Mayor's Office of Overdose Response and Mayor's Office of Recovery Programs Announce Applications for Round Two of Opioid Restitution Fund Community Grants
BALTIMORE, MD (Tuesday, September 29, 2026) - Today, the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response (BCMOOR) and the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs (MORP) announce the timeline and process to apply for Round 2 of Opioid Restitution Community Grants, as well as Opioid Restitution Fund Microgrants administrated by the Baltimore Civic Fund. The full application, including detailed instructions and the submission portal, will be available on October 19, 2026. Details on each funding opportunity can be found below.
"When we set out to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors accountable for their role in fueling the opioid crisis in our city, we did so with the hope that it would lead to investment back into our communities," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "Through Opioid Restitution Fund grants, we're repairing decades of intentional harm done to our communities through a process led by our residents, especially those with lived and living experience. I want to thank the entire BCMOOR and MORP teams, our Law Department, and most importantly, the RAB members and Baltimoreans who continue to shape our city's response to this epidemic."
The 2026 Restitution Advisory Board, a group of Baltimore City residents with lived experience, service providers, public health experts, and City and State officials, developed and recommended the scope and eligibility for the FY27 community grants based on current service gaps, availability, and needs.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the City of Baltimore Restitution Advisory Board’s RFP Subcommittee, helping develop recommendations for the FY2027 funding priorities through stakeholder feedback, collaborative planning, and community engagement,” said Restitution Advisory Board Member Paul Archibald. “Our efforts have focused on an integrated community hub model that brings together neighborhood revitalization, harm reduction, and peer workforce development, while exploring innovative partnerships with community organizations. I am proud to contribute to this important work as we move toward developing funding opportunities that address community needs, expand economic opportunities, and support meaningful, community-driven reinvestment promoting harm reduction and overdose prevention”
"These restitution funds are about support and repair, and that means investing in people and places," said Sara Whaley, Executive Director of the Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Overdose Response. "By supporting safe spaces, expanding peer-delivered services, and revitalizing our neighborhoods, this funding puts our Citywide Overdose Response Strategic Plan into action through the community partners who are already making a difference in Baltimore City.”
"The Recovery Office is proud to support these two competitive grant opportunities, which reflect community input, invite creative, innovative programs that are directly responsive to the residents most impacted by the overdose crisis, and more than double the amount of funding made available last year,” said Director of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs, Elizabeth Tatum.
“Some of the most effective responses to the opioid crisis begin with people who know their communities best. These microgrants will help local organizations turn that knowledge into action, reaching residents with support that is timely, trusted, and grounded in their neighborhoods,” said HyeSook Chung, President and CEO of the Baltimore Civic Fund.
Baltimore City Opioid Restitution Community Grants Round 2 (Fiscal Year 2027):
Up to $4 million is available for the FY27 Community Grant opportunity for projects that propose innovative ideas in support of an integrated community hub. An integrated community hub model aims to develop more coordinated services that respond to the needs of both individuals and communities affected by the overdose crisis, through neighborhood revitalization efforts, expansion of the peer workforce, and safe spaces that offer respite and connection to vital services, incorporating three Overdose Prevention Strategic Plan Activities:
- Continue to support initiatives that address neighborhood revitalization that promote safe, healthy, and appealing communities (Activity 1e)
- Develop 24/7 safe spaces for respite, stabilization, and connection to community resources (Activity 9c). (Note: providing 24/7 services is not required for this funding cycle, but projects that offer non-traditional operating hours may be more competitive.)
- Increase the peer specialist workforce and peer-delivered services in a variety of settings across the City (Activity 12c)
Proposed project funding amount requests should be between $250,000-$500,000 per year for a project period of two years (from July 1, 2027-June 30, 2029).
The full RFP with instructions for proposal submissions will be posted online on October 19, 2026. The BCMOOR and MORP team will host two orientations for organizations interested in submitting applications. These orientations will take place on October 21, 2026, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time and October 22, 2026, at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. Applications are due on Friday, December 4, 2026, by 4:30 PM Eastern Time.
