Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program NEW (Year 1)

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program was established under the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-20) and is co-administered by the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), specifically its National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). The program's fundamental aim is to empower community-based coalitions in their mission to prevent and reduce substance use among youth aged 18 and under. This is accomplished by fostering collaboration across various public and private agencies, and all levels of government including federal, state, local, and tribal entities. The program is currently accepting forecasts for its Fiscal Year 2026 cycle, specifically for new applicants that have not previously received a DFC grant. The initiative focuses on building formal community-based coalitions that align efforts across different sectors of society to collectively address youth substance abuse. In the long term, the program seeks to reduce overall substance abuse among adults by addressing community-level risk factors and promoting protective factors. Coalitions applying must be based in the United States or U.S. territories and consist of partnerships that retain individual identities but work toward the shared goal of creating drug-free communities. Funding for this forecasted opportunity is expected to reach a total of $31,250,000 with approximately 50 awards anticipated. Each award will not exceed $125,000 per year. The DFC program mandates cost sharing or matching requirements, with specific ratios such as 1:1 expected but not fully detailed in the current forecast. Eligible organizations include a broad range of entities such as local and tribal governments, school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. A core requirement is that the legal applicant must be either a nonprofit 501(c) entity or otherwise appropriately designated by the Administrator. Eligible coalitions must not have received DFC grant funding in the past. The application process for this opportunity is anticipated to open on January 27, 2026, and will close on April 14, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. ET. All submissions must be made electronically. The estimated award announcement date is August 31, 2026, with funded projects expected to commence on September 30, 2026. No pre-application elements such as Letters of Intent or concept papers are required at this stage based on the forecast notice. However, applicants are expected to comply with applicable Executive Orders related to public safety, discrimination, and related federal priorities. Contact for inquiries is provided via a program-specific email address (DFC_NOFO@cdc.gov), with Christi Jones listed as the point of contact, although no direct phone number is confirmed in the forecast beyond a placeholder. The program has a national scope and welcomes applicants from across the United States and territories without any specified geographic restrictions. As this is a recurring, annual program, organizations not ready for this cycle can anticipate future opportunities aligned with this initiative's ongoing public health mission.