Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act Grants

The Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act Grants program is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA is responsible for advancing behavioral health nationwide, including prevention of substance misuse and promotion of mental health services. This funding opportunity is part of a broader federal effort to address underage drinking through community-based prevention strategies and aligns with national public health priorities focused on youth well-being and substance use prevention. The purpose of the STOP Act Grants program is to prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth and young adults between the ages of 12 and 20 across communities in the United States. The program emphasizes community-level change by supporting coalitions and organizations that implement evidence-based prevention strategies. Applicants are expected to strengthen collaboration among local, state, tribal, and federal partners while addressing contributing factors such as social norms, enforcement practices, and access to alcohol. The initiative promotes structured planning approaches such as the Strategic Prevention Framework and encourages use of established models like CADCA’s Seven Strategies for Community Level Change. Funding is structured as a grant program with an estimated total available funding of 1,960,000 dollars and approximately 32 awards anticipated. Each award may provide up to 60,000 dollars per year for a project period of up to four years, contingent on performance and availability of funds. Funds are primarily intended for capacity building activities, including developing prevention strategies, strengthening coalitions, and implementing community engagement initiatives. There are specific funding restrictions, including a cap of 6 percent on administrative costs and prohibitions on certain activities such as harm reduction initiatives or expenditures on food. Cost sharing is not required for this program. Eligibility is limited to domestic public and private nonprofit organizations that are currently receiving or have previously received funding under the Drug-Free Communities Act. Applicants must ensure that any proposed project targets a different population or geographic area than any currently funded STOP Act project. Organizations may submit limited applications depending on their current funding status, and eligibility is strictly enforced. The program requires applicants to demonstrate capacity to manage federal funds, implement evidence-based programming, and comply with federal regulations and reporting requirements. The application process involves multiple steps, including registration in federal systems such as SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. Applicants must prepare a comprehensive application package that includes a project abstract, project narrative, budget narrative, and several required attachments such as a timeline, documentation of nonprofit status, and certification of Drug-Free Communities funding history. The project narrative is limited to ten pages and must address specific evaluation criteria including need, implementation approach, organizational capacity, and data collection plans. Applications are evaluated through a two-step review process consisting of an initial eligibility screening and a merit-based peer review. Reviewers assess the quality of the proposed project, alignment with program goals, and the applicant’s ability to implement and manage the project. Final funding decisions also consider alignment with agency priorities and availability of funds. Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award and must comply with all federal reporting and performance requirements, including quarterly and annual reporting through SAMHSA systems. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is July 15, 2026, with an expected award date of September 1, 2026, and project start date of September 30, 2026. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis only until the first 60 complete and high-quality submissions are received, after which the application portal will close. The program is recurring annually, and applicants are encouraged to prepare early due to the submission cap. Contact information is provided for programmatic, financial, and review-related inquiries, ensuring applicants have access to support throughout the application process.

Ensure alignment with SAMHSA strategic priorities and evidence-based prevention frameworks; clearly define population of focus and measurable outcomes; demonstrate strong community partnerships and data collection capacity