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Application Process
Application Process
The current grant application period is closed. Awards for the current cycle will be announced by the end of 2025. Below is important information to help applicants prepare for the 2026 award cycle.
Application Submission
The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust is committed to thoroughly reviewing every complete, submitted application, while also ensuring each one is evaluated fairly. To achieve this balance, specific requirements regarding the content of applications have been developed. Applications must be submitted via the Trust’s Grant Management Portal. To submit an application, each applicant must create an account and submit their application via the portal.
Grant Application Sections and Required Information
Funding awards are determined based on the application’s alignment with the goals of the opioid abatement effort, the demonstrated need, and the potential impact of the project. Priority may be given to projects that address underserved populations or regions with high rates of opioid-related challenges.
Grant contracts awarded as a result of this Notice of Funding Opportunity are subject to the availability of funds. In the event funds are not available, the Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust reserves the right to terminate grant contracts upon written notice to the Grantee.
Application Evaluation, Scoring, and Selection
A proposal can receive a maximum score of 130 points, broken down as follows:
20
Organizational Background and Qualifications
60
Project Approach
30
Potential Impact
20
Budget
Application Screening and Completeness Requirements
Applications are screened to ensure that minimum eligibility requirements have been met, that all required documentation has been submitted, and that all required portions of the application have been completed. Complete applications for regional funding that meet minimum eligibility requirements are reviewed and scored by the respective RAC. Complete applications for state funding that meet minimum eligibility requirements are scored by the Interagency Work Group, a group of subject matter experts. Incomplete applications will receive a denial, and applicants will be advised to apply during the next round.
The applicant accepts full responsibility for all costs incurred in the preparation, submission, and other activities undertaken by the applicant associated with the application.
Applications submitted prior to the due date may be withdrawn only by the applicant. The applicant may withdraw the application in the Trust’s Grants Management Portal.
The Trust reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any and all proposals; to advertise new proposals; to arrange to perform the services herein, to abandon the need for such services, and to cancel a Notice of Funding Opportunity if it is in the best interest of the Trust, as determined at the sole discretion of the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust. In the event such action is taken, notice of such action will be post on this website.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants may include, but are not limited to, government agencies, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and civic or community groups in good standing with the IRS. All applications must align with the Trust’s authorized opioid abatement strategies for prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and related initiatives.
Applicants must:
Propose projects within the State of Georgia
Be willing to become registered as a vendor with the State of Georgia
Be licensed/certified by the applicable agency or demonstrate the ability to obtain licensure/certification in a timely fashion if applying for funding for services requiring licensure/certification
Be in any IRS recognized tax-category (profit, non-profit/not-for-profit, etc.)
Applicants (with the exception of Georgia State Departments) must not be:
A subject of debarment
On the Excluded Provider list
Schedule and Key Dates
The Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust accepts applications only during set periods each year. The timeline outlined below reflects the Trust’s current projection for the funding process for the 2026 award cycle. However, the Trust retains authority to modify this schedule based on operational requirements or unforeseen circumstances.
While the application window is closed, you can still follow the process, watch committee meetings or view past minutes using the resources below.
The Trustee’s intention is to announce opportunities for grants on an annual basis, contingent upon the availability of funds within the Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust Fund.
Thursday, April 9, 2026: Notice of Funding Opportunity Released
Friday, April 24, 2026 at 8:00 am: Grant portal opens
Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 7:59 pm: Grant portal closes
October 2026: All applicants will be notified of their funding decision
January 1, 2027: Executed contracts for 2026 grant recipients complete, funding allocation distributed, work begins
Funding Types and Amounts
State Funding
State funding refers to the portion of the opioid settlement funds that are managed directly by the Trustee of the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust. This funding is part of the 75% share of the total opioid settlement funds allocated to the state. The Trustee, appointed by the Governor and serving as the DBHDD Commissioner, oversees the implementation, compliance, and reporting requirements of the settlement funds, ensuring that expenditures align with the core strategies and approved uses set forth in the settlement agreements.
RAC Funding
The Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) play a consultative role in determining how funds are allocated within specific regions. Each region has a RAC that works to best determine the allocation of funds for opioid remediation and/or abatement efforts within their established regions. The RACs consult with the Georgia Opioid Settlement Advisory Commission (GOSAC) and the Participating Local Governments, providing recommendations that reflect regional needs and priorities. The funding recommended by the RACs is part of the broader state allocation, specifically from the portion dedicated to regional funding.
QBG Funding
Qualifying Block Grantees (QBGs) are regions that receive their funding allocation directly from the Trust, provided they certify sufficient infrastructure to offer opioid abatement services. This direct allocation allows the QBGs—Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties, and the City of Atlanta—to implement opioid abatement and remediation opportunities within their communities. QBGs have a level of autonomy in approving and overseeing the expenditure of their allocated funds within the guidelines and core strategies approved in the manufacturers and distributors settlement. If your project area is within a QBG, please contact the appropriate county or city for further information regarding the specific application requirements. Applicants seeking funding through this NOFO within a QBG area will be redirected to the appropriate QBG.
Funding Amounts
There is no predefined minimum or maximum funding amount that can be requested for each application; however, applicants are encouraged to request funding amounts that are justifiable and reasonable based on the scale and expected outcomes of the proposed project. When applying for regional funding, proposals should take into consideration the amount of funding that each region has available to fund proposals.
A proposal is eligible for RAC funding if the proposed project falls entirely within the geographical boundaries of that region. A proposal is eligible for state funding if the project covers at least two RACs or QBGs. The Trust does not accept proposals that fall within the jurisdiction of any single QBG. Any request for funding from a QBG should be directed to that QBG.
Grant Information and Requirements
Grant recipients are required to provide regular updates to the Trust, sharing progress, results, and other accountability measures. These reports help ensure funding is making a real difference and allow the Trust to track impact across Georgia.
Access key reports that tell you more about The Trust.
2026 GOCAT Application Checklist
Notice of Funding Opportunity 2026
Exhibit E – Core Strategies and Approved Uses
Scoring Rubric