Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is a congressionally chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. Founded in 1946 by World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries, PVA is the only nonprofit Veteran Service Organization dedicated solely to helping veterans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), and diseases such as MS and ALS. The organization operates 34 chapters representing thousands of veterans across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$135.9M
+14.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.6M
+3.7% YoY
Grant Count
38
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$173K
+3.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: PVA's mission is to ensure that every veteran of every age, every branch, and every conflict regains what they fought for: their freedom and independence.
Primary Focus Areas:
Veterans Benefit Services: National Service Officers help thousands of veterans and family members obtain earned benefits through military service. In FY24, PVA's Veterans benefits staff secured $269,209,741 in new annual and retroactive benefits for clients, including:
- $13,514,821 in automobile grants
- $51,499,821 in automobile adaptive equipment payments
- $42,272,678 in specially adapted housing (SAH) grants
- $6,207,686 in annual clothing allowance payments
- Filed 27,841 new benefit claims in FY24
Quality Health Care: Advocacy for accessible health care services for members
Research and Education: Funding critical research addressing spinal cord injury and dysfunction
Civil Rights and Advocacy: Advancing opportunities that maximize independence for members and all people with disabilities
Adaptive Sports and Career Support: Programs provided at no cost to veterans
Grantmaking
PVA operates a Research Foundation that provides grants for spinal cord injury and disease research. The organization announced FY25 Research Foundation Grant Recipients and previously announced FY18 Education Foundation Grant Cycle opportunities. Recent research funded by PVA won the 2026 Sharpey-Schafer Prize for Medical Breakthrough in Pain Relief.
Review Cycle
opportunities. Recent research funded by PVA won the 2026 Sharpey-Schafer Prize for Medical Breakthrough in Pain Relief.
Ready to take the next step with Paralyzed Veterans of America?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
PVA operates nationally through 34 chapters representing veterans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of FY 2024:
- Total Revenue: $86,399,560
- Total Expenses: $79,045,908
- Total Assets: $135,929,396
- Total Liabilities: $19,400,000
- Number of Employees: 267
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since October 1955; EIN: 13-1946868
Ratings: PVA earned an 81% score on independent charity evaluations, receiving a Three-Star rating.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $135,929,396 | $119,144,534 | $109,268,565 |
| Revenue | $86,399,560 | $88,986,577 | $127,046,434 |
| Expenses | $79,045,908 | $97,293,092 | $109,277,179 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $8,484,063 | $157,399 | $20,399,375 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
214 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Paralyzed Veterans of America
Educational Scholarship Program
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
Amount
$500 - $1,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
PVA Education Foundation Grant Program
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
Amount
Up to US $75,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
PVA Research Grants & Fellowships
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA
Amount
