Six Grants to Kick Off Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The national initiative launched in 1987 as a way to unite organizations that work with people impacted by domestic violence and bring awareness to the issue.

GrantWatch has a category specifically for grants focused on preventing continued abuse. Below, are six grants currently available to support organizations that assist victims of domestic violence.

The Importance of Raising Awareness to This Issue

Overall, domestic violence is a serious issue that affects women, men, and children of all ages around the world.  According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), one in four women and one in nine men will be victims of domestic abuse during their lifetime.

The impact on children is less but still high with one in 15 children experiencing some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. The organization notes that nearly 20 people per minute face physical abused from an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this adds up to more than 10 million women and men.

In many domestic violence cases, there are many factors that keep the person abused from leaving their abuser. As a result, it is that much more crucial that nonprofits and groups have the funding they need to work with these victims.

Organizations have extensive training for this very reason to help give these people the resources they need to finally leave and get help. They have the education and the knowledge to hand the situation in the best possible way. Without these organizations, many victims would never find a way out of their current situation.

According to the NCADV, here are some of the barriers that victims of abuse might face:

• The fear that the abuser’s actions will become more violent and may become lethal if the victim attempts to leave.
• Lack of means to support themselves and/or their children financially or lack of access to cash, bank accounts, or assets
• Not wanting to abandon their pets and knowing many shelters may not accept animals.

Grants to Help Victims of Domestic Abuse

1. Firstly, there are grants available to U.S. agencies, nonprofits, tribes, and faith-based organizations to treat victims of violence.
2. Grants of up to $1,000 to U.S. nonprofit shelters that provide housing for victims of domestic violence and their pets. 
3. There are grants available to U.S. nonprofit domestic violence shelters to offer on-site pet housing.
4. Funding is available to U.S. tribes and nonprofits for domestic and dating violence awareness and victim services.
5. Grants are available to U.S. nonprofits for projects and programs that benefit children and families. Funding is for activities that address domestic violence, including assault and human trafficking, and organizations that benefit children, especially in the foster care system.
6. Finally, there are grants to U.S. nonprofit organizations to benefit vulnerable children and families. Program focus areas include basic needs, workforce readiness, out-of-school educational opportunities, and safety from domestic violence.