Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA CE 26 0061
The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - NEW (Year 1) is a federal grant opportunity for Fiscal Year 2026 aimed at helping communities build or strengthen local coalitions focused on preventing youth substance use. The program was authorized by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-20) and is administered jointly through the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). The overall intent is to support organized, community-led prevention work by bringing key local partners together and aligning them around a shared strategy to reduce youth substance use and its long-term impacts.
The grant is designed around two statutory goals. First, it seeks to establish and strengthen collaboration among community partners, including public and private nonprofit agencies and all levels of government (federal, state, local, and tribal), in order to support community coalitions working to prevent and reduce substance use among youth ages 18 and under. Second, it aims to reduce youth substance use in the near term and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing local conditions that increase risk (risk factors) and reinforcing local conditions that protect against substance use (protective factors). In practical terms, the program is focused on coalition-based prevention that changes community environments, coordination, and shared priorities, not just standalone activities.
Eligibility is centered on community-based coalitions that address youth substance use and have not previously received a DFC grant, making this a true entry point for new DFC-funded coalitions. A coalition, for the purposes of this funding notice, is defined as a formal community-based arrangement where multiple sectors agree to cooperate and collaborate toward the shared goal of building a safe, healthy, and drug-free community, while each participating group still maintains its own identity. The legal applicant can be the coalition itself or an organization applying on behalf of the coalition, but in all cases the applicant must be located within the United States or U.S. territories.
The opportunity includes a wide range of eligible applicant types, reflecting the different ways coalitions are housed or fiscally sponsored. Eligible entities listed include nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits), county and city/township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, institutions of higher education (public, state-controlled, and private), federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and other entities as allowed. The notice further explains that applicants must be either a nonprofit as defined by the IRS as a 501(c) organization, or another entity the Administrator determines appropriate, including entities that are part of or associated with an established, legally recognized domestic public or private nonprofit organization. Examples provided include state and local governments, federally and state-recognized tribes, urban Indian organizations, colleges and universities, professional associations, voluntary organizations, self-help groups, consumer and provider constituency groups, community- and faith-based organizations, and tribal organizations (referencing Pub. L. No. 114-198 Sec. 103). Even with this breadth, the core target remains community coalitions that have not yet had DFC support.
Funding is offered as a discretionary grant under CDC’s NCIPC, with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 93.276. The opportunity number is CDC RFA CE 26 0061. Awards are expected to be up to $125,000 (award ceiling), with an anticipated 50 awards. The original application closing date listed is April 14, 2026. As a Year 1 "NEW" award, this solicitation is positioned for coalitions that are early in their DFC funding lifecycle and need federal support to formalize partnerships, implement prevention plans, and build sustained local capacity.
The notice also states that, consistent with the Administration’s drug policy priorities, the DFC program is framed around protecting American youth from the dangers of drug use. Applicants are expected to support applicable Executive Orders, and the notice specifically references Executive Order 14168 (Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government), Executive Order 14159 (Protecting the American People from Invasion), Executive Order 14173 (Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity), Executive Order 13768 (Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States), and Executive Order 14182 (Enforcing the Hyde Amendment). This language signals that program implementation and award compliance expectations may include alignment with federal policy requirements tied to these orders.
In short, this DFC Year 1 opportunity funds new, community-rooted coalitions to coordinate prevention efforts, unite multiple sectors, and pursue community-level change to reduce youth substance use, with a defined funding cap, a national scope (including territories), and an emphasis on structured collaboration and risk/protective factor approaches.Apply for CDC RFA CE 26 0061
- The Centers for Disease Control - NCIPC in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program – NEW (Year 1)" 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 2025-09-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-04-14. (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 50 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - NEW (Year 1) grant?
The DFC Support Program - NEW (Year 1) is a federal grant opportunity for Fiscal Year 2026 that supports communities in building or strengthening local coalitions focused on preventing and reducing youth substance use. It is intended to help communities organize partners around a shared prevention strategy and implement coalition-driven work aimed at changing local conditions that influence substance use.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose is to support organized, community-led prevention work by bringing key local partners together and aligning them around a shared strategy to reduce youth substance use (ages 18 and under) and its long-term impacts. The emphasis is on coalition-based prevention and community-level change rather than isolated or standalone activities.
Who administers the DFC Support Program?
The program is administered jointly through the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC).
What law authorizes the DFC program?
The program was authorized by the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-20).
