OVC FY25 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking | O OVC 2025 172524

Opportunity Information: Apply for O OVC 2025 172524

The OVC FY25 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), focused on helping jurisdictions build, strengthen, or expand a coordinated human trafficking task force. The core idea behind the program is that human trafficking cases are handled more effectively when law enforcement, victim service providers, and other key partners work together through a formal, multidisciplinary structure. The NOFO emphasizes practical improvements in three main areas: identifying more trafficking victims, connecting victims to appropriate services, and increasing the quality and effectiveness of trafficking investigations (and related case outcomes).

A central requirement of this opportunity is the collaborative, co-lead application model. Funding is intended for a partnership that includes both (1) an eligible lead law enforcement agency and (2) an eligible lead victim service organization. Each of those two lead entities must submit its own application in JustGrants, meaning the partnership is represented by two coordinated submissions rather than a single combined filing. The NOFO makes it clear that the applications need to be coordinated and aligned, and it directs applicants to the Application and Submission Information section for detailed instructions on how to match and structure the partner materials. If an applicant does not apply with an eligible partner, the application will not be considered for funding, so the partnership requirement is not optional.

The program is designed to support a task force model that is multidisciplinary and collaborative, typically involving partners such as local or state law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, social service agencies, medical and behavioral health providers, housing and employment service organizations, and other community-based groups that regularly come into contact with vulnerable populations. While the NOFO summary highlights victim identification, services, and investigations, the broader ECM concept generally implies a coordinated approach to case referrals, information-sharing practices that protect victim safety and confidentiality, joint training, and structured protocols that reduce gaps between first contact, stabilization services, and investigative follow-through.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of government and nonprofit entities, specifically state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, certain Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The listing also includes an "Others" category, which usually signals there may be additional eligible entity types described in the full NOFO. One explicit eligibility restriction is also included: nonprofit organizations that hold money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax described in 26 U.S.C. section 511(a) are not eligible to apply.

Administratively, this opportunity is published under Funding Opportunity Number O-OVC-2025-172524 and CFDA (Assistance Listing) 16.320, with OVC as the awarding agency. The application deadline shown is March 11, 2026. The award ceiling is $1,000,000 per award. The opportunity was created on December 30, 2025. The NOFO does not specify the expected number of awards in the excerpt provided, but applicants can typically confirm the projected award count, period of performance, and any match or cost-sharing requirements by reviewing the full announcement.

In practical terms, a competitive application under this NOFO will usually demonstrate that the law enforcement lead and victim service lead already have (or will build) a clear joint operating plan, defined roles and responsibilities, and mechanisms to ensure that victim-centered, trauma-informed practices are integrated into investigative operations. Because the NOFO is specifically built around an enhanced collaborative model, the proposal should make the partnership concrete, showing how the task force will coordinate day-to-day work, how victims will be identified and referred safely, how services will be delivered and tracked, and how investigative strategies will be strengthened without compromising victim autonomy and safety.

• The Office for Victims of Crime in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OVC FY25 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.320.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-12-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-03-11. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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, Others.

Apply for O OVC 2025 172524

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