Grant Solicitation

Funding Opportunity Title: Community Violence Intervention Innovation and Impact Grant Program

Announcement Type: New Grant Opportunity
Funding Category: Community Violence Prevention and Intervention
Deadline for Submission: Thursday, July 31, 2025
Award Amounts: $25,000 – $100,000

Total Funding Available: $300,000
Grant Period: Up to 12 months
Contact for Questions: Danielle Fisher, [email protected]

I. Overview

End Community Violence Now (ECVN) is launching a Pilot Grantmaking Program to fund community-based initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence in Delaware. This funding opportunity seeks to support organizations in testing, refining, and sustaining effective community violence intervention (CVI) and prevention programs. Through this pilot, ECVN aims to identify impactful strategies that can be expanded or sustained for long-term violence reduction.

II. Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

  • Nonprofit organizations serving the state of Delaware 
  • State agencies serving the state of Delaware
  • Educational institutions, such as K-12 public, private, or charter schools or school districts and higher education institutions in the state of Delaware
  • Organizations are welcome to partner on a project submission, and in that case, the lead agency must be a nonprofit or state agency serving Delaware
  • Programs submitted for funding must focus on community violence prevention and/or intervention.

Please note: Organizations must demonstrate a commitment to community violence intervention and prevention and have a clear plan for implementation and evaluation.

III. Program Goals

The primary goals and categories of the Pilot Grantmaking Program are to support:

  • Capacity Building: providing training & certification, professional development, technical assistance, and/or mental health support for professionals;
  • Program Expansion: expanding existing evidence-informed or evidence-based programs to engage additional people at highest risk of gun violence; or 
  • Data & Evaluation: developing frameworks for data collection & evaluation and conducting evaluation activities in existing programs.

Applicants will choose one of the above grant categories for their program submission.

IV. Use of Funds

Programs submitted for funding must focus on community violence intervention and/or prevention. Grant funds may be used for:

  • Direct program costs
  • Staff training and capacity building
  • Program evaluation
  • Community engagement efforts

Restrictions: Funds cannot be used for general operating expenses, lobbying activities, or capital projects. Up to 5% can be used towards indirect costs.

Funding Timeline: Awardees must utilize funds within 12 months from the date of disbursement unless an extension is approved.

V. Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a proposal via the online grant portal by 11:59 PM on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered.

VI. Review and Selection Process

Initial Screening: Applications will be reviewed for completeness and alignment with program objectives.

Evaluation Criteria: 

Proposals will be scored based on:

  • Alignment with program goals
  • Demonstrated impact and potential
  • Community engagement
  • Commitment to learning and adaptation
  • Sustainability
  • Evaluation plan
  • Research, data collection, and learning plan
  • Equity

Review Panel: A diverse panel of ECVN staff, sector leaders, and community members will assess applications and recommend awards.

Interviews/Site Visits: ECVN may conduct additional assessments before final selection.

Award Notification: Selected applicants will be notified by August 29, 2025. 

VII. Grant Administration and Reporting

Grantees must:

  • Meet with ECVN prior to signing a grant agreement to align on reporting metrics.
  • Submit quarterly progress reports detailing program implementation and impact.
  • Provide a final evaluation report at the end of the grant period.
  • Engage in ECVN’s Community of Practice—both in person and online—to exchange best practices, share insights, and foster collaboration throughout the grant period.

Funding Disbursement: Payments will be released in quarterly installments, upon satisfactory progress, measured by quarterly reporting. The first installment (35% of the award) will be awarded up front. 

VIII. Timeline

IX. Questions

For questions, please refer to the full solicitation and FAQ document. For additional guidance or inquiries about this funding opportunity, please contact Danielle Fisher at [email protected].