To Apply

We support syringe services programs and community-based harm reduction programs that improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. These programs provide free safer use supplies, education, and community wraparound services to reduce opioid overdoses and the transmission of HIV and viral hepatitis.

Application Guidelines

Application Dates: Applications are accepted on May 1 and on November 1 of each calendar year.

Geographic Focus: The 50 States, District of Columbia, Native American Reservations/Tribal Land, and Puerto Rico

Eligibility Requirements: The Comer Family Foundation will make grants to organizations that are exempt from federal tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that are not classified as private foundations under section 509(a) of the code. We welcome applications from tribal governments and organizations that require a fiscal sponsor.

  • Organizations with total organizational budgets less than $600,000
  • Organizations grounded in harm reduction principle and practice providing access to safer use supplies (SUP) through syringe services and community-based harm reduction (SSPs)
  • Syringe services and community-based harm reduction programs must be in operation for one full year

Funding Priorities:

  • Organizations led by people who use drugs
  • Organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color and/or others disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of drug use (Including those with a history of incarceration, sex work, immigration, etc.)
  • Organizations in geographic areas in which limited funding is available for safer use supplies
  • Organizations serving areas in which limited to no other programs exist within 100 miles
  • Organizations serving areas in which policy improvements can have local, state, and/or national impact
  • Organizations serving areas with higher HIV and HCV prevalence, injection drug use prevalence, overdose incidence
  • Statewide strategic partnerships
  • Organizations offering innovative services at a regional or national level

    Types of Funding Available:

    • General operating funds including harm reduction supplies

    Length of Funding: Single-year grants

    Amount of funding: Average single-year grants range from $2,500 to $20,000

    Application Process

    Organizations are required to create a profile the first time they use our online system. When creating your user profile, we recommend using an e-mail address that is accessible to your office staff, to view your organization's submission. You may preview the application once you've created a login. You will have the ability to save your application and return to complete at any time before the deadline. Applications are accepted online by 11:59pm CST on May 1 and November 1.

    The following documentation is required in order to complete your application:

    • Project budget, including income and expenses
    • Equity Representation Matrix
    • A recent copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
    • If your organization is not a 501(c)(3), please include a signed letter of agreement from your fiscal sponsor and a copy of its 501(c)(3) letter.
    • A list of the organization's Board of Directors including professional/community affiliations
    • Optional: Current letters of support for your organization

    These documents must be uploaded to complete the online grant application form.

    Grant Application Tutorials

    Please review the following helpful references as you prepare your application.

    Ready to go?

    Apply Now

    Note: To apply in Spanish, please use Google Translate in the upper left corner of the grant portal. Para aplicar en español, use el traductor de Google en la esquina superior izquierda de nuestro portal de subvenciones.

    What Happens Next?

    You will receive a confirmation e-mail from administrator@grantinterface.com. If you have not received this e-mail, please review your application to ensure that you have completed all fields and that you have clicked Submit.

    The Board of Directors reviews applications two times per year. Initial review of applications will take 30 days and we will notify you whether we will request further information including a meeting, site visit or phone interview. Grants for applications submitted in May will be awarded in July and grants submitted in November will be awarded in January.

    About our application and your data:
    In an effort to reduce administrative burden on our grantee's experience, Comer Family Foundation, NASTAD and AIDS United have streamlined several tools and questions within our applications.

    Comer believes in transparency within our grant application. We value your trust and take your organizations data safety and anonymity seriously. If you have questions, please email us.

    Questions

    If you have questions about the application process, please e-mail us.

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