Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - (Year 6 - FY25 Cohort) | CDC RFA CE 26 0208

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA CE 26 0208

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - (Year 6 - FY25 Cohort) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: CDC RFA CE 26 0208; CFDA: 93.276) administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), in partnership with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The program originates from the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-20) and is designed to help communities organize and sustain local coalitions focused on preventing and reducing substance use among young people.

The core purpose of the DFC program is to establish and strengthen community collaboration so local coalitions can more effectively prevent and reduce youth substance use (defined here as individuals age 18 and under). The statute sets out two main goals. First, it aims to build and reinforce partnerships across a community, bringing together public and private nonprofit agencies along with federal, state, local, and tribal governments in support of coalition-based prevention work. Second, it aims to reduce youth substance use and, over time, reduce adult substance use by addressing local conditions that increase risk (risk factors) and boosting conditions that protect against use (protective factors). In practice, the emphasis is on community-level change driven by coordinated action rather than isolated programs.

This particular notice targets coalitions that are beyond the initial stage of DFC funding. It is intended for applicants who have already completed the first five-year DFC grant cycle (Years 1 through 5) and are seeking support as they move into a second five-year cycle, as well as coalitions that previously held a DFC grant but experienced a lapse in funding. In other words, it is not positioned as an entry point for brand-new coalitions that have never received DFC funding; it is aimed at continuing or re-establishing DFC-supported coalition work after the initial cycle or after an interruption.

Eligibility is broadly framed around community-based coalitions addressing youth substance use, with the requirement that the applicant be a nonprofit (including IRS-recognized 501(c) organizations) or another entity deemed appropriate by the Administrator, or an entity that is part of or associated with a legally recognized domestic public or private nonprofit organization. The eligible applicant types listed include county and city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, and nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education), among others. The notice also provides examples of eligible organizational forms, such as state and local governments, state-recognized tribes, urban Indian organizations, universities and colleges, professional associations, voluntary organizations, self-help groups, consumer and provider constituency groups, community- and faith-based organizations, and tribal organizations, consistent with Pub. L. No. 114-198 Sec 103.

For the purposes of this funding opportunity, a "coalition" is defined in a specific way: a community-based formal arrangement in which multiple community sectors agree to cooperate and collaborate toward a shared goal of building a safe, healthy, and drug-free community, while each participating group still retains its own identity. This framing matters because it emphasizes cross-sector coordination (for example, schools, law enforcement, public health, youth-serving organizations, parents, faith groups, healthcare, and local government) rather than a single organization acting alone.

The opportunity also notes that, in alignment with the Administration's drug policy priorities, the DFC program is focused on protecting youth from the dangers of drug use. Applicants are expected to support applicable Executive Orders, and the notice lists several by number and title, including Executive Order 14168, 14159, 14173, 13768, and 14182. This language signals that awardees may need to ensure their policies, practices, and grant-supported activities remain consistent with relevant federal directives and compliance expectations as interpreted and applied to the program.

Funding details included in the source indicate an award ceiling of $125,000, with an expected 80 awards. The original application closing date is listed as 2026-02-12, and the opportunity was created on 2025-12-22. Overall, this grant is best understood as a continuation and sustainability-focused funding stream for established DFC coalitions, supporting ongoing, community-driven prevention strategies that aim to reduce youth substance use by changing local conditions through coordinated partnerships.

• The Centers for Disease Control - NCIPC in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - (Year 6 - FY25 Cohort)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.276.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-12-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 80 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others, Unrestricted.

Apply for CDC RFA CE 26 0208

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