header-logo
Milwaukee skyline at dusk
Comprehensive Injury Center (CIC)

WCSF Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Request for Applications

The CIC's Wisconsin Community Safety Fund (WCSF) was established in 2022 to support local, evidence-informed programs to enhance the safety and wellbeing of children, youth, and families throughout Wisconsin.

This Request for Applications (RFA) is designed to enhance the capacity of community violence intervention (CVI) programs in Wisconsin, increase their ability to serve high risk individuals through CVI strategies, and enhance support for the personal and professional development of CVI team members, with a focus on communities carrying the highest rates of community violence.

The CIC will allocate a total of $2,000,000 to fund CBOs engaged in CVI work in Wisconsin. Approximately 5 projects will be awarded grants with a maximum award of $400,000 per subrecipient and an implementation period that ends Sept. 30, 2027.   Apply for the CVIPI Grant
CVIPI Photo

Calendar of Events

  • RFA Posting Date: Sept. 15, 2025
  • Informational Webinar Recording Available: Sept. 15, 2025
  • Deadline to Submit Questions Related to RFA: Sept. 26, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT
  • Final Q&A Document Posted to Web Page: Oct. 1, 2025
  • Full Application Deadline: Oct. 15, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. CT
  • Virtual Interviews (if needed): Oct. 20-22, 2025
  • Applicants Notified: Dec. 15, 2025
  • Project Start Date: Jan. 1, 2026
  • Post Award Webinar: Jan. 12, 2026

Eligible Applicant Agencies

  1. Nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations with current 501(c)3 tax-exempt status with the IRS, registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and having one of the following statuses as of the RFA deadline date: “in good standing”, restored to good standing”, “incorporated/qualified/registered”, “organized”, or “registered.”
  2. Native American Tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).
  3. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

For the purposes of this RFA, a Community Based Organization (CBO) is an organization or agency with deep relationships in the community and engage in authentic community engagement that is well positioned to implement a CVI program and its services. A CBO values lived experience along with professional qualifications and relevant credibility with the individuals, groups, and location of those at highest risk of experiencing community violence.

CBOs are often best positioned to lead CVI work yet sometimes face significant challenges in:

  • obtaining funding for programs, including eligibility, management, and allowability.
  • developing the capacity to plan and implement CVI strategies.
  • receiving training to use research and data to implement CVI strategies.
  • measuring program outputs and outcomes.
  • leveraging tools and expertise from a network of experts.

Successful applicants will demonstrate the need to build capacity in the range of services in local programs that are part of a broader CVI ecosystem which can include, but are not limited to:

  • Mediation and street outreach
  • Hospital-based Intervention Programs (HVIPs)
  • Aftercare and survivor services
  • Intensive mentoring and case management for those at highest risk for victimization
  • Wraparound support services for individuals at highest risk for violence victimization
  • Cross-sector coordination and partnerships addressing community violence
  • Trauma-informed training, support, and development for the CVI workforce.

This funding is intended to provide support to CBOs across the continuum of implementing and evaluating their CVI work. Support will be provided through a structured training and technical assistance program that occurs over the course of the grant period.

If a CBO uses a fiscal agent for fiscal, administrative or programmatic reasons, this may be allowable given the CBO meets all the other selection criteria for this grant program. However, it is the CBO who needs to develop the project narrative and participate in the required training and technical assistance for the CVIPI grant program.

Note: Applicants that subsequently receive an award under this RFA will be required to provide MCW with their SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifier, have an active SAM.gov registration, and have completed all sub-recipient monitoring requirements prior to an award being issued.

Examples of Allowable and Not Allowable Project Expenses

Allowable

  • Salary and fringe
  • Program operations, materials, and activities
  • Equipment
  • Events or conferences*
  • General operating costs
  • Travel costs associated with obtaining training and technical assistance (food, lodging, mileage, etc.)
  • Training opportunities
  • Consultant and contract services needed to implement the program
  • Participant services (stipends)
  • Developing curricula, assessment tools, policies and procedures (such as wellness plans)**
  • Indirect (federally negotiated or de minimis)

*Requires prior approval from MCW and OJP/BJA

**To support CVI staff as long as these investments contribute to increased capacity to prevent and reduce community violence using evidence-based strategies within a comprehensive approach

Not Allowable

  • Facility construction or repairs
  • Enforcement personnel, facilities, or equipment
  • Court/prosecution services
  • Correctional services
  • Academic research studies
  • Drug/substance misuse treatment services
  • Food for meetings/activities
  • Land acquisition

Apply Now

Questions regarding the application process can be submitted to WCSF@mcw.edu. Questions posed to the WCSF program along with their answers can be found in the CVIPI RFA Question and Answer Document (PDF). All applicants are encouraged to check here on a regular basis for posted questions and answers.

View the Application Materials:

Watch the Informational Webinar Recording:

Timestamps:

0:00 - Welcome
2:13 - CVI-PI RFA Overview
4:15 - CVI Strategies
5:25 - Eligible Applicants
6:22 - Community Based Organization Definition
9:10 - Key Dates
9:59 - Format of Application
11:09 - How Applications Will Be Scored
12:42 - Purpose of CVI Rose
14:09 - CVI Rose Self-Assessment
15:18 - Allowable Expenses vs. Not Allowable
17:05 - Participation Requirements
20:06 - Reporting Requirements
22:07 - Where to Submit Questions

This funding is supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), US Department of Justice (USDOJ) Grant No 15PBJA-24-GK-03113-CVIP through the FY24 Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI) Site-Based Grant Category 4: CVIPI Capacity Building for CBOs via Intermediary Organizations.

© 2025 Medical College of Wisconsin.  All rights reserved.  | Terms and Privacy | Web Accessibility Statement

Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Legal Compliance Statement
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, military status, or other legally protected classification. MCW maintains full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations in pursuit of our missions. Consistent with federal guidance, we affirm our commitment to individual merit, fairness, and equal treatment in all aspects of academic and institutional decision-making.

MCW's policies, federal and state laws, and regulations prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment. Employees, learners, students, applicants, or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.