The City of Fort Wayne is investing National Opioid Settlement funds—distributed through the State of Indiana’s Commission to Combat Substance Use Disorder—to strengthen our community’s response to the opioid crisis. Guided by state law (Indiana Code §4-6-15) and local ordinance, these funds will continue through 2038 to support prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and capacity-building programs.

Through a competitive grant process, the initiative ensures that local organizations can deliver evidence-based, high-impact services with transparency and measurable results.

The City is committed to continuous improvement and collaboration. Each year, the City will host an annual Opioid Settlement Fund meeting—bringing together grantees, providers, experts, and community members to share progress, best practices, and new data that inform future funding decisions.

Access a list of approved abatement uses here.

Access the recommendations here.

Together, we are building a coordinated, transparent, and sustainable response that promotes recovery, saves lives, and strengthens Fort Wayne’s future.

The City will competitively award sub-grants to local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, treatment providers, and community coalitions to deliver services aligned with the objectives above. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate evidence of need, alignment with best practices, measurable outcomes, and sustainability plans.

The City of Fort Wayne is soliciting applications from qualified nonprofit organizations and community-based entities to deliver programs that prevent, treat, and mitigate the effects of opioid use disorder (OUD) and substance use disorder (SUD).

This funding opportunity is made possible through Indiana’s opioid settlement fund and must align with Exhibit E: Strategies for Effectively Allocating Opioid Settlement Funds.

The City’s goal is to support evidence-based, community-centered programs that improve health outcomes and expand access to treatment, prevention, harm reduction, recovery supports, and public education across Fort Wayne.

Eligible applicants include:

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations providing community services, entities registered with the Indiana Secretary of State and located in or serving Fort Wayne, Indiana.
• Applicants must demonstrate experience addressing substance use (OUD or SUD), and co-occurring conditions, or community-based prevention.
• Applicants must be in good standing with the Indiana Secretary of State or similar.
• Applicants must serve Fort Wayne residents.
• Applicants must be able to provide at least one year of financial statements and tax returns.
• Collaborative proposals with multiple partners are encouraged.

In alignment with Exhibit E, the City will prioritize proposals that:

• Address treatment, prevention, and harm reduction for individuals with or at risk of OUD/SUD.
• Provide services to populations disproportionately affected (e.g., youth, justice-involved individuals, unhoused residents, veterans, and people with co-occurring mental health disorders).
• Expand access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), naloxone distribution, and trauma-informed care.
• Strengthen data-driven evaluation, evidence-based practices, and measurable outcomes.

Applications must include the following components:

• 4.1 Contact Sheet
  • Organization name, address, EIN, contact information, requested amount, and total program budget.
• 4.2 Organization Profile
  • Mission, history, years of operation, and service area.
• 4.3 Program Narrative (Character limits apply; see online application)
  • Purpose & need addressed.
  • Target population and geography served.
  • Description of program activities and Exhibit E alignment.
  • Expected activities, outputs (e.g., clients served) and outcomes (e.g., reduced overdose events).
  • Implementation timeline.
• 4.4 Evidence Base & Evaluation
  • Evidence-based models used, research citations, data collection and reporting plan, outcome indicators and measurement methods
• 4.5 Budget & Budget Narrative
  • Budget & Budget Narrative: clearly itemize costs and justify how funds will be used
• 4.6 Partnership Summary: list key collaborators and their roles (with MOUs or Letters of Support if available).
• 4.7 Required Attachments
  • Required for all applicants:
  • IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
  • Board of Directors list if applicable
  • Form 990 or independent audit or similar annual tax filing.
  • Current-year financial statements
  • Proof of general liability and workers’ compensation insurance
  • Project/ Program Budget
  • Organizational Budget

Applications missing required attachments will not be reviewed.

Applications must be submitted online through the City’s grants portal.

Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

Applications are scored using a standardized rubric:

Grants are reviewed by the Opioid Settlement Fund Review Committee, appointed by the City Council and the Mayor. The OSF Review Committee makes recommendations to the Mayor for approval.

• 7.1 Grant Period
  • April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027 for applications due January 30, 2026
  • Oct 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 for applications due July 30, 2026
  • (Grant periods may vary within this range ie. 6 or 12 months)
• 7.2 Updated Funding Caps
  • The Committee recommended the following limits beginning in 2026:
  • Up to $50,000 per application per cycle; Maximum $100,000 per organization per year
  • Exceptions may be granted only in rare cases for transformational projects
  • Singular expenses over $10,000 will require 3 bids (if approved – not required for application).
• 7.3 Application Limit
  • One application per organization per cycle
  • Large institutions must prioritize internally
  • Organizations may apply in future cycles as long as they do not have an active award, or their current award will end before the new award period begins.
• 7.4 Reporting Requirements
  • Quarterly program reports and Monthly financial reports
• 7.5 Audit & Monitoring: City reserves the right to review all program and financial records.
• 7.6 Insurance Requirements
  • General liability coverage: minimum $1,000,000 and Workers’ compensation for staff providing services
• 7.7 Conflict of Interest
  • Applicants must disclose any potential conflicts of interest

The City reserves the right to:

• Reject any or all applications
• Adjust awarded amounts based on funding availability
• Request clarification or additional documentation
• Conduct site visits pre- or post-award
• Applications become public record under Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act.

