Grants for Veterans and Military

Learn more about grants for veterans and military by exploring our list of top veterans nonprofits below. Subscribers can also explore funders using our Grantfinder Search Tool. Become a member.

Key Funders

Funding trends for veterans grants

There are more than 18 million veterans living in the United States. Two to 3 million of them served in Iraq or Afghanistan in the post-9/11 era, and this cohort of veterans has “extraordinarily high rates of disabilities,” as documented by public policy expert Linda J. Bilmes. From healthcare to housing, veterans and their families are affected by the wounds of war and an array of challenges in the aftermath. While there are government programs dedicated to veterans, this population — who have given so much for their country — has significant unmet needs (Bob Woodruff Foundation).

RAND research shows that veterans who have been deployed to combat areas have heightened rates of mental health conditions or cognitive injuries. About 1 in 5 veterans have experienced mental health problems. According to the Wounded Warrior Project, PTSD, anxiety and depression are the most common mental health issues veterans face.

There are also lesser-known health impacts of military service, such as high infertility rates among service members, an issue the Bob Woodruff Foundation is addressing.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reported that more than 35,000 veterans experienced homelessness in the United States in 2023.

Mental health and homelessness are just two of the areas where veterans’ needs are not fully met. Private grants and donations for veterans and military causes address issues such as employment and career guidance for those transitioning back to civilian life, housing, awareness of military history, and healthcare.

As such, grants for veterans overlap with many other giving areas, including physical health, mental health, homelessness, work opportunity, job programs, and even the arts. For example, a number of initiatives across the country have employed theater and storytelling as a form of healing for veterans with PTSD.

Who gives for veterans and military causes

As IP’s Liz Longley has reported, a small but dedicated group of philanthropic funders consistently gives for veterans and military families. The majority of private donors to veterans’ causes have served their country themselves or have a family member who served. A notable exception to that rule is Craigslist founder Craig Newmark. Additional major donors giving for veterans’ causes include Carlyle Group cofounder Daniel D’Aniello; former hedge fund manager Steve Cohen, whose father and son have both served in the military; and billionaire Jennifer Pritzker, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, who gives through the Pritzker Military Foundation.

Some funders focus on veterans from particular wars or time periods. For instance, the Schultz Family Foundation makes grants to support post-9/11 veterans and their spouses. Other funders focus on a particular aspect of veterans’ needs, often as part of a broader grantmaking program. For instance, a funder might address veterans’ health as part of a broad mission to improve mental health outcomes in America.

Corporate funders that give for veterans and military families include companies that employ veterans, were founded by veterans, or interface with military communities, such as the Home Depot Foundation, the USAA Foundation, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

Gaps in funding for veterans

A 2023 report by the Bob Woodruff Foundation found that in communities across the U.S., the needs of the military and veteran population exceeded available services. In a survey of hundreds of organizations that serve veteran and military populations, 72% reported that many or most of their clients needed emergency financial assistance in 2023; 84% of those organizations were unable to meet that need. Eighty-four percent of responding organizations said in 2023 that many or almost all of their clients required mental health services, while 81% reported that many or almost all of their clients needed physical health services. Yet those needs were met in only about 30% of communities. Organizations serving veterans also reported being unable to fully meet community needs in other areas, including housing, food, legal services and transportation. There is also scarce funding for veterans’ memorials, oral projects and military history.

Funding for organizations serving veterans tends to come from a mix of government and private sources. The gaps in organizations’ capacities to fully meet the needs of veterans in their communities represent a clear opportunity for philanthropy to do more in resourcing veteran-serving nonprofits.

Veterans & Military Grants for Nonprofits

ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Adtalem’s veterans program broadly invests in organizations that work with veterans and military families. It does not name a particular strategy in this space; however, they’ve emphasized housing in past giving, among other interests.

AGUA FUND

Agua’s grantmaking for military and veterans focus on hunger relief and elder services.

ALBERTSONS COMPANIES FOUNDATION

Albertsons’ Veterans initiative focuses on “recent veterans for post-September 11th conflicts.” In this area, the foundation tends to invest in veterans’ employment, healthcare, mental health and family support.

THE AHMANSON FOUNDATION

This local funder focuses on the Greater Los Angeles area with a handful of programs that intersect with veterans’ needs.

JOHN W. ANDERSON FOUNDATION

This Northwest Indiana funder programs may not be focused on veterans and military, but definitely support this population.

AT&T FOUNDATION

AT&T supports military personnel, veterans, and their families by “advancing education, strengthening communities, and improving lives.” This foundation prioritizes veterans’ job training and other programs aimed at helping them transition into civilian life. AT& also makes grants for programs that help children and families of veterans complete high school and prepare for college.

BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

BofA’s grantmaking offers services such as career opportunities and advancement at Bank of America itself or its partners, financial education for veterans transitioning to civilian life, and partnerships with nonprofits and organizations across the country that provide services to veterans. It also supports veteran-owned businesses.

GEOFFREY BEENE FOUNDATION

The Geoffrey Beene Foundation’s Supporting Veterans focus area broadly funds organizations that provide “provide critical services and support to our Veterans.”

BEZOS DAY ONE FUND

Though the fund does not have a program dedicated to veterans, related funding is available through the fund’s homelessness initiative.

