Hunter at Lonna@tlpi.org.

Frequently Asked Questions
About the Micro-grant Program
How much funding is available?
What is the project period?
My tribe is applying for the OVC FY 2021 Tribal Victim Services Formula Funding. How is this funding different?
Program Eligibility
Who is eligible for funding?
If your tribal nation is in Alaska, the DOJ has a cooperative agreement with the Denali Commission to ensure funding is available to eligible Alaska tribes. For additional information on the funding offered through the Denali Commission, please visit www.denali.gov/grants.
My nonprofit organization provides victim services for a tribe who is eligible for funding. Can I apply on their behalf?
An eligible tribal nation may authorize an organization to apply on its behalf. The organization will need to submit documentation that they have been designated to apply on behalf of the tribal nation.
My tribal nation would like to apply jointly with three other tribal nations in my area. Can we do this?
Eligible tribal nations may choose to apply together as a consortium. All members of the consortium must be individually eligible for funding. An award for a consortium of tribal nations cannot exceed $350,000.
Application Process
Our tribe has not applied for federal funding and does not have a DUNS number. What is that and where do we get one?
What is required for the application?
When is the application due?
What is the application review process?
Applications will be reviewed by a combination of internal and external subject matter experts. Selection of awardees will be based on viability of the proposal, geographic distribution, risk of non-compliance with federal statutes, previous access to DOJ Office for Victims of Crime Funding1, and date application was submitted, if submitted after April 1. The NCAI Fund will make the final determination on all awards.
1 In the event of similarly rated applicants under the selection process, priority will be given to applicants that have not received OVC funds. Under the terms of our agreement with DOJ, priority will be given to tribal nations outside Alaska who did not receive funding from one of the following grant programs in 2018 or 2019: OVC FY 2019 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program; DOJ FY 2019 Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (Purpose Area 7 Tribal Victim Services); and OVC FY 2018 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Program.
Resources and Technical Assistance
What are victim services?
Examples include:
• Victim advocate or victim assistance program • domestic violence shelter • rape crisis center • child advocacy center • elder abuse program • mental health counseling • substance abuse treatment |
• legal services
• forensic exams • emergency shelter • transitional housing • traditional, cultural, or alternative therapy • transportation, meals, lodging, child care for court or counseling • restorative justice
|
How can funds be used?
• Salary
• Fringe benefits • Travel • Equipment • Vehicles • Security system at victim service facility • Remote access equipment in court • Facility costs – rent, utilities, maintenance renovation
|
• Supplies
• Computers, printers, scanners • Cell phone • Office supplies, furnishings • Therapeutic supplies • Emergency or short term needs of victims • Program operating costs • Subcontracts • Indirect costs |
This is not a complete list. A more detailed list of allowable and unallowable costs can be found here. |
I need help understanding whether something is an allowable expense under the micro-grant program.
TLPI can help answer any specific questions about your project. If you need assistance in categorizing an item in your budget, you can request Technical Assistance from the Tribal Law and Policy Institute by contacting Lonna Hunter, lonna@tlpi.org. Examples of unallowable costs include: |
• Law enforcement/prosecution
• Crime prevention • Services for offenders |
• Construction or purchase of real estate
• Lobbying • Fundraising |
A detailed list of allowable and unallowable costs can be found here. |
We missed a webinar, is there a recording available?
If a community would like to develop a community needs assessment to assess currently available data on violence and victimization within the community to develop a strategic plan to address the identified needs, is that an allowable expense?
I need some help filling out the Application, who can I contact?

Additional Resources
- Request for Proposal
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Overview of Allowable and Unallowable Costs
- Sample Applications (coming soon)

Interested in learning more? Please review our upcoming webinar opportunities:
Introduction to NCAI Fund Victim Services Micro-grant Program
Victim Services Program Planning
This webinar will provide an overview of the 2021 NCAI Fund Victim Services Micro-grant Program, a funding opportunity to support victim service activities across a range of tribal departments. This webinar will also discuss important considerations for interested applicants.
HANDOUTS
- Program Planning Webinar (PDF)
Victim Service Program Development
This webinar will provide an overview of ideas, tools, and resources to develop a crime victims’ services project to be supported by the 2021 NCAI Fund Victim Services Micro-grant Program, including opportunities to coordinate criminal justice systems.
HANDOUTS
- Program Development Webinar (PDF)
- Application Template 1 (PDF)
- Application Template 2 (PDF)
- Application Template 3 (PDF)