Fort Wayne Opens $500,000 Opioid Settlement Grant Round for Community Organizations

Fort Wayne has opened applications for Round 3 of its National Opioid Settlement Fund grant program, making $500,000 available to local organizations working to address the opioid crisis. The application window, which began July 1, 2026, runs through July 30, offering nonprofits, healthcare providers, and community coalitions the opportunity to secure funding for evidence-based prevention, treatment, and harm reduction services.

The grant round represents a significant investment in northeast Indiana's response to substance use disorders, with individual awards of up to $50,000 per application and a maximum of $100,000 per organization annually. For families and individuals affected by opioid addiction in the Fort Wayne area, the funding promises expanded access to services that can save lives and support long-term recovery.

Building on Previous Success

Fort Wayne's opioid settlement grant program launched in early 2025 and has already distributed funds to multiple community organizations addressing different aspects of the crisis. Previous grantees have focused on harm reduction, grief support, naloxone distribution, and services for justice-involved youth.

The Associated Churches of Fort Wayne and Allen County received $35,000 in an earlier round to serve justice-involved youth with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health challenges, as well as at-risk youth at elevated risk for opioid misuse. Another organization received $100,000 for programming that includes free community naloxone trainings — a critical service in a region where fentanyl continues to drive overdose deaths.

"Fort Wayne is committed to turning settlement dollars into real change for our residents," said Mayor Sharon Tucker in announcing the new grant round. The city's approach emphasizes community engagement, with an annual convening scheduled for July 29, 2026, to bring together stakeholders, service providers, and residents affected by the opioid crisis.

What the Grants Fund

The National Opioid Settlement Fund grants support programs aligned with Exhibit E of the National Opioid Settlement Agreement — the framework that governs how settlement dollars can be spent. Eligible activities fall into six key categories:

Prevention and Education School-based programs, community awareness campaigns, fentanyl education, and youth prevention initiatives that equip community members with knowledge and tools to reduce opioid misuse and intervene early.

Treatment Access and Support Expansion of evidence-based treatment services for opioid use disorder and co-occurring substance use or mental health conditions, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), outpatient care, and residential treatment.

Recovery and Aftercare Peer recovery supports, transitional services, workforce re-entry programs, housing stability assistance, and other holistic components that sustain long-term recovery.

Harm Reduction and Crisis Response Overdose prevention programs, naloxone distribution, safe-use services, and outreach to high-risk populations.

Support Services Case management, transportation assistance, housing stability support, and family support services that remove barriers to treatment and recovery.

Workforce and System Development Training programs, capacity building initiatives, and provider education that strengthen the overall system of care.

Who Can Apply

The grant program casts a wide net for eligible applicants, recognizing that effective responses to the opioid crisis require diverse community partners. Organizations that can apply include:

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Faith-based organizations providing community services
• Health and behavioral health providers
• Recovery and harm reduction organizations
• Governmental entities
• For-profit entities providing opioid-related services
• Collaborative coalitions or partnerships led by an eligible organization

All applicants must be in good standing with the Indiana Secretary of State and primarily serve residents within the City of Fort Wayne. The city gives priority to proposals that serve populations with high unmet need — including individuals with opioid use disorder, co-occurring disorders, justice-involved populations, and those in rural or metro fringe areas.

Funding Structure and Requirements

The grants operate on either a 6-month or 12-month performance period. Six-month grants run from October 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, while 12-month grants extend through September 30, 2027. Applicants select the period that best fits their program scope.

Key financial requirements include:

• Administrative overhead capped at 25 percent (documentation of standard overhead rate required)
• Funds cannot duplicate, replace, or supplant existing federal, state, or local funding, including Medicaid
• All costs must be directly related to opioid prevention, treatment, recovery, or harm reduction
• Singular expenses over $10,000 require three bids

Organizations receiving funding must submit monthly financial reports and quarterly program reports documenting people served, outcomes achieved, and program narrative. The city reserves the right to review all program and financial records and conduct site visits.

