GrantMe Tennessee grant finder

← Back to the grant

Should we apply?

8 questions about Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program – Competing Continuation (Year 6). The first ones are deal-breakers: grant professionals check them before writing anything. We filled in what we know. Change anything that's wrong.

Is your kind of organization eligible? Deal-breaker

The funder lists: School district, County government, City or town government, Tribal organization, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Public college or university, Private college or university, Tribal government, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), and others named in the official notice.

Who can apply, from the official notice
Eligible applicants are community-based coalitions addressing youth substance use that have previously received a DFC grant (Year 1–5), 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.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.Applicants must be a nonprofit (as defined by the IRS as a 501(c) organization); or an entity that the Administrator determines to be…

Read it all on the grant page · Official notice

Why it matters: Funders don't review applications from groups that aren't eligible. Source: Grants.gov: make sure you are eligible before writing

Do you serve the area this grant covers? Deal-breaker

GrantMe found: This is a nationwide program, so every Tennessee county is covered.

Why it matters: A grant limited to certain places can't pay for work outside them. Source: Grants.gov: make sure you are eligible before writing

Will your SAM.gov registration be active through the deadline? Deal-breaker

Why it matters: Federal agencies require an active SAM.gov registration to apply and to be paid. Source: Grants.gov: applicant registration

Can you provide the required match? Deal-breaker

GrantMe found: The notice requires a match.

Why it matters: If you can't raise the match, you can't accept the grant. Source: National Council of Nonprofits: Managing Federal Grants, a start-up guide (2026)

Does the project fit what this funder wants to pay for, without bending your mission?

Why it matters: Funders pay for their own goals. Bending your project to fit can pull you off your mission. Source: Grants.gov: ensure mission alignment before applying

Has this funder paid organizations like yours before?

Why it matters: Funders that paid groups like yours before are the likeliest to do it again. Source: Candid: find and evaluate potential funder matches

Have you managed a grant of similar size before (tracking spending and reporting)?

Why it matters: Funders expect you to track how the money is spent and report on the results. Source: National Council of Nonprofits: Managing Federal Grants, a start-up guide (2026)

Do you have someone with time to write it before the deadline?

Why it matters: A strong application takes time to write, and late ones usually aren't accepted. Source: National Council of Nonprofits: Managing Federal Grants, a start-up guide (2026)