Up to US $200,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pva Spinal Cord Research Foundation ($800,000), Pva Education & Training Foundation ($350,000), Yale University ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PVA SPINAL CORD RESEARCH FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | RESEARCH GRANT | $800,000 |
| PVA EDUCATION & TRAINING FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | RESEARCH GRANT | $350,000 |
| YALE UNIVERSITY NEW HAVEN, CT | RESEARCH GRANT | $250,000 |
| ARIZONA CHAPTER PVA PHOENIX, AZ | CHAPTER & SPORTS GRANT | $151,655 |
| BAY AREA & WESTERN CHAPTER PVA PALO ALTO, CA | CHAPTER & SPORTS GRANT | $154,155 |
| BAYOU GULF STATES CHAPTER PVA GULPORT, MS | CHAPTER & SPORTS GRANT | $152,155 |
| BUCKEYE CHAPTER PVA EUCLID, OH | CHAPTER & SPORTS GRANT | $153,655 |
| CAL DIEGO CHAPTER PVA SAN DIEGO, CA | CHAPTER & SPORTS GRANT | $151,155 |
| CALIFORNIA CHAPTER PVA LONG BEACH, CA | CHAPTER & SPORTS GRANT | $152,155 |
| CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER PVA SANFORD, FL | CHAPTER & SPORTS GRANT | $151,155 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Executive Director: William Blake (salary: $240,938 as of 2023)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEVIN HOY | DIRECTOR, BAY AREA & WESTERN | 20 | — |
| CHERYL LEWIS RN | DIRECTOR, BAYOU GULF STATES | 20 | — |
| DOUG BECKLEY | DIRECTOR, BUCKEYE | 20 | — |
| JOHN SCHULZ | DIRECTOR, CAL-DIEGO | 20 | — |
| JOSE REYNOSO | DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA | 20 | — |
| ANN ADAIR | DIRECTOR, COLONIAL | 20 | — |
| REDZUAN RAZAK | DIRECTOR, FLORIDA | 20 | — |
| STEPHEN BUSH | DIRECTOR, FLORIDA GULF COAST | 20 | — |
| DONALD FELDOTT | DIRECTOR, GATEWAY | 20 | — |
| DAVID NELSON JR | DIRECTOR, GREAT PLAINS | 20 | — |
| SCOTT MILLER | DIRECTOR, IOWA | 20 | — |
| TAMARA LAWTER | DIRECTOR, KENTUCKY-INDIANA | 20 | — |
| WILLIAM JAKOVAC | DIRECTOR, KEYSTONE | 20 | — |
| MELVIN HASENYAGER | DIRECTOR, LONE STAR | 20 | — |
| ROBERT VANCE | DIRECTOR, MICHIGAN | 20 | — |
| ALPHONSO LOPEZ | DIRECTOR, MID-AMERICA | 20 | — |
| JEFF DOLEZAL | DIRECTOR, MID-ATLANTIC | 20 | — |
| JACK FRANKLIN | DIRECTOR, MID-SOUTH | 20 | — |
| TODD KEMERY | DIRECTOR, MINNESOTA | 20 | — |
| IZZY ABASS | DIRECTOR, MOUNTAIN STATES | 20 | — |
| JASON KELLEY | DIRECTOR, NEVADA | 20 | — |
| BRADFORD CARLSON | DIRECTOR, NEW ENGLAND | 20 | — |
| MICHAEL OLSON | DIRECTOR, NORTH CENTRAL | 20 | — |
| MATTHEW MICKUNAS | DIRECTOR, NORTHWEST | 20 | — |
| RUBEN SIERRA | DIRECTOR, PUERTO RICO | 20 | — |
| PAUL STEWART | DIRECTOR, SOUTHEASTERN | 20 | — |
| FRANK DAEBELLIEHN | DIRECTOR, TEXAS | 20 | — |
| WILLIAM BILL GRAY | DIRECTOR, TRI-STATE | 20 | — |
| GERALD BROWN | DIRECTOR, VAUGHAN | 20 | — |
| ALBERT BROOKS MARTIN | DIRECTOR, WEST VIRGINIA | 20 | — |
| SCOTT GRIFFITH | DIRECTOR, WISCONSIN | 20 | — |
| ANTHONY MURRAY | DIRECTOR, ARIZONA | 20 | — |
| CRAIG ENENBACH | DIRECTOR, CENTRAL FLORIDA | 20 | — |
| CHERYL TOPPING | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $234,966 |
| WILLIAM BLAKE | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $227,698 |
| CHARLES BROWN | IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT | 40 | $73,940 |
| ROBERT THOMAS | NATIONAL PRESIDENT | 40 | $63,487 |
| TAMMY JONES | VICE PRESIDENT | 35 | $9,000 |
| JOSUE CORDOVA | VICE PRESIDENT | 35 | $9,000 |
| TOM WHEATON | TREASURER | 35 | $7,500 |
| HACK ALBERTSON | VICE PRESIDENT - UNTIL 11/2023 | 35 | $6,750 |
| ANNE ROBINSON | VICE PRESIDENT | 35 | $6,160 |
| KEN NESS | VICE PRESIDENT | 35 | $5,250 |
| MARCUS MURRAY | SECRETARY - UNTIL 08/2023 | 35 | $4,500 |
| LAWRENCE MULLINS | INTERIM SECRETARY - AS OF 08/2023 | 35 | $4,500 |
| MICHAEL NEGRETE | VICE PRESIDENT - UNTIL 09/2023 | 35 | $750 |
| LEONARD SELFON | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $208,852 |
| SHAUN CASTLE | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $179,850 |
| PETER GAYTAN | ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $163,168 |
| HEATHER ANSLEY | CHIEF POLICY OFFICER | 40 | $163,832 |
