Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Applications for FY 2025/26 are due on June 20, 2025, 11:59 PM (Pacific).

Yes! We highly encourage you to register for the pre-application webinar to be held on April 30, 2025, 10:00-11:00 AM (Pacific) via Zoom.

The webinar will provide prospective applicants with essential information about the program's focus, priorities, available funding, and application process. A Question-and-Answer session will immediately follow the presentation.

Any local public agency within the State of California that has authority to enforce tobacco-related state laws or local ordinances related to retail tobacco sales and marketing is eligible to apply. This may include police and sheriffs’ departments, district and city attorneys and county counsels, public health departments, cities, counties, and public school/college districts. Please note: Entities eligible to receive funds must demonstrate the capacity and plans to perform activities specifically identified within Funding Priorities section of the Request for Proposals (RFP).

Funds may be used to support and/or hire law enforcement officers for activities specifically aimed at reducing the illegal sales and/or marketing of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to minors and youth. For more information, please review the Funding Priorities section of the Request for Proposals (RFP).

All activities must be specifically tobacco-related and may not be used to address non-tobacco issues such as alcohol or cannabis. Additionally, the AG or their designee can set priorities in any given funding cycle. For more information about activities currently considered, please carefully review the Funding Priorities section of the Request for Proposals (RFP) as well as the list of activities not currently considered. Additionally, "Restricted Items" not allowable in your budget can be found in Appendix B of the RFP. The list is not exhaustive and is subject to change.

No, funding amounts will be evaluated based on the submitted grant proposal.

No, there is no requirement for matching funds.

Projects may begin as early as November 2025, contingent upon return of all grant opening documents. For more information on the grant opening process, please review the Grantee Handbook.

Yes, current grantees may re-apply for funding with some important considerations to keep in mind. Agencies may apply to supplement (but not supplant) objectives of their existing award, propose new objectives, or continue previously-funded activities only if these activities are within the parameters of this RFP (subject to change with each RFP released). For any continued activities, applicants should address the timing and scope of project activities and objectives such that existing activities and funding will not be supplanted. .

Supplanting is defined as using grant funds to pay for costs that are already funded within your agency’s budget, or for which other funding has already been received, in order to reallocate existing funding to other purposes. The effect of supplanting would be to reduce the total amount that would have been available for the purpose stated in the application or grant agreement. When agencies submit their grant application, they are required to certify that grant funds are not supplanting.

Administrative or indirect costs are allowable expenses. These are defined as the necessary and reasonable indirect expenses as allowed under the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement. Administrative costs are limited by statute to 5% of the total direct expenditures (those within Sections A and B of the Budget Detail). These costs must be specifically requested within Section C of the Budget Detail and adhere to this limit.

The grant is offered on an annual basis. The exact release timing and project start dates may vary somewhat year-to-year.

As described in the Request for Proposals document, all applications must use the Online Application Form and attach the Budget Detail Sheet. Additionally, if your proposals will involve partnering or contracting agencies, Letters of Commitment will also be required. A template for this letter can be found in the appendices of the Request for Proposals.

It is recommended that applicants obtain as much information about the community need, baseline information, and information about successes and challenges with current or past DOJ Tobacco Grant funding. Please review carefully the Request for Proposals and consult the resources referenced.

While you do not need an account within the Alchemer system to apply, we strongly recommend that applicants save a draft immediately upon starting their application. To do so, select "Save and Continue" on the top-right of any application page other than the initial landing page (see graphic below). Selecting this option will allow you to enter your email address to receive a link to your in-progress application. We highly recommend bookmarking this link to easily return to your application.

If you have any trouble accessing your prepared content, please contact us at TobaccoGrantRFP@doj.ca.gov and we can provide the link to your in-progress work.

After saving a draft of the application and receiving the link to return, you may share this with other team members. Caution: It is not advised to have more than one person active within the application at the same time.

The final section of the proposal – Review Responses Before Submission – will allow you to download a PDF preview of all responses. You may wish to utilize this to have others review the information prior to submission.

The final submission button of the online application form is located at the bottom of the Table of Contents / Section Navigator page (see screenshot below) and requires completion of all sections. Upon submission, a finalized version of the submitted proposal (and links to documents provided) will be sent by email to all contacts provided. Within that confirmation email, you will also receive a survey to complete about the application experience. We welcome your feedback at that time to help us improve future grant packages.

No. DOJ only accepts electronic applications submitted using the link provided in the Request for Proposals.

Please email any questions or support needs to TobaccoGrantRFP@doj.ca.gov. Prior to contacting us, we encourage careful review of the grant materials and these FAQs.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate requests for individual meetings by phone or video.

We encourage you to sign up for DOJ’s Grant Opportunities mailing list to stay informed about this grant opportunities and others as they are forecasted and released.