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

Background
The Adaptive Sports Grant Program provides grants to eligible adaptive sports entities to plan, develop, manage, and implement programs to provide adaptive sports activities for Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities. The primary goal is to ensure that appropriate levels of resources are provided to eligible adaptive sports entities with capabilities that are well-suited to meet the needs and priorities for Veterans with disabilities and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities.

Grant Details
The Equine Therapy Grant Program provides equine therapy targeted for Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities related to mental health issues. The grantee’s request for funding must be consistent with the limitations on and uses of grant funds set forth in 38 CFR Part 77 and this NOFA. Grantees may use up to a maximum of five percent of grant funds for all administrative expenses.
The grant funds are solely to be used to support or provide services to Veterans or members of the Armed Forces with disabilities. All Equine Therapy Grant awards will be for a 12-month period, from September 30, 2023, to September 30, 2024. The maximum award amount for an application under this NOFA is $750,000.00.

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, an applicant must qualify as a Non-Federal Government entity with significant experience in managing a large-scale adaptive sports program for persons with disabilities if those disabilities are the same as those of Veterans with disabilities, and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities. The entity must comply with 2 CFR Parts 25, and 200, criteria for a Non-Federal entity eligible for federal grant programs; including but not limited to: being registered in SAM.gov, no active exclusions or delinquent federal debt, and not being debarred or suspended.

Period of Performance
The Equine Therapy Grant awards will be for a 12-month period, from September 30, 2023, to September 30, 2024.

Grant Value
$1,500,000 is available to be awarded by VA for proposals providing equine therapy activities for Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities. The maximum award amount for an application under this NOFA is $750,000.00.