FY2022 Wounded Warrior Service Dog Project (WWSDP)

The prime objective of the WWSDP is to support service members/veterans with disabilities across diverse geographic regions and population demographics by funding nonprofit organizations committed to advancing the service dog industry through continued learning, innovative training programs, and superior industry standards. Disabled service members/veterans are to be provided with trained service dogs matched to their disabilities, at no cost.

In FY2015, Congress appropriated $1,000,000 for the WWSDP to fund competitive grants. Subject to Congressional appropriation, the FY2022 budget is estimated to be between $10,000,000 and $14,000,000 under the authority of the Defense Health Program, Operations & Maintenance, Therapeutic Service Dog Training Program. The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is authorized by 10 U.S.C. 2113(g)(1)(A) to make grants to any nonprofit entity. Historically, USU has solicited grant applications from nonprofit institutions committed to connecting service dogs with service members/veterans. Under this FOA, USU is continuing that practice and intends to award multiple, 12-month grants, subject to availability of funding, to eligible nonprofit organizations.

For the purposes of this FOA, the WWSDP defines the below terms as follows:

• Service member: active member of any branch of the U.S. military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard) including National Guard/Reserve
• Veteran: retired or discharged (honorably) service member
• Disability: a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental impairment that substantially limits an individual's major life activities and has been documented by a physician
• Service dog: any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability (does not include emotional support/therapy dogs or facility dogs)

USU plans to award grants totaling approximately $10,000,000 to $14,000,000 to successful applicants for the FY2022 WWSDP. While the number of grants to be awarded and the amount of funding per grant will be determined based upon the quality of the applications and availability of funds, USU does not intend to award any single grant in excess of $1,000,000.