Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
The Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations apply by answering a Request for Proposal (RFP) that FORE publishes, usually starting with a short Letter of Intent or Concept Note. This guide sets out who FORE is, who can apply, what it will and will not fund, and how its grant process runs, as described on FORE’s official pages on 2026-10-29.
What FORE is and who runs it
FORE describes itself as a national grantmaking foundation and a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in New York, NY. Its stated mission is “Inspiring and accelerating action to end the opioid crisis.” Its About page says it was founded in 2018 with a gift from the McKesson Corporation and operates as an independent, private, national grantmaking organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors and works with a Scientific and Policy Advisory Council; Karen A. Scott, MD, MPH is listed as President.
FORE concentrates its grantmaking on four focus areas:
- Professional education
- Payer and provider strategies
- Policy initiatives
- Public awareness
Because FORE is a private foundation funder, its rules differ from federal grants: it designs its own programs, issues its own RFPs and decides awards through its own board.
Eligibility
As described on the Grants and Funding page, FORE will generally consider requests for specific projects from:
- U.S.-based public charities that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
- nonprofit, tax-exempt universities;
- state, local and Native American tribal government units or agencies, for specific charitable projects.
FORE states that it will not provide grants to Section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations, congregational religious organizations or private individuals. The official source is forefdn.org/grants-and-funding. Each RFP then adds its own eligibility criteria, so a type of organization that qualifies in general can still be excluded from a specific program.
What FORE funds and what it excludes
FORE says it wants to scale activities that already show evidence-based results across prevention, treatment and recovery, and to test new approaches within its four focus areas. Examples listed on its home page (as listed there on 2026-10-29) show the range:
- about $1.82 million for data infrastructure on substance use and overdose, to ASTHO, the Big Cities Health Coalition and the Brown University School of Public Health;
- about $1.55 million in two-year state policy grants to NASHP, the Legal Action Center and Tradeoffs;
- $3.7 million in capacity-building grants to 25 community-based organizations;
- a grant on payment models for opioid use disorder treatment.
The excluded list is explicit. FORE does not consider requests for fundraising events, nonprofit and school-sponsored athletic-related events, political advocacy and related activities, or endowment funds. General-purpose grants and payments to individual government employees or officials are not permitted. FORE states that it provides up to 10% indirect on direct costs, which matters when you build the budget.
Application steps
FORE’s process, in the order it describes it:
- Watch for an RFP. FORE program staff develop each grant program in consultation with experts. In most cases FORE then issues an RFP that sets the focus area, the supported activities, eligibility criteria and the response timeline. The Grantseeking Resources page links webinars and a Grant Seekers FAQ.
- Submit a Letter of Intent or Concept Note. In general this is the first step. FORE evaluates each one for responsiveness and alignment to the RFP and seeks independent expert review as needed. (For comparison, see the NIH letter of intent, which has a different purpose and rules.)
- Full proposal on invitation. Program staff notify selected organizations if FORE wants a full proposal, which may be peer-reviewed by a panel of external, independent practitioners and experts. All LOIs and full proposals go through FORE’s online grants management system.
- Compliance review. Proposals are checked against FORE’s eligibility guidelines and must include a completed application, a detailed line-item budget with justification narrative, proof of nonprofit tax-exempt status, and the organization’s audited financial statements and current-year budget. Applications also carry organizational information and project leadership.
- Board approval and award agreement. Staff prepare funding recommendations for the Board of Directors’ final approval. Approved proposals become a grant award agreement that specifies the grant period, payment schedule, deliverables and reporting timeline.
Typical timeline phases
FORE publishes timelines inside each RFP rather than as a standing calendar, so plan around the phases, not fixed dates: RFP release, LOI or Concept Note window, invitation to a full proposal, external review, Board decision, then the award agreement and reporting schedule. The Grants and Funding page shows deadlines only for past RFPs, which is useful for seeing how earlier programs were structured, not for predicting future dates.
Common mistakes
- Sending an unsolicited proposal. FORE states it will not review them. Wait for an RFP that matches your project.
- Applying as the wrong entity type. Individuals and Section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations are excluded, so the applicant must be an eligible organization, not a researcher in a personal capacity.
- Proposing a general-purpose or event-based request. FORE funds specific projects, not general operating support, fundraising events or endowments.
- Budgeting above the indirect cap. Plan for up to 10% indirect on direct costs.
- Missing compliance documents. Audited financial statements, proof of tax-exempt status and a line-item budget are part of the compliance review.
- Ignoring RFP alignment. LOIs are judged on responsiveness and alignment to the RFP, so mirror its focus area and activities.
Related programs and guides
| Resource | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Private Foundation Research Funding | How private foundation funding differs from federal grants |
| Major Private Foundations That Fund Institutional Research | Private foundations that fund institutional research |
| Foundation grant | Dictionary definition of the grant type FORE awards |
| Opioid Stewardship Programs | Hospital prescribing defaults, PDMP checks and naloxone triggers in hospital opioid stewardship |
FAQ
Does FORE accept unsolicited proposals?
No. FORE states that it will not review unsolicited proposals. Its programs are developed by staff and announced through RFPs.
Who can apply to FORE?
Generally U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities, nonprofit tax-exempt universities and, for specific charitable projects, state, local and tribal government units. Private individuals and Section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations are not funded.
Does FORE pay indirect costs?
FORE states that it provides up to 10% indirect on direct costs.
Who approves FORE grants?
Program staff prepare recommendations, and the FORE Board of Directors gives final approval.
Where do I find current deadlines?
Each RFP carries its own timeline. FORE’s Grants and Funding page lists past RFPs, and the Grantseeking Resources page links to webinars on current and past RFPs.
Sources
All FORE details above are as described on the official pages on 2026-10-29:
- FORE home page
- FORE About Us
- FORE Apply for a Grant (Grants and Funding)
- FORE Grantseeking Resources
FORE can change its programs, eligibility and process at any time; the RFP for a given program governs.