ARTHUR M. BLANK FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Blank Foundation supports military and veterans in Georgia.

BOEING FOUNDATION

Boeing supports work that addresses veterans’ rehabilitation, mental health and economic development.

BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB FOUNDATION

This foundation’s mental health grants focus on veterans.

CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT

This regional funder supports veterans causes, among other place-based issues, in Southern California.

CITIZENS CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

The foundation supports Veterans and the military “to provide support to military veterans through internal and external programs designed to aid those who served” in the US military.

CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST

The Chicago Community Trust funds a broad range of initiatives, programs and collaboratives.

A. JAMES & ALICE B. CLARK FOUNDATION

The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation supports engineering education, veterans and community needs, primarily in the Washington D.C. area.

STEVEN AND ALEXANDRA COHEN FOUNDATION

While Cohen support for veterans is not listed as a primary focus area, the foundation does make substantial grants in this area.

MARK CUBAN FOUNDATION

The Mark Cuban Foundation broadly funders veterans causes across the U.S.

EAST BAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

This Bay Area funder focuses grants at the local level to support civic and neighborhood projects.

ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS FOUNDATION

As the charitable arm of the national car rental company Enterprise, this funder awards grants for veterans through various programs that work more broadly in it’s areas of concern. There is an emphasis here on Missouri.

FCA FOUNDATION

FCA prioritizes organizations that help veterans readjust to civilian life, especially those who have been wounded in action.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND

Its grantmaking for Military and Veterans supports organizations that address issues like health, homelessness, and employment for returning veterans, especially female veterans.

GOLDMAN SACHS

The company runs a signature Veterans Integration Program that helps veterans prepare for careers in the financial industry.

GRAINGER

This funder prioritizes veterans across all of its focus areas.

GREATER SALINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

This local Kansas funder makes grants across a wide range of focus areas. While it doesn’t have a program dedicated to veterans’ causes, grantmaking intersects with veterans.

THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS

The Endowments broadly fund across an array of focus areas that intersect with veterans causes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and beyond.

HEXBERG FAMILY FOUNDATION

While the Hexberg Family Foundation does not have a website or any stated grantmaking priorities, the foundation’s tax filings indicate an interest in supporting veterans and military families. As well, the foundation especially supports efforts that improve access to healthcare for veterans.

HILLMAN FOUNDATION

This Pennsylvania funder makes a wide range of local grants that intersect with support for veterans, primarily through health, human services, and housing.

HOME DEPOT FOUNDATION

Home Depot offers several types of grants for organizations that support Veterans. The primary focus areas of this program are combat-wounded veterans, homeless veterans, and aging veterans.

JPMORGAN CHASE FOUNDATION

JPMorgan Chase supports local, regional, and national organizations working to improve the economic health of local communities. Geographic restrictions apply on a state-by-state basis.

EUGENE M. LANG FOUNDATION

The Lang foundation broadly funds military members and veterans’ causes.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

Lockheed Martin maintains a deep commitment to the well-being of the U.S. military community; more than half of the company’s business is with the military and other U.S. agencies, and military-affiliated individuals comprise more than one-fifth of its workforce.

LOWE’S FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE GIVING

Veterans are a main priority of Lowe’s housing and work and opportunity grantmaking.

ROBERT R. MCCORMICK FOUNDATION

This is a major funder in Chicago philanthropy. Its areas of grantmaking are community development and safety, journalism, early childhood education, and veterans causes.

MERTZ GILMORE FOUNDATION

This funder invests in veteran and military causes more broadly through various programs, rather than a dedicated one.

NEWMAN’S OWN FOUNDATION

The foundation funds organizations that offer “career training, support for higher education, and other critical assistance.”

NFL FOUNDATION

While this funder does not have a program dedicated to veterans and military causes, it makes substantial grants in this area.

NORTHRUP GRUMMAN FOUNDATION

This funder broadly gives to military and veterans.

PWC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

A new area of funding for this foundation, grants for military and veterans tend to center on economic opportunity.

SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION

This local funder focuses on the San Diego area across a broad range of community interests and needs.

SCHULTZ FAMILY FOUNDATION

The Schultz Foundation’s Post 9/11 Veterans focus area aims to “ensure veterans can connect their skills, experience and community commitment to a new organization and a new mission.” It supports active duty military, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses.

GARY SINISE FOUNDATION

The Gary Sinise Foundation, formerly the Avalon Fund, supports military and veterans’ organizations, especially in the areas of mental health and human services. It also runs signature programs for disabled veterans and the families of fallen heroes. Funding also goes to fire fighting and other first response organizations across the U.S.

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Southwest Airlines supports Military and Their Families, including active duty, reservists, and veterans, by making grants to organizations that “provide a variety of valuable programs and services to support the men, women, and families who sacrifice for our country every day.”

MAY AND STANLEY SMITH CHARITABLE TRUST

The trust’s grants for military and veterans primarily focuses on mental health, education and job training, employment, housing stability and community integration.

THE STREISAND FOUNDATION

The Streisand Foundation’s broad grantmaking for veterans includes support for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which “strives to build an empowered generation of veterans who provide sustainable leadership for our country and their local communities.”