Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - New (Year 1 Recompete) | CDC RFA CE 26 0220

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA CE 26 0220

The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program - New (Year 1 Recompete) is a federal discretionary grant opportunity (CDC RFA CE 26 0220; CFDA 93.276) for Fiscal Year 2026, administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), in partnership with the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The program traces back to the Drug-Free Communities Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-20) and is built around the idea that local, community-led coalitions are often best positioned to prevent and reduce youth substance use because they can coordinate schools, families, public health, law enforcement, youth-serving organizations, and other local partners around shared priorities.

At its core, the grant is designed to establish and strengthen community collaboration to support coalitions focused on preventing youth substance use (defined here as individuals age 18 and younger). The program’s statutory goals are twofold: first, to strengthen collaboration among community groups and across public and private sectors (including federal, state, local, and tribal partners) to support coalition-based prevention efforts; and second, to reduce substance use among youth and, over time, reduce substance use among adults by changing community conditions. That means addressing local risk factors that make substance use more likely (for example, norms that tolerate underage use, easy access, low perceived harm, or weak enforcement) while also strengthening protective factors that help young people avoid or delay use (such as strong family engagement, positive school climate, pro-social activities, and consistent prevention messaging).

Eligibility is centered on community-based coalitions that are addressing youth substance use and have not previously received a DFC grant. A key concept in this notice is the definition of a coalition: a formal arrangement where multiple community sectors cooperate and collaborate toward a shared goal of a safe, healthy, drug-free community, while each participating group still retains its own identity. The applicant can be the coalition itself or an organization applying on behalf of the coalition (the “legal applicant”), but in all cases the legal applicant must reside in the United States or a U.S. territory and must meet the eligible entity requirements described in the notice.

The opportunity lists a wide range of eligible applicant types, reflecting how coalitions are often housed within or closely affiliated with different kinds of institutions. While the summary emphasizes nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations other than institutions of higher education), eligibility also extends to other entities that may serve as the legal home or partner for a coalition, such as state and local governments, independent school districts, special district governments, federally recognized tribes and other tribal entities, urban Indian organizations, community- and faith-based organizations, professional associations, voluntary organizations, and public or private colleges and universities. The notice also indicates that an applicant may qualify if it is part of, associated with, or otherwise connected to an established, legally recognized domestic public or private nonprofit organization, as permitted under Pub. L. No. 114-198 Sec. 103.

On funding specifics, the award ceiling is $125,000, and the CDC anticipates making approximately 80 awards. The application deadline listed is February 12, 2026. The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is health, reflecting the public health orientation of prevention work even when coalitions include non-health partners (schools, police, youth programs, etc.). Because this is labeled “New (Year 1 Recompete),” it is aimed at coalitions seeking first-time DFC funding under this cycle, rather than organizations already funded under a prior DFC award.

Finally, the notice states that, in line with the Trump Administration’s Statement of Drug Policy Priorities, the DFC program emphasizes protecting youth from the dangers of drug use and expects applicants to support applicable Executive Orders. The opportunity text specifically lists several Executive Orders as relevant expectations for applicants, including EO 14168, EO 14159, EO 14173, EO 13768, and EO 14182. Practically, this signals that applicants should be prepared to demonstrate compliance with current federal policy requirements and any related grant conditions that CDC may apply during award administration.

• 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 Recompete)" 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 0220

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