The Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program – Competing Continuation (Year 6) is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). This funding opportunity is designed to support community coalitions that focus on preventing and reducing substance use among youth. The grant provides financial assistance to coalitions that have previously received DFC funding and are seeking continued support in their sixth year or beyond. The program aims to strengthen collaborations among community organizations, public and private agencies, and government entities at various levels to create effective, evidence-based strategies to address youth substance use.

The program offers funding of up to $125,000 per year for eligible coalitions. The total funding available over the performance period is $31,250,000, with an estimated $6,250,000 allocated per budget period. The funding period covers five 12-month budget cycles, allowing recipients to maintain and expand their substance use prevention efforts. Awardees must secure a 100% match from non-federal sources in Year 6, increasing to 125% in Years 7-8 and 150% in Years 9-10. Matching funds can include in-kind contributions such as office space, volunteer hours, or training resources.

Eligibility is restricted to community-based coalitions that have previously received DFC grants. These coalitions must include representatives from at least 12 required community sectors, focus on preventing youth substance use, and address at least two substances. Applicants must be based in the United States or U.S. territories and must not have exceeded 10 years of DFC funding. Coalitions must also participate in the DFC national cross-site evaluation, which requires collecting and reporting data on core measures such as youth perceptions of substance use and actual substance use rates.

The application deadline is May 5, 2025, with an expected award announcement date of August 29, 2025. The funding period is set to begin on September 30, 2025. An informational call for potential applicants will be held on March 25, 2025. The application process requires coalitions to submit comprehensive documentation, including a project narrative, work plan, budget, and proof of eligibility. Required attachments include meeting minutes, a sector table listing coalition representatives, a memorandum of understanding (if applicable), and a statement of legal eligibility.

Applicants must also develop an evaluation and performance measurement plan outlining how they will track and assess the effectiveness of their initiatives. Awardees are required to submit annual progress reports and participate in a biennial data collection process on key substance use indicators. Failure to comply with reporting requirements could result in grant termination.

For further information, applicants can contact the CDC at DFC_NOFO@cdc.gov for program-related inquiries or DFC_OGS@cdc.gov for grants management questions. Technical support for the application process is available through Grants.gov at support@grants.gov or by phone at 1-800-518-4726.