Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces (Equine Therapy Grants)

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is soliciting grant applications for the VA Adaptive Sports Grant Program's Equine Therapy Grants, specifically focused on developing and implementing mental health-related adaptive sports programs for veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities. Eligible applicants must be non-federal government entities with significant experience managing large-scale adaptive sports programs, demonstrating expertise in implementing equine therapy activities targeting mental health interventions. The application will be evaluated through administrative, merit, and programmatic review processes, with scoring based on program design, management capabilities, partnerships, financial planning, and alignment with VA adaptive sports program priorities. Applicants must submit a comprehensive application package through Grants.gov by July 2, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, including mandatory documents such as SF-424, VA Form 10096, a detailed narrative, budget details, and any relevant partnership documentation. The evaluation will critically assess the organization's ability to provide adaptive sports activities that enhance physical, mental, and therapeutic health for veterans with disabilities.

The grant opportunity offers up to $5,000,000 in total funding, with individual awards not exceeding $750,000 per applicant. The grant period will cover a 12-month timeframe from September 30, 2025, to September 30, 2026, with administrative expenses limited to 5% of the total grant funds. Organizations must focus exclusively on mental health-related equine therapy activities, targeting veterans and armed forces members with disabilities. Award notifications are expected to be sent on or before September 30, 2025, under the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 64.034, which supports comprehensive adaptive sports programming for disabled veterans.