Opioid Restitution Fund Microgrants: Up to $300,000 is available for microgrants through the Opioid Restitution Fund. The Baltimore Civic Fund, Inc. will serve as the grant program administrator, in partnership with BCMOOR and MORP, to fund organizations serving Baltimore City residents through initiatives that address the social determinants of health.
Through The Baltimore Civic Fund, the City will award up to $25,000 to applicant organizations that meet all three of the following funding priorities
- Serve Black male residents aged 55 years or older;
- Have an operating budget under $500,000; and
- Will focus on one or more of these impacted neighborhoods:
- Booth/Boyd
- Carrollton Ridge
- Franklin Square
- Greater Rosemont
- Millhill
- New Southwest/Mt. Clare
- Oldtown/Middle East
- Penrose/Fayette Street Outreach
- Pimlico/Arlington/Hilltop
- Sandtown-Winchester/Harlem Park
- Shipley Hill
- Union Square
- Upton/ Druid Heights
- Penn North/ Reservoir Hill
Uses of funds for microgrants are restricted to the following:
- Food (hot meals, other food and beverages)
- Transportation (bus tokens, rideshares)
- Clothing (jackets, underwear, socks)
- Supportive services (sleeping bags, cooling cloths, hygiene supplies, hand warmers, kits and other supplies or services like vital record recovery)
Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis. If the number of applications that meet all three funding priorities exceeds the funding available, the deciding factor will be the application submission date. It is advantageous to apply early.
The full RFP with instructions for proposal submissions will be posted on The Baltimore Civic Fund website on October 19, 2026. The Baltimore Civic Fund, in partnership with BCMOOR and MORP, will host two orientations for organizations interested in submitting applications. October 23, 2026, at 9:00 AM Eastern Time and October 29, 2026, at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. Information about the orientation will be posted on The Baltimore Civic Fund website. Applications are due on Friday, December 4, 2026.
2027-2028 Restitution Advisory Board Applications
The application to apply for the 2027-2028 Restitution Advisory Board has opened.
The Restitution Advisory Board was established by Mayor Scott’s August 29, 2024 Executive Order to help ensure that residents have an opportunity to help guide the use of Baltimore City’s opioid restitution funds. The Restitution Advisory Board meets monthly to provide input on the strategic priorities of Baltimore City’s overdose response and make recommendations to the Mayor for projects to be funded using opioid restitution funds. It is comprised of Baltimore City residents with lived experience and service providers who serve alongside public health experts and state and local officials.
Restitution Advisory Board members serve one-year terms and can serve up to three consecutive terms. They receive compensation for their time and service to the city.
If you want to learn more about the Restitution Advisory Board or are interested in applying to be a member in 2027, the application can be found here. Applications are due on November 1, 2026.
About Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response
The Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response (BCMOOR) oversees Baltimore City’s coordinated, citywide strategy to address the overdose crisis and substance use disorder. Charged with implementing the Overdose Response Strategic Plan, BCMOOR works to ensure that services are stigma-free, person-centered, and of the highest quality for all residents. The office administers the Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF), partnering with the RAB to ensure that legal settlement funds are invested transparently and equitably in the communities most affected by the epidemic. BCMOOR’s mission is to build a Baltimore where people impacted by substance use are supported, safe, and thriving. For more information, visit baltimorecity.gov/bcmoor.
About Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs
Mayor Brandon M. Scott originally established the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs to transparently and effectively administer Baltimore City’s $641 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. In August 2024, Mayor Scott’s Executive Order expanded the office's role to include grants management and oversight of the Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF). Through strong grants management and partnerships with City agencies and nonprofits, the Recovery Office ensures that these one-time funds are invested responsibly and equitably to support Baltimore residents and deliver measurable impact. For more information, visit baltimorecity.gov/morp.
About Baltimore Civic Fund
The Baltimore Civic Fund is an independent 501c3 organization serving as the fiscal sponsor for the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore Civic Fund is proud to be the financial backbone for public-private partnerships between innovative city programs and the philanthropic community. In this role, the Civic Fund manages $20 million annually for more than 100 city programs that promote business and economic development, culture and the creative economy, job growth, and more. Working alongside the mayor of Baltimore and city leadership, the Civic Fund helps realize a vision of an inclusive city where all Baltimore residents prosper.
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