Across most of America, many states have seen an increase in the number of people suffering from substance misuse or abuse. Hospitals are seeing an increase in the number of people coming for drug intoxication or overdose. Health departments are seeing an increase in the number of people seeking free or low-cost treatments. And treatment and prevention centers are seeing an increase in the number of adolescents and teens that require treatment.
State and federal governments are tackling the issue by increasing funding to nonprofit and for-profit treatment and recovery organizations that provide mental health and substance misuse programs. Governments are also interested in funding new and innovative ways to treat more people, expand access to people who don’t live close to mental health services, and drive down costs.
Below is a list of 11 well-known and lesser-known federal Grantmakers you need to check out.
1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
2. Department of Justice
3. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
5. Indian Health Services
6. Department of Labor
7. Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
8. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
9. USDA
10. Dept of Education
11. Dept of the VA
Well-Known Substance Abuse Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention Funders
Established by Congress in 1992, SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the nation's behavioral health. The agency aims to make substance use and mental disorder information, services, and research more accessible.
The Justice Department’s mission is to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. Several agencies within the department support substance misuse programs, including the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA); the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
HRSA provides equitable health care to the nation’s highest-need communities. Its programs support people with low incomes, HIV, pregnant people, children, parents, rural communities, transplant patients, and the health workforce.
CDC is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven service organization that protects the public’s health. For over 70 years, it has put science into action to help children stay healthy so they can grow and learn; to help families, businesses, and communities fight disease and stay strong; and to protect the public’s health. CDC is also the preeminent source of substance use and behavioral health data and statistics.
Lesser-Known Substance Abuse Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention Funders
HIS, within the Department of Health and Human Services, provides federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally-recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes.
The Department of Labor (DOL) fosters and promotes the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. DOL is specifically focused on Mental Health parity, and the mental health of workers.
The Administration for Children & Families (ACF), a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) division, promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, youth, individuals, and communities with funding, strategic partnerships, guidance, training, and technical assistance.
CMS, is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. CMS serves the public as a trusted partner and steward dedicated to advancing health equity, expanding coverage, and improving health outcomes.
The core functions of USDA are to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management. But this agency also helps rural America to thrive through economic opportunity and innovation. Look to USDA to expand your telemedicine and tele psych programs.
ED's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. Specifically, Ed is dedicated to collecting data on America's schools, disseminating research, and focusing national attention on key educational issues. ED is interested in creating school-based and out-of-school time programs that reduce the rising number of students dealing with substance misuse and addiction.
The VA’s mission is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. The VA may support organizations that help Veterans seeking treatment for substance use problems ranging from unhealthy alcohol use to life-threatening addiction.
We hope our list is helpful to you. You may also be interested in reading our article Substance Use Grants for Nonprofits 2023, which lists 24 grant opportunities.
Finally, if you are looking for state grants, you may look at your state’s mental health agency, the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene or the Dept of Mental Health.
Pro-tip: If you search online for “(your state) Department of Health Mental Health,” you should be able to locate your state’s mental health substance use funders.
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