NSDA Weekly Grant Update: January 9, 2026
This is your weekly grant opportunities update from The National Special Districts Association. Special districts are either eligible to apply directly, or able to partner with a qualifying entity to apply for any of the grants listed.
New Grant Opportunities
Department of Health and Human Services
FY 2026 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program: New (Year 1-Recompete)
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support the efforts of community coalitions who work to prevent and reduce substance use among youth. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are community-based coalitions addressing youth substance use that have not previously received a DFC grant.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $50 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? February 12, 2026
Department of Defense
FY 2026 1033 Program
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to provide federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies (LEAs) with excess property from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Property will be provided to agencies that have a primary function of enforcing laws using compensated officers that have the powers of arrest and apprehension. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? Rather than providing monetary awards, this program provides successful applicants with access to excess property from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
- WHEN IS IT DUE? Rolling
Department of Justice
FY 2025 Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to develop and expand a multidisciplinary, collaborative task force approach to improve response to human trafficking through increased victim identification, service provision, and investigations. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are states, local governments, Native American tribal governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations other than institutions of higher education.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $22 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? March 11, 2026 (Grants.gov); March 18, 2026 (JustGrants)
Department of Justice
FY 2025 Integrated Services for Minor Victims of Human Trafficking
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program will support programs to enhance the availability, quality, and delivery of services tailored to the developmental stages and needs of young (minor) victims of human trafficking. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are state and local governments, institutions of higher education, county governments, public housing authorities, native American tribal governments, 501(c)3 nonprofits, and other units of local government.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $10 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? February 24, 2026 (Grants.gov); March 3, 2026 (JustGrants)
Department of Justice
FY 2025 Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to provide funding for housing and support services to victims of human trafficking. The primary focus of this program is to provide rapid rehousing (i.e., transitional housing and supportive services that assist human trafficking victims in moving as quickly as possible into permanent housing and achieving stability). Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are government entities, institutions of higher education, public housing organizations, and nonprofit organizations.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $16.8 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? February 24, 2026 (Grants.gov); March 3, 2026 (JustGrants)
Department of Justice
FY 2025 Preventing Trafficking of Girls
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to develop or enhance prevention and early intervention services for girls who are at risk of, or are victims of, sex and/or labor trafficking. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are state, territory, city, town, or county governments; public-controlled, state-controlled, or private institutions of higher education; public and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations and tribal governments; and nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $3.48 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? February 24, 2026 (Grants.gov); March 3, 2026 (JustGrants)
Department of Justice
FY 2025 Services for Victims of Human Trafficking
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to develop, expand, or strengthen victim service programs for victims of human trafficking. This program is intended to support victim service programs that serve adults or a combination of adults and minors/youth. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are city or township governments, county governments, federally recognized Native American tribes, nonprofit organizations having a 501(c)(3) status, institutions of higher education, public and Indian housing authorities, and state governments.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $27.7 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? March 11, 2026 (Grants.gov); March 18, 2026 (JustGrants)
Department of Labor
FY 2025 YouthBuild Program
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program supports the provision of pre-apprenticeship occupational skills training, education, and job placement services to disadvantaged and low-income youth between the ages of 16 and 24. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are state, county, city, special district, and township governments; independent school districts; public, state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; Federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing and Indian housing authorities; faith-based organizations and nonprofits.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $98 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? March 2, 2026
Environmental Protection Agency
FY 2025 Environmental Education Grant Program
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? This program supports locally and regionally focused environmental education projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers and community members. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are local educational agencies, state education or environmental agencies, colleges or universities, nonprofits, Tribal education agencies, Tribal non-profit organizations, noncommercial educational broadcasting entities, and local or county environmental agencies.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $3.2 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? March 3, 2026
National Endowment for the Arts
FY 2026 Celebrating the Nation's 250th Birthday with Music from U.S. Military Bands
- WHAT DOES IT FUND? The purpose of this program is to support arts projects that feature performances and/or educational programming with a U.S. military band. Arts projects are intended to celebrate and honor the 250th birthday of the United States of America in 2026. U.S. military bands may include marching bands, orchestras, choruses, ensembles, soloists, and vocalists. Click here for more information.
- WHO'S ELIGIBLE? Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, units of state or local government, and Federally recognized tribal communities or tribes.
- TOTAL FUNDING AMOUNT? $1 million
- WHEN IS IT DUE? February 23, 2026
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