Veterans Assistance Grant

The Veterans Assistance Grant (VAG) supports the health and well-being of Colorado veterans through services like mental health, job training, and housing assistance. Nonprofit and governmental entities may apply, provided they meet specific eligibility criteria. The grant excludes funding for administrative costs and memorials, focusing instead on direct support for veterans and their dependents.

Program Summary
The Veterans Assistance Grant (VAG) was established by the State General Assembly to provide services that enhance the health and well-being of veterans who live in Colorado. Formerly known as the One Year Grant, the VAG is funded through appropriations by the General Assembly.
In 2014, the grant program was established in the Colorado Statute, Section 28-5-712, C.R.S. to provide ongoing funding for the Veterans Assistance Grant Program through annual appropriations. These funds are to be used for services that increase over-all well-being, such as mental health services, family counseling, job training, employment, housing for homeless veterans and other types of assistance.
Purpose and Scope
The overarching goal of the Veterans Assistance Grant is to support organizations in meeting community defined needs of veterans, ultimately resulting in improved health and well-being for veterans in the State of Colorado.
The scope of program services includes direct assistance to veterans to address unmet needs. The expected outcomes include enhanced self-sufficiency and economic stability, increased access to healthcare, stable housing and supportive services, increased food security, enhanced relationships and overall well-being.

Eligibility

The Veterans Assistance Grant is available to both nonprofit and governmental entities.Nonprofits must be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State and be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) tax-exempt organization, other than a 501(c) 19 or 23.
Eligibility includes programs and projects located in Colorado that provide direct assistance to meet the needs of veterans and their dependents living in Colorado. Veterans whose character of service is other than Dishonorable are eligible for services under this program.Applicant organizations must directly provide services themselves; pass-through funding is not permitted.

Ineligibility

An organization may not receive funding from both the VAG and Veterans Trust Fund (VTF) grant programsAdministrative, construction or capital costs are not allowed. Memorials, club renovations, honor guards, and tributes to veterans are not included in the VAG grant program.Grant funds cannot be used to supplant current funding of existing activities. “Supplanting” is defined as replacing existing funds of a program or project with funds from this grant program.