What are the statutory goals of the DFC program?
The DFC program is built around two statutory goals:
- Establish and strengthen collaboration among community partners (including public and private nonprofit agencies and all levels of government: federal, state, local, and tribal) to support coalitions working to prevent and reduce youth substance use (ages 18 and under).
- Reduce youth substance use in the near term and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by addressing local risk factors and reinforcing protective factors.
Who is the target population for prevention activities under this opportunity?
The primary focus is youth ages 18 and under. The program also aims to reduce adult substance use over time by changing community conditions that influence substance use patterns.
What does the program mean by focusing on risk factors and protective factors?
This funding emphasizes prevention strategies that address local conditions that increase risk for substance use (risk factors) and strengthen conditions that protect against substance use (protective factors). The intent is to support community-level change through coordinated coalition action.
What types of approaches does this program emphasize?
The program emphasizes coalition-based prevention that improves community environments, coordination, and shared priorities. It is designed to support organized, multi-sector prevention work rather than one-off or standalone activities.
Who is eligible to apply for the DFC Support Program - NEW (Year 1)?
Eligibility is centered on community-based coalitions that address youth substance use and have not previously received a DFC grant. This "NEW (Year 1)" opportunity is described as an entry point for coalitions that are new to DFC funding.
What is considered a "coalition" for this funding opportunity?
A coalition is defined as a formal community-based arrangement where multiple sectors agree to cooperate and collaborate toward the shared goal of building a safe, healthy, and drug-free community, while each participating group maintains its own identity.
Can an organization apply on behalf of a coalition?
Yes. The legal applicant can be the coalition itself or an organization applying on behalf of the coalition. In all cases, the applicant must be located within the United States or U.S. territories.
What types of organizations are listed as eligible applicants?
The opportunity lists a broad range of eligible applicant types, including:
- Nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits)
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Institutions of higher education (public, state-controlled, and private)
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Tribal organizations
- Other entities as allowed by the notice
What does the notice say about nonprofit eligibility?
The notice explains that applicants must be either a nonprofit as defined by the IRS as a 501(c) organization, or another entity the Administrator determines appropriate. It also notes that eligible entities may include those that are part of or associated with an established, legally recognized domestic public or private nonprofit organization.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations are included among eligible applicant types. The notice also references federally and state-recognized tribes and urban Indian organizations as examples of eligible entities.
Is this opportunity available nationwide?
Yes. The applicant must be located within the United States or U.S. territories, indicating the opportunity has national scope including territories.
What agency is offering the funding?
The funding is offered as a discretionary grant under CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC).
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this grant?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 93.276.
What is the opportunity number for this funding announcement?
The opportunity number is CDC RFA CE 26 0061.
How much funding can an applicant receive?
Awards are expected to be up to $125,000, which is the stated award ceiling.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The notice anticipates approximately 50 awards.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing date listed is April 14, 2026.
What does "NEW (Year 1)" mean in this solicitation?
"NEW (Year 1)" indicates the solicitation is intended for coalitions that are early in their DFC funding lifecycle and have not previously received a DFC grant. The funding is positioned to help these coalitions formalize partnerships, implement prevention plans, and build sustained local capacity.
Does the program focus only on youth, or does it also address adult substance use?
The near-term focus is on reducing substance use among youth ages 18 and under. Over time, the program aims to reduce adult substance use as well by addressing community conditions linked to substance use.
What kinds of partners does the program expect coalitions to collaborate with?
The program highlights collaboration among community partners, including public and private nonprofit agencies and all levels of government (federal, state, local, and tribal). The overall intent is to bring key local partners together into a coordinated coalition.
Does the notice include references to Executive Orders or federal policy priorities?
Yes. The notice states that, consistent with the Administration's drug policy priorities, the DFC program is framed around protecting American youth from the dangers of drug use. It also notes that applicants are expected to support applicable Executive Orders, and it specifically references Executive Orders 14168, 14159, 14173, 13768, 14182, indicating that implementation and award compliance expectations may include alignment with federal policy requirements tied to these orders.
Is this a formula grant or a discretionary grant?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant under CDC's NCIPC.
What is the central theme of the DFC approach described in the notice?
The central theme is structured collaboration through a community coalition that aligns multiple sectors around a shared prevention strategy, with an emphasis on changing local conditions (risk and protective factors) to reduce youth substance use and its long-term impacts.
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