The Application Process

Applications must be submitted online through the city's grants portal by July 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

The city's review committee scores applications based on several criteria:

• Evidence-based model and program design (30%)
• Measurable outcomes and evaluation plan (30%)
• Organizational capacity and readiness (30%)
• Partnerships and collaboration (20%)
• Mission alignment (20%)
• Financial feasibility and budget alignment (10%)

Bonus points are awarded for community impact on priority populations and for new initiatives. Only one application per organization is accepted per cycle, and large institutions must prioritize internally.

Technical assistance is available throughout the application period, with office hours held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. A final technical assistance session is scheduled for July 8, 2026, at 11:00 AM in person. Questions must be submitted by July 10, with answers posted by July 15.

Award announcements are expected on September 10, 2026, with programs beginning October 1.

Indiana's Opioid Settlement Context

Fort Wayne's grant program operates within a broader statewide framework. Indiana has secured more than $1 billion in opioid settlements from manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies, including a $507 million multi-state agreement with major pharmaceutical distributors and manufacturers, and participation in the $7.4 billion Purdue Pharma settlement that permanently bars the Sackler family from selling opioids in the United States.

The Indiana Attorney General's Office calculates distribution amounts for local governments based on the terms of settlements and Indiana Code. Under this framework, Fort Wayne receives direct payments from the national settlements, which it then distributes through competitive grant programs rather than acting merely as a pass-through for state funding.

A dedicated oversight committee — the COFW National Opioid Settlement Committee — guides Fort Wayne's allocation process. Comprised of community stakeholders, subject matter experts, and people with lived experience appointed by the Mayor and City Council, the committee meets monthly to review funding strategies, approve recommendations, monitor progress, and facilitate community input.

Why This Matters for Families

For families in Fort Wayne and surrounding Allen County, the grant program represents a tangible opportunity to expand services that directly impact loved ones struggling with opioid use disorder. Previous rounds have funded naloxone distribution — the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses — as well as treatment access for vulnerable populations and support for families grieving overdose losses.

The emphasis on evidence-based practices means funded programs have demonstrated effectiveness. Medication-assisted treatment, the gold standard for opioid use disorder, combines FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone with counseling and behavioral therapies. Research consistently shows MAT reduces overdose deaths, increases treatment retention, and improves long-term outcomes compared to behavioral interventions alone.

Harm reduction services, another funded category, save lives by meeting people where they are. Naloxone distribution programs have reversed countless overdoses. Outreach to high-risk populations connects marginalized individuals — including those experiencing homelessness or involved in the criminal justice system — with care they might otherwise never access.

Looking Ahead

Fort Wayne's approach to opioid settlement funds reflects a growing recognition that addressing the crisis requires sustained, multi-year investment in community-based solutions. With settlement payments scheduled to continue through 2038, the city has established infrastructure — including the oversight committee, regular grant cycles, and annual convenings — to ensure funds are spent effectively over the long term.

The city anticipates that this sustained investment will increase the number of residents accessing evidence-based treatment and peer-led recovery support, reduce opioid-related overdose deaths and emergent harms such as fentanyl exposure, strengthen community capacity to respond to substance use challenges, and improve quality of life for individuals, families, and neighborhoods affected by the opioid crisis.

For organizations serving Fort Wayne residents, the current grant round offers an opportunity to expand proven programs or launch innovative pilot initiatives. For families seeking help, each funded program represents another potential pathway to recovery.

Organizations interested in applying should visit the City of Fort Wayne's Engage website to access the online application portal and review detailed guidance on eligible activities, budget requirements, and reporting expectations.

If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid use disorder, help is available. The SAMHSA National Helpline provides free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral at 1-800-662-4357. In Indiana, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects callers to local crisis counselors, and FindTreatment.gov offers a searchable directory of treatment providers.