Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program COMPETING CONTINUATION (Year 6)

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program was established under the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997, Public Law 105-20. This initiative is led by the Executive Office of the President through the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). The program provides funding to local community coalitions with the aim of preventing and reducing youth substance use. By law, the DFC program has two principal goals: to strengthen collaboration among community organizations and government agencies, and to reduce substance use among young people while promoting long-term reductions among adults. The DFC Support Program emphasizes building strong, community-based coalitions that engage multiple sectors to create safe, healthy, and drug-free environments. Coalitions that apply are expected to demonstrate their ability to form partnerships across local governments, schools, faith-based groups, nonprofits, healthcare providers, and other community stakeholders. The funding supports coalitions in implementing strategies that reduce risk factors contributing to youth substance use while enhancing protective factors that help deter it. Over time, these strategies are intended not only to benefit young people but also to have a wider impact on the community at large. The opportunity referenced, CDC-RFA-CE21-210206CONT26, is a competing continuation grant for coalitions that have already completed their first five-year funding cycle or experienced a lapse in support. This continuation cycle, Year 6, ensures that coalitions can sustain and expand upon the work they initiated in earlier years. The program has a strong commitment to policy alignment, requiring applicants to support relevant Executive Orders and legislative mandates. Awardees are expected to align their activities with federal drug policy priorities and demonstrate measurable outcomes in preventing and reducing youth substance use. Eligibility is limited to coalitions that have previously received a DFC grant in Years 1 through 5, experienced a lapse, or completed the first five-year cycle and are applying for their second cycle. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofits or entities affiliated with recognized nonprofit organizations. This includes state and local governments, federally and state-recognized tribes, public and private higher education institutions, professional associations, and community- and faith-based organizations. Importantly, the legal applicant must reside within the United States or its territories and must be able to demonstrate that they represent a coalition—a formal collaboration where each member retains independence but agrees to work toward the shared goal of drug-free youth. Funding under this competition will provide up to $125,000 annually per award, with an estimated total program funding of $31,250,000 across approximately 50 expected awards. Cost-sharing or matching is required, though the specific percentage or amount is not defined in the synopsis and must be confirmed in the full announcement. The grant explicitly states that it is a discretionary program, and the funds are to be used strictly to support coalition-led prevention strategies as outlined in the notice. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov no later than 2026-04-14 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The notice was posted on 2025-09-30, with an archive date of 2026-05-14. There is no indication of a required pre-application step such as a Letter of Intent. The program is recurring, as indicated by its continuation cycle framework, and applicants should anticipate future opportunities if they do not succeed in the current competition. The program contact for technical or eligibility inquiries is Christi Jones, who can be reached at DFC_NOFO@cdc.gov. This contact is the primary resource for applicants seeking clarification or access to the full announcement.