VOCA Partial Match Waiver Request

ATTACHMENT D VOCA Partial Match Waiver Request

Subrecipient Instructions:

Please note that Cal OES Subrecipients are unable to request full waivers, you may still request a partial waiver AND the justification must be compelling.

Waiver requests by Subrecipients must be (a) on agency letterhead; (b) contain an original E.D. signature; (c) document the need/impact; and (d) be submitted with your RC16 Request for Application. Please contact your Program Specialist for assistance.

Sample language from successful requests follows:

This is written on behalf of (insert agency name) to request a hardship waiver of (insert percentage) of our FY2016/17 VOCA Match requirement in the amount of $______. As a non-profit organization, the (insert agency name) is requesting a VOCA match requirement waiver for the 9/1/2016 – 8/31/2017 grant year.

Without our ___ VOCA-funded positions, sexual assault victims would not have access to critically needed services that assist them in healing and enable them to return to their previous state of well- being.

Compelling justification: As a reminder, VOCA has increased funding significantly in the past 2 years; the justification should not speak to budget decreases, reduction in workforce, economic downturns, etc.

Some areas that may apply could be:  Restricted use of funding and less funds in other areas to cover things that are not VOCA allowable.  Budget decreases from supplemental funds  Fewer and fewer opportunities to find new sources of in-kind donations  20% VOCA match creates a huge burden that hinders our ability to provide critical victim services; yet failure to meet this requirement puts our program and its services to sexual assault victims in jeopardy.  …..fundraising nearly impossible; yet we spend a lot of time and money working on such efforts  …..try to get volunteer interns/graduate students…continue to educate community agencies regarding volunteer opportunities  …..interns now need to be paid for their services… those we have now are looking for paid positions  ….despite best efforts, less than successful in obtaining volunteers and donations in past months  …diligent in efforts to meet the match requirement but without success.  …limited discretionary funds being used for cash match create a hardship in flexibility for fund usage  ….therefore, we request a waiver of this requirement