| STEVAN MILLER DIR OF CORP | PTRSHIP & STRAT. ALL. - TIL 08/2023 | 40 | $285,117 |
| DAVID FANNING | SR. DIR. PLANNED & STRAT. FUNDR. | 40 | $171,965 |
| ANDREW MCKENZIE | DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 40 | $156,151 |
| ELIZABETH DEAKIN | CHIEF MARKETING AND COMM. OFFICER | 40 | $151,817 |
| MARK LICHTER | DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE | 40 | $149,773 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
PVA celebrated 80 years of impact and influence, marking the organization's founding in 1946
Paralyzed Veterans of America Celebrates 80 Years of Impact and ...Research funded by PVA won the 2026 Sharpey-Schafer Prize for Medical Breakthrough in Pain Relief
Paralyzed Veterans of America-Funded Research Wins 2026 Sharpey-Schafer PrizeFY25 Research Foundation Grant Recipients were announced
2025 Research Foundation Grant Recipients - PVA.orgIn FY24, filed 27,841 new benefit claims for veterans
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Paralyzed Veterans of America fund?
**Mission:** PVA's mission is to ensure that every veteran of every age, every branch, and every conflict regains what they fought for: their freedom and independence. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Veterans Benefit Services:** National Service Officers help thousands of veterans and family members obtain earned benefits through military service. In FY24, PVA's Veterans benefits staff secured $269,209,741 in new annual and retroactive benefits for clients, including: • $13,514,821 in automobile g…
How do I apply for a grant from Paralyzed Veterans of America?
PVA operates a Research Foundation that provides grants for spinal cord injury and disease research. The organization announced FY25 Research Foundation Grant Recipients and previously announced FY18 Education Foundation Grant Cycle opportunities. Recent research funded by PVA won the 2026 Sharpey-Schafer Prize for Medical Breakthrough in Pain Relief.
Where does Paralyzed Veterans of America make grants?
PVA operates nationally through 34 chapters representing veterans in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
What size grants does Paralyzed Veterans of America award?
In 2024, Paralyzed Veterans of America awarded 38 grants totaling $6.6M — an average of about $173K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Paralyzed Veterans of America's EIN?
Paralyzed Veterans of America's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1946868. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Paralyzed Veterans of America's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$8.7M
Grants
21
Total Given
$1.1M
Gastric Cancer Foundation
MILLBRAE, CA
Assets
$739K
Grants
3
Total Given
$300K
Partnership for Cures
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$7.5M
Grants
7
Total Given
$385K
Varnum-de Rose Trust
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$7.4M
Grants
24
Total Given
$500K
United Jewish Foundation
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI
Assets
$674.9M
Grants
280
Total Given
$44.2M
Becton Family Foundation
HOMOSASSA, FL
Assets
$59K
Grants
1
Total Given
$475K
The John and Anne Albright
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$25K
Grants
7
Total Given
$5K
Freedom Together Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3.4B
Grants
595
Total Given
$470.0M
American Psychiatric Association
WASHINGTON, DC
Assets
$67.6M
Grants
9
Total Given
$631K
Dunard Fund Usa Ltd
NORTHBROOK, IL
Assets
$231.8M
Grants
24
Total Given
$65.1M
Tall Pines Charitable Foundation Inc
VERO BEACH, FL
Assets
$1.0M
Grants
66
Total Given
$97K
James I Freeman Charitable Trust
TEXARKANA, AR
Assets
$8.8M
Grants
32
Total Given
$324K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Paralyzed Veterans of America on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities