Most veteran grant articles point you at small business grants. Those help if you want to start a for-profit company. But what if you want to start a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? Maybe one that helps women veterans, minority veterans, or military families in your area?

That is a different funding world. The programs are different. The rules are different. The paperwork is different. And the timeline is much longer.

I am Brad Tachi, a Navy veteran and founder of Best Military Resume. I have watched a lot of veterans hit a wall trying to launch a nonprofit. Not because the idea was bad. Because nobody told them how the nonprofit grant game actually works.

This guide walks you through the real programs active in 2026. Programs that fund nonprofit founders, with extra focus on women veterans and minority veterans. I checked every link and every dollar figure before I wrote this.

If you want for-profit small business grants instead, read our other guide on veteran small business grants for 2026. This article is about nonprofit grants only.

Why are nonprofit grants different from small business grants?

A small business grant funds a company you own. You sell something. You keep the profit. The IRS treats you like any other business.

A nonprofit grant funds a 501(c)(3) charity. You serve a public need. You cannot keep the profit. The IRS treats you like a public trust.

That changes everything about how you get funded. Funders want to see four things before they cut a check.

• 501(c)(3) status: You need an IRS determination letter. Or a fiscal sponsor who has one. See the IRS rules for 501(c)(3) status for the basics.
• A board of directors: Most funders want at least 3 unrelated board members. Five is better.
• A theory of change: A clear story of how your work creates real outcomes for real people.
• Financial controls: A bank account in the nonprofit name. Bookkeeping. An audit if grant size is large.

This is the gap that trips up new nonprofit founders. They have the mission. They lack the structure. Funders will not bend on the structure.

How does federal funding flow to veteran-serving nonprofits?

The biggest pot of money for veteran nonprofits comes from the VA. Two programs to know in 2026.

VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

This is the largest direct grant program for nonprofits serving veterans. The 2026 cycle puts up $855 million in SSVF funding through grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits and consumer cooperatives. About 245 awards are expected.

• Who qualifies: 501(c)(3) nonprofits and consumer cooperatives.
• What it funds: Services for very low-income veteran families who are homeless, near homeless, or just exited homelessness.
• Award range: $262,981 floor up to $23,153,846 ceiling. Most awards land in the $1M to $5M range.
• Application deadline: February 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time.
• Where to apply: Grants.gov. You need an EIN, a UEI from SAM, and an active SAM registration.

Are you a woman veteran or minority veteran building a nonprofit for homeless veteran families? This is the biggest single program you will find.

VA Adaptive Sports Grant

This program funds nonprofits that run adaptive sports for disabled veterans and disabled service members. The 2026-2027 cycle has $16 million on the table.

• Who qualifies: Non-federal organizations with proven adaptive sports experience.
• What it funds: Adaptive sports programs, equipment, and coaching.
• Award range: Up to $750,000 per award for one year.
• Application deadline: May 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time.
• Where to apply: Through Grants.gov, posting VA-SPORTS-26.

This is a strong fit for women veterans or minority veterans building adaptive recreation nonprofits. The space is open, the funding is real, and the VA wants more local groups in the pipeline.

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Which private foundations fund veteran nonprofits in 2026?

Private foundations make up a big part of the veteran nonprofit funding world. The two largest you should know are Bob Woodruff Foundation and the USAA Foundation.

Bob Woodruff Foundation

The Bob Woodruff Foundation is the gold standard for veteran-focused private grants. They fund nonprofits across the country that serve service members, veterans, families, and caregivers.

• Who qualifies: 501(c)(3) nonprofits with two or more years of IRS Form 990 filings. Gross receipts over $50,000 required.
• What it funds: Health, well-being, employment, and family programs.
• Award range: $5,000 to $500,000. Average award is around $100,000.
• Application deadline: Year-round. Decisions come in spring and fall cycles.
• Where to apply: Bob Woodruff Foundation grant portal. Brief proposals get feedback first.

You need a track record before you apply. Two years of clean financials. A real program. Real outcomes. They are not going to fund a brand new nonprofit with no history. But once you are past year two, this should be high on your list.

USAA Foundation

USAA is putting $500 million over five years into veteran and military family support. The catch is that USAA Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. They invite organizations they already know.

So how do you get on their radar? Get visible. Speak at veteran conferences. Get featured in local press. Partner with bigger veteran nonprofits already funded by USAA. Apply for Bob Woodruff first. Build a track record. Then USAA might find you.

What grants exist for women-led nonprofits?

This is where things get tighter. Few grants say "women veteran nonprofit." But many say "women-led nonprofit" or "women of color-led nonprofit." A woman veteran building a nonprofit qualifies for both pools.

Ms. Foundation for Women

Ms. Foundation funds women-led and girls-of-color-led nonprofits across the country. For most of their programs, applicant organizations must have 75 to 100 percent of their financial decision-makers be women or girls of color.

• Who qualifies: 501(c)(3) nonprofits led by women or girls of color (75-100 percent of decision-makers).
• What it funds: Rights, health, safety, and well-being of women and girls of color, LGBTQ women, and underrepresented groups.
• Award range: Varies by RFP. Multi-year operating support is common.
• How to apply: Check the Ms. Foundation open grants page (forwomen.org). They do not take unsolicited proposals. They post RFPs there.

