2026 VDF Large Grants A.R.S. 41-608

The Arizona Veterans' Donation Fund (VDF) Large Grants program is administered by the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS), an agency established to support Arizona’s veteran population. Created by legislative action in 1999 under A.R.S. § 41-608, the VDF funds are intended to benefit Veterans and their families throughout the state. The program prioritizes initiatives that directly address the social determinants of health (SDOH), including but not limited to housing, employment, education, healthcare, and social support systems, with the aim of preventing crises and improving overall well-being for veterans. ADVS encourages proposals that specifically align with at least one SDOH category. Applications that propose direct services for individual Veterans — such as assistance with overdue rent or utilities — will receive priority over indirect services like research studies. The goal is to support programs that deliver tangible, immediate benefits to Veterans. Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop upstream prevention programs, thereby reducing the potential for escalation into emergency needs. The VDF Large Grant opportunity offers a total of $2,000,000 in available funds, with awards ranging from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $150,000. Applicants can include a wide range of organizations, such as 501(c) nonprofits, local and state government entities, Native American tribes, school districts, for-profit organizations, academic institutions, and consortia. The fund particularly favors entities with a primary mission that supports Arizona’s Veterans and that align with the objectives outlined by the ADVS Director or designee. Collaborative proposals that reflect partnerships between multiple organizations are encouraged. Applications for this funding opportunity open on October 16, 2025, and close on December 1, 2025. All submissions must be completed through the eCivis solicitation portal; hard copy applications will not be accepted. This streamlined submission process ensures that only electronically verified applications are considered. There are no pre-application requirements listed, and no indication of a letter of intent or concept paper is required. Contact for this program is the ADVS-VDF Large Grants Project Coordinator, who can be reached via email at rdavis@azdvs.gov. There is no listed phone number or office location provided for direct inquiries. While the average award size and number of awards are not specified, the available funding range allows for scalability based on the applicant’s proposed scope of work. The VDF program is issued on a recurring basis, with previous cycles suggesting an annual cadence. Given the current application window, the next anticipated cycle is likely to begin in October 2026. Interested applicants should plan to revisit the opportunity in advance of that date to prepare and align future proposals accordingly. Financial Notes: Grant funding total award allocated is $2,000,000.00  RFGP Award amounts are set at a minimum of $5,000.00, up to $150,000

Prioritize direct service to Veterans; align proposals with one or more SDOH categories; collaborate with partners for broader impact.