Opportunity Information: Apply for VA EQUINE 25
The Department of Veterans Affairs, through the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events (NVSPSE) Program, is offering a dedicated round of funding under the VA Adaptive Sports Grant Program specifically for equine therapy projects that address mental health needs. The opportunity is titled "Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces (Equine Therapy Grants)" and is listed under Funding Opportunity Number VA EQUINE 25. In practical terms, this grant is meant to help organizations design and run structured equine-therapy-based adaptive sports and related programming for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces, with an emphasis on therapeutic outcomes connected to mental health.
The VA indicates that up to $5,000,000 total may be available for awards, although the final amount depends on the availability of federal funds. Individual awards can be as high as $750,000 (the award ceiling). The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, and the activity area is categorized under Income Security and Social Services, with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 64.034. The application deadline is July 2, 2025, and the notice was created on June 3, 2025.
A key point is that this notice is not for general adaptive sports proposals. The VA is explicitly limiting this competition to proposals that focus on addressing mental health issues through equine therapy. If an organization wants to propose adaptive sports programming that does not center on equine therapy tied to mental health, that application will not be considered under this notice and instead must be submitted under the separate funding opportunity VA-SPORTS-25. That distinction matters because it signals the VA is looking for programming where equine activities are not just recreational, but intentionally structured as a therapeutic intervention aligned with mental health goals for eligible participants.
Eligibility hinges on the applicant being a non-federal government entity and operating in a non-profit capacity for purposes of managing the grant. In addition, the applicant must have significant experience running a large-scale adaptive sports program for people with disabilities, specifically where the disabilities served align with those experienced by Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. The VA points applicants to the regulatory definition in 38 C.F.R. 77.2, which also explains what counts as "significant experience" and "large-scale." In effect, the VA is signaling that this funding is intended for organizations with a proven track record and the operational capacity to deliver substantial, well-managed adaptive programming, rather than brand-new or pilot-only efforts.
Overall, the grant supports planning, development, management, and implementation of equine-therapy-based adaptive sports and training opportunities for disabled Veterans and disabled service members, with mental health outcomes as the central purpose. Organizations considering applying should be prepared to show both programmatic expertise in adaptive sports at scale and the ability to deliver equine-therapy programming that is clearly designed to support mental health needs, while also meeting the VA's non-federal, non-profit management requirements described in the governing regulation.Apply for VA EQUINE 25
- The National Veterans Sports Programs in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces (Equine Therapy Grants)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 64.034.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-06-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a dedicated round of funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events (NVSPSE) Program, under the VA Adaptive Sports Grant Program. It specifically supports equine therapy projects designed to address mental health needs for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.
2) What is the official title and funding opportunity number?
The opportunity is titled "Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces (Equine Therapy Grants)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is VA EQUINE 25.
3) What is the purpose of the Equine Therapy Grants under this notice?
The purpose is to support the planning, development, management, and implementation of structured equine-therapy-based adaptive sports and related programming for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces, with mental health outcomes as the central purpose.
4) Is this grant for general adaptive sports programs?
No. The VA explicitly limits this competition to proposals focused on addressing mental health issues through equine therapy. General adaptive sports proposals that do not center on equine therapy tied to mental health are not considered under this notice.
5) What happens if an organization wants to propose adaptive sports programming that is not equine-therapy-based or not centered on mental health?
Applications that do not focus on equine therapy tied to mental health will not be considered under this notice. The VA indicates those proposals must be submitted under the separate funding opportunity VA-SPORTS-25.
6) Who is the target population served by programs funded under this opportunity?
Programs are intended for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.
7) What types of activities can the grant support?
The notice states the grant supports planning, development, management, and implementation of equine-therapy-based adaptive sports and training opportunities. It also references "structured equine-therapy-based adaptive sports and related programming" designed with therapeutic mental health outcomes in mind.
8) What makes an equine therapy proposal responsive under this notice?
A responsive proposal is one where equine activities are not simply recreational, but intentionally structured as a therapeutic intervention aligned with mental health goals for eligible participants.
9) What is the maximum total funding expected to be available?
The VA indicates that up to $5,000,000 total may be available for awards, depending on the availability of federal funds.
10) What is the maximum award amount for a single grant?
The award ceiling is $750,000 for an individual award.
11) Is the total funding amount guaranteed?
No. The VA notes that the total amount available depends on the availability of federal funds.
12) What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant.
13) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 64.034.
14) What activity area/category is this opportunity listed under?
The activity area is categorized under Income Security and Social Services.
15) When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is July 2, 2025.
16) When was this notice created?
The notice was created on June 3, 2025.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility hinges on the applicant being a non-federal government entity and operating in a non-profit capacity for purposes of managing the grant. The applicant must also have significant experience running a large-scale adaptive sports program for people with disabilities, specifically where the disabilities served align with those experienced by Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces.
18) Are federal entities eligible to apply?
No. The notice states the applicant must be a non-federal government entity.
19) Does the applicant need to be a nonprofit?
The VA requires the applicant to operate in a non-profit capacity for purposes of managing the grant.
20) Is prior experience required, or can new/pilot-only organizations apply?
The VA signals that this funding is intended for organizations with a proven track record. Applicants must have significant experience running a large-scale adaptive sports program for people with disabilities, aligned with the disability needs of Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces. The notice suggests this is not aimed at brand-new or pilot-only efforts.
21) What does the VA mean by "significant experience" and "large-scale"?
The VA points applicants to the regulatory definition in 38 C.F.R. 77.2, which explains what counts as "significant experience" and "large-scale."
22) Why does the VA emphasize equine therapy tied to mental health?
The notice indicates the VA is looking for programming where equine activities are intentionally structured as a therapeutic intervention aligned with mental health goals, rather than purely recreational programming.
23) What should applicants be prepared to demonstrate in their proposal?
Based on the notice, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate (1) programmatic expertise in adaptive sports at scale, (2) the operational capacity to deliver substantial, well-managed adaptive programming, and (3) the ability to deliver equine-therapy programming clearly designed to support mental health needs for disabled Veterans and disabled service members, while meeting the VA's non-federal, non-profit management requirements described in the governing regulation.
24) What VA office/program is associated with this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs through the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events (NVSPSE) Program.
25) Where does this opportunity fit within VA programming?
It is a dedicated round of funding under the VA Adaptive Sports Grant Program, specifically carved out for equine therapy projects addressing mental health needs.
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