The honest read on Ms. Foundation. Watch their open grants page each month. Network with current grantees. Email their grants team with a short intro. That is how you get on the invite list.

Regional women foundations

Almost every state has a women foundation that funds women-led nonprofits in that state. These are smaller awards but the application is easier and the competition is less brutal.

• Texas: Texas Women Foundation
• New York: The New York Women Foundation
• California: Women Foundation California
• Mississippi: Women Foundation of Mississippi

Search "women foundation" plus your state. Most have local-area grants of $10,000 to $50,000. These are good first grants for a new nonprofit.

What grants exist for minority veteran nonprofit founders?

Same pattern as women-led grants. Few are tagged "minority veteran." Many are tagged "minority-led" or "communities of color." A minority veteran founder can apply to both.

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

WKKF is one of the largest racial equity funders in the country. They have committed the majority of their grant dollars to marginalized communities. They also keep 25 percent or more for social justice work like advocacy and community organizing.

• Who qualifies: 501(c)(3) nonprofits and public entities. Priority places are Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New Orleans.
• What it funds: Child wellbeing, equity, and community development.
• Award range: Varies widely. Many grants are $100K to $1M.
• How to apply: WKKF grantseekers page. Applications are open year-round. They take 60 business days to review.

If your nonprofit serves Black, Latino, Native, or Asian American veterans in one of their priority states, this should be on your shortlist.

First Nations Development Institute

For Native American veterans building Native-led nonprofits, First Nations is the most respected funder in the field. They give to tribal governments and Native-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

• Who qualifies: Federal- or state-recognized tribal governments and Native-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
• What it funds: Native food traditions, Native youth and culture, food sovereignty, community-rooted knowledge.
• Award range: $10,000 to $40,000 for the Native Food Sovereignty grant. $1,500 to $5,000 for the Acorn Fund.
• Application deadlines: March 17, 2026 (Native Food Sovereignty). April 29, 2026 (Acorn Fund).
• Where to apply: The First Nations grantmaking page at firstnations.org.

What about state veteran affairs grants?

Some states have their own dedicated veteran nonprofit grant programs. These are often easier to win than federal grants because the competition is local. Two strong examples in 2026.

Texas Veterans Commission - Fund for Veterans Assistance

Texas runs one of the largest state-level veteran nonprofit grant programs in the country. For the 2025-2026 cycle, the Texas Veterans Commission has roughly $31 million available across five grant programs.

• Who qualifies: IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofits authorized to do business in Texas. Also 501(c)(19) veteran posts and local government agencies.
• What it funds: General assistance, housing, mental health, treatment courts, and county service officers.
• Award range: Varies by category. Most awards land between $50,000 and $500,000.
• Where to apply: TVC grants page.

CalVet - California Veterans Health Initiative

California has up to $38 million in competitive grants under the California Veterans Health Initiative Mental Health Support Grant Program. Grants run on a three-year cycle with declining funding plus a required match in years two and three.

• Who qualifies: California-based nonprofits and service providers.
• What it funds: Mental health prevention and early intervention services for veterans and their families.
• Award range: Year one is full funding. Year two drops to 75 percent with a 25 percent match. Year three drops to 50 percent with a 50 percent match.
• Where to apply: CalVet grants portal.

If your nonprofit is in another state, search "[your state] veterans affairs grants" and "[your state] community foundation veterans." Most states have at least one option.

How do the top 2026 nonprofit grant programs compare?

Here is a side-by-side look at the largest programs you should bookmark.

Where can you find more local and regional grants?

The big national funders are not your only path. Local money is real money. And local money is often easier to get because the application pools are smaller.

• Community foundations: Almost every metro area has one. They pool donor funds and re-grant to local nonprofits. Search "[your city] community foundation."
• State veteran affairs offices: Every state has a department of veterans affairs. Some run grants directly. Some maintain lists of state grants.
• Corporate foundations: Walmart, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and others have veteran-focused giving programs.
• Local VFW and American Legion posts: Some give small grants to local veteran nonprofits.

What is the grant application timeline I should expect?

This is where most new founders get burned. Grants are slow. Plan your runway around the slow timeline.

From idea to first federal grant check is often 18 to 24 months. Plan your personal income around that. Most nonprofit founders do this as a side project for the first year.

What are the 4 hardest parts for new nonprofit founders?

I have watched a lot of veteran founders try to launch a nonprofit. These are the four spots where most stall.

1. Getting 501(c)(3) approval: The IRS Form 1023 takes 6 to 12 months. Form 1023-EZ is faster but limits your future funding. Most large funders prefer full Form 1023 organizations.
2. Building a real board: You need 3 to 5 unrelated people willing to sign legal documents. Not your spouse. Not your business partner. People who care about the mission.
3. Writing a theory of change: Funders want a one-page story of how your work creates real outcomes. Most first drafts are vague. Get a mentor who has won grants to review yours.
4. Surviving the slow timeline: Foundation grants take 60 to 120 days from application to decision. Federal grants can take 6 months. Money does not flow until you can prove you can wait for it.

How does Best Military Resume fit into this?

Most veteran nonprofit founders also need civilian-side income while they build. Maybe a part-time federal job. Maybe a private-sector role. Maybe contract consulting.

That is where we come in. Best Military Resume helps veterans, service members, and military spouses translate service into civilian and federal resumes. The kind that land interviews. