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

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, through its National Veterans Sports Programs, has forecasted a grant opportunity titled Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces (Equine Therapy Grants). This program is designed to expand opportunities for veterans and active-duty service members with disabilities to participate in adaptive sports and training activities that specifically use equine therapy to address mental health challenges. The announcement signals the agency’s intent to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity in March 2026, with applications due by May 2026. The program has been allocated an estimated total of $16,000,000 in federal funds for fiscal year 2026. From this allocation, up to $5,000,000 is earmarked for equine therapy-focused initiatives. The Department of Veterans Affairs will issue awards up to a ceiling of $750,000 per applicant. These grants are discretionary and will be used to support planning, development, management, and implementation of equine-assisted adaptive sports and related activities. General adaptive sports proposals that are not centered on equine therapy for mental health will not be considered under this funding number and must instead be directed to a separate funding opportunity, VA-SPORTS-26. The grant will be available to a wide range of eligible applicants, including state governments, county and city governments, Native American tribal governments and organizations, nonprofit organizations with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations, small businesses, independent school districts, higher education institutions, housing authorities, and individuals. This broad eligibility is intended to maximize program reach and encourage diverse organizational participation. Applicants must be prepared to design programs that specifically use equine therapy to improve the mental health and well-being of disabled veterans and service members. The timeline for the grant anticipates an estimated post date of March 10, 2026, with applications due May 11, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced on September 30, 2026, with project periods beginning on October 1, 2026. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers are indicated in the forecast. The program is recurring and historically reissued on an annual basis, meaning applicants may anticipate future funding cycles beyond 2026. Spending rules will focus exclusively on equine therapy programming. Activities may include direct therapeutic services, equine-assisted training, infrastructure to support program delivery, and staff training relevant to adaptive sports programming. The funds are not to be diverted for unrelated adaptive sports activities. While the estimated total program funding is $16,000,000, only a portion is specifically reserved for equine therapy, reinforcing the targeted scope of this program. Contact for this opportunity is listed as a Program Specialist within the National Veterans Sports Programs. However, the forecast notice does not provide a direct email address or phone number. Applicants are advised to monitor the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events website for additional guidance and to await the official Notice of Funding Opportunity in March 2026 for full submission requirements, detailed eligibility clarifications, and evaluation criteria.