• YWCA Northeast Indiana – $90,000 Expanding residential and outpatient treatment for women and mothers with children, increasing access for uninsured and postpartum clients through subsidized care and childcare.
• BHG Fort Wayne Treatment Center – $99,400 Expanding the EmpowerHer Recovery program to provide eight weeks of medication-assisted treatment for 50 uninsured pregnant and postpartum women.
• Rise Recovery, LLC – $100,000 Supporting a nurse practitioner and peer recovery specialist to expand outpatient Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services for 150–200 clients annually.
• The Lighthouse: Life Restoration Services – $100,000 Enhancing behavioral health staffing and overdose prevention in its residential and outpatient programs for men in recovery.

• Redemption House Ministry, Inc. – $100,000 Providing transitional housing and evidence-based recovery programming for women exiting incarceration, serving up to 100 annually.
• Oxford House, Inc. – $100,000 Opening 1–2 new peer-run recovery homes in Fort Wayne, adding up to 16 recovery beds for justice-involved and housing-insecure adults.
• Recovery Café Fort Wayne – $100,000 Expanding peer recovery circles, warm hand-offs to treatment, and Naloxone distribution to reach over 500 more individuals.
• Project.ME FW, Inc. – $100,000 Enhancing Street outreach, harm reduction, and peer recovery coaching as the Region 10 Recovery Hub, building on more than 149 overdose reversals since 2022.

• RemedyLIVE (SoulMedic Media Group, Inc.) – $27,600 Launching the “One Pill Can Kill” campaign to raise fentanyl awareness among youth and families, generating 7.6 million impressions citywide.
• Schools Care Inc. – $60,000 Expanding school-based WRAP prevention programming, equipping 3,000+ students with resilience and coping skills.
• Harold W. McMillen Center for Health Education – $100,000 Expanding Choices Today, Options Tomorrow—a mental health and substance use prevention curriculum—into more Fort Wayne high schools, serving 625 students.

• Stillwater Hospice – $25,000 Expanding overdose-related grief counseling and education through the Peggy F. Murphy Community Grief Center, supporting 50 adults annually.

For Small/Emerging Organizations & Pilot Projects

The City of Fort Wayne invites applications for OSF Mini Grants to support small or emerging organizations, new or early-stage entities, and pilot projects that advance opioid prevention, harm reduction, treatment access, recovery support, or system-improving activities aligned with Exhibit E of the National Opioid Settlement.

Mini Grants are designed to lower barriers for new and growing organizations by offering a short, simple application process and a project period of 3–6 months.

All applicants must meet with the Opioid Settlement Manager prior to submitting an application.
This conversation ensures project alignment with Exhibit E, confirms eligibility, and provides technical assistance for developing a strong proposal.

Appointments may be scheduled via email.

Contact: Sarah Lance | [email protected]

Mini Grants are intended for:

• Organizations with limited or no financial history
• Community groups, grassroots organizations, and early-stage nonprofits
• New ideas or pilot projects testing fresh approaches
• Projects that address needs related to opioid use disorder (OUD/SUD) within Fort Wayne

Applicants must operate within the City of Fort Wayne and propose activities clearly linked to Exhibit E categories.

• Maximum Request: up to $10,000
• Project Period: 3–6 months
• Application period: March 1, 2026, to March 16, 2026
• Start Date: May 1, 2026 (recommended)
• For this project, we will provide 50% of the funds upfront and the remaining 50% upon project completion; documentation is required (receipts, payroll journals, invoices, etc.)

Applicants must complete the Mini Grant Application and provide:

1. Organization Information
2. Big Idea & Project Definition
3. Project Timeline & Milestones
4. Success Measures (outputs/outcomes)
5. Community Support & Differentiation
6. Budget & Ability to Track Expenses
7. Required Attachments
   • W-9
   • Certificate of Insurance naming the City as Additional Insured
   • Fiscal sponsorship documents (if applicable)

Applications will be reviewed based on:

• Alignment with Exhibit E and OSF priorities
• Clarity, feasibility, and innovation of the project
• Potential community impact
• Ability to track expenses and document activities
• Demonstrated support, partnerships, or community readiness

Emerging organizations and pilot ideas are encouraged; lack of financial history will not disqualify applicants.

Applications must be submitted via eCivis by:

Monday, March 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST.