Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - NEW (Year 1)
This funding opportunity provides financial support to community coalitions in the U.S. focused on preventing and reducing substance use among youth, particularly those aged 18 and under.
The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program: NEW (Year 1), announced under funding opportunity number CDC-RFA-CE-25-0114, is a federal grant program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through its National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). The program aims to support community coalitions that are working to prevent and reduce youth substance use. With a deadline for application submissions set at May 5, 2025, and an anticipated project start date of September 30, 2025, the program offers funding for coalitions that have not previously received a DFC grant. The primary purpose of this funding initiative is to strengthen collaboration among local communities and various governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to reduce substance use among individuals aged 18 and under. The program is structured to not only support existing coalition efforts but to expand and solidify multisector partnerships that address risk and protective factors associated with youth substance use. In the long term, it also aims to reduce adult substance use through these preventive community efforts. Funding is available for up to $125,000 per year, over a period of five years, totaling a possible $625,000 per awarded coalition. The total funding for the entire program is $31,250,000 with an estimated 50 awards anticipated. The award requires a one-to-one non-federal match, which may include in-kind contributions or cash. Special conditions apply for the use of opioid settlement funds and there are strict restrictions on unallowable expenses, such as the purchase of equipment, law enforcement tools, or stipends for youth sports programs. Eligibility is limited to community coalitions that are based in the United States or its territories and meet a comprehensive set of statutory requirements. These include having a formal partnership structure representing 12 specified community sectors, a mission centered on youth substance use prevention, documented operational history of at least six months, and a focus on at least two different substances. Applicants must not have previously received more than 10 years of DFC funding and must submit detailed proof of eligibility and documentation, including meeting minutes, sector representation tables, and a Memorandum of Understanding if working with a fiscal agent. Applicants are required to submit a detailed project narrative, evaluation and performance measurement plans, and a 12-month action plan identifying strategies to address at least two substances using the CDC's Seven Strategies for Community-Level Change. Evaluation will focus on participation in the DFC National Cross-Site Evaluation, data collection from school-age populations in at least three grade levels, and annual reporting on implementation and outcomes. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by the deadline, and applicants are strongly encouraged to join a voluntary informational webinar scheduled for March 26, 2025. Reviews will be conducted by CDC and the Office of National Drug Control Policy, with awards prioritized for proposals that target rural, tribal, or economically disadvantaged communities in the case of scoring ties. All recipients are required to participate in post-award training and reporting, including the National Coalition Academy and the development of a sustainability plan by Year 3.
Award Range
Not specified - $125,000
Total Program Funding
$62,500,000
Number of Awards
50
Matching Requirement
Yes - This program requires you to contribute 100 percent of the federal share. For the 5-year period of performance, you must contribute the same amount we award you in federal funds from non-federal sources.
Additional Details
Expected total program funding over the performance period: $31,250,000 Expected total program funding per budget period: $6,250,000 Expected awards: 50 Funding range per applicant per budget period: Up to $125,000 Expected average award amount per budget period: $125,000
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligibility Category: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher educations. A DFC legal applicant (an organization applying on behalf of a coalition, the coalition, or the applicant coalition) must reside within the United States and/or the U.S. territories. Additional Information on Eligibility: Eligible applicants are community-based coalitions addressing youth substance use that have previously received a DFC grant (Year 15). In addition, community-based coalitions that had previously received a DFC grant but have experienced a lapse in funding or have concluded the first five-year funding cycle and are applying for a second five-year funding cycle are eligible for thisfunding.Applicants must be a nonprofit (as defined by the IRS as a 501(c)organization); or an entity that the Administrator determines to be appropriate; or part of, or is associated with an established legally recognized domestic, public or private non-profit's organization.For example, state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, state-recognized tribes, urban Indian organizations(as defined in Pub. L. No. 94-437), public or private universities and colleges, professional associations, voluntary organizations, self-help groups, consumer and provider services-oriented constituency groups, community- and faith-based organizations, and tribal organizations. (Pub. L. No. 114-198 Sec 103). For the purposes of this NOFO and the DFC Support Program, a coalition is defined as a community-based formal arrangement for cooperation and collaboration among groups or sectors of a community in which each group retains its identity, but all agree to work together toward a common goal of building a safe, healthy, and drug-free community.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
March 19, 2025
Application Closes
May 5, 2025
Grantor
Christi Jones
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