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

Background
The Department of Veterans Affairs National Veterans Sports Programs & Special Events (NVSPSE) Program announces the availability of $1,500,000 for the VA Adaptive Sports Grant Program’s Equine Therapy Grants. 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 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 equine therapy activities include instruction, participation, and competition in adaptive sports; training and technical assistance to program administrators, coaches, recreation therapists, instructors, VA employees, and other appropriate individuals; coordination, Paralympic classification of athletes, athlete assessment, sport-specific training techniques, program development (including programs at the local level), sports equipment, supplies, program evaluation, and other activities related to the implementation and operation of the program.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants 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 those that disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces may have. All key personnel identified in the Equine Therapy Grant application must have experience implementing the adaptive sports activities to be provided and have experience working with persons with disabilities similar to those that Veterans and members of the Armed Forces may experience. Organizations providing equine therapy for mental health must be large scale.

Period of Performance
All Equine Therapy Grant awards will be for a 12-month period from September 30, 2024 – September 30, 2025.

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