Veterans' Foundation Major Grants

Overview

The Veterans’ Foundation (VF) has established a substantial grants programme to support charities and organisations that provide support to those in need among serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers and their immediate families.

Definition of ‘Need’

Trustees award grants based on this definition of need:

A potential, qualified beneficiary “in need” is one or both of the following: 

• At a disadvantage compared with non-armed forces citizens due to their service.
• Someone who is experiencing challenges such as the following: unemployment, homelessness, mental and physical ill-health, injuries, poor welfare, a child's loss of parent or addiction.

The VF gives priority to charities and organisations who can demonstrate that they are directly involved in the provision of support to those in need. They

seek to prioritise organisation who have a low to medium income.

Available Major Grants

• Major Grants of between £100,000 and £200,000 are available. This can be for one year or a multi-year grant for up to three years.

If you are successful in securing a Major Grant from the Veterans’ Foundation, then please note that you will not be eligible to apply for any other grant awards for the duration of your Major Grant period.

Major Grants priority areas

The Major Grants programme will prioritise applications that deliver impact and outcomes for our Armed Forces Community. This includes, but is not restricted to the following:

• Improving mental health and wellbeing
• Advancing family/carer welfare
• Advancing housing security
• Improving employability
• Tackling other disadvantages of service life (e.g. Veterans and the justice system)

The grant purpose can be ambitious or innovative but should not be an unproven concept or brand-new pilot project. Successful organisations will be able to demonstrate the funding will deliver meaningful outcomes and provide clear beneficial impact to the Armed Forces community.

For example, a well-run organisation with a proven track record of delivering impactful services may be looking for additional funding to expand their regional footprint or to grow the number of beneficiaries that can be served. Or a coalition of charitable providers may seek funding to sustain growth for a referral pathway that reduces barriers to accessing vital services.

Organisations that are eligible to apply for a grant

As per the VF’s eligibility criteria, registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations that support our beneficiaries may apply. In addition, organisations should have the following income to qualify for the Major Grants programme:

• Minimum annual income of £100,000
• Maximum annual income of £6,000,000

Whilst they will accept grant applications from organisations that do not exclusively support Armed Forces’ beneficiaries, information will be required as to why the service given to veterans differs from your normal services.

You should include information on what the additional/different needs of the Armed Forces Community are, and why your organisation is best placed to deliver the project.

The Veterans’ Foundation also welcomes applications from underrepresented groups such as:

• People with disabilities
• Ethnic minorities
• LGBT+ community
• Female groups
• Carers