Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women, Fiscal Year 2020 | NIJ 2020 17331

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Research and Evaluation on Violence Against Women, Fiscal Year 2020."

Which agency is offering this grant?

The grant was offered by the U.S. Department of Justice through the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NIJ 2020 17331.

When was the opportunity released?

The solicitation was released on January 24, 2020.

What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was April 13, 2020.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The program was designed to fund research and evaluation projects that build practical, evidence-based knowledge about violence against women and how systems respond to it, with the broader goal of reducing violence against women by generating credible, actionable findings.

What types of projects is NIJ looking to fund?

NIJ is seeking research and evaluation projects that can strengthen what practitioners and policymakers know about what works, what does not, and under what conditions particular interventions, policies, or approaches are most effective. The solicitation emphasizes work that can inform concrete improvements in prevention, investigation, accountability, victim safety, and survivor-centered responses.

Is the focus limited to studying crimes, or does it include system responses too?

It includes both. In addition to examining forms of victimization, the opportunity emphasizes studying criminal justice system responses, including the effectiveness of procedures, practices, and policies used by law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and related service and community partners.

What forms of violence against women are within scope?

The solicitation is broad and covers homicide, intimate partner violence and dating violence, rape and sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking.

Does this solicitation support evaluation of programs and initiatives?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes evaluations of programs or initiatives as examples of the kinds of work that can be supported.

Are tool, protocol, or practice improvements part of the intended outcomes?

Yes. The solicitation notes that supported work can include testing or refining tools and protocols and producing actionable insights that improve system coordination and outcomes.

Is NIJ interested in descriptive research only?

No. The intent is not just descriptive research, but research and evaluation that can inform practical improvements and decision-making related to prevention, investigation, accountability, and victim safety.

What is the overarching goal of the solicitation?

The overarching goal is to reduce violence against women by generating credible findings that can guide decision-making and strategy in real-world settings.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for a single grant?

The award ceiling listed for a single grant was $2,500,000.

How many awards did NIJ anticipate making?

NIJ anticipated making about five awards under this solicitation.

What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity falls under activity categories that include law, justice, and legal services as well as research and development, reflecting both rigorous research expectations and criminal justice relevance.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The CFDA number associated with the program is 16.560.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other applicants as specified in the solicitation's additional eligibility guidance.

Are institutions of higher education eligible?

Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education were included as eligible applicants.

Are tribal governments eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments were included as eligible applicants.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations were eligible, including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses were included as eligible applicants.

Are local governments eligible (cities, counties, townships, special districts)?

Yes. State, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments, were included as eligible applicants.

Does the solicitation suggest NIJ expects applicants beyond universities?

Yes. The breadth of eligibility signals NIJ expected proposals not only from universities, but also from governmental entities, research organizations, and practitioners capable of conducting or supporting high-quality research and evaluation tied to violence against women.

What kinds of system partners are mentioned in the scope?

The solicitation references law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and related service and community partners as part of the systems and responses that may be studied.

What kinds of outcomes or improvements should proposed research aim to support?

The opportunity highlights improvements in prevention, investigation, accountability, victim safety, and survivor-centered responses, as well as stronger system coordination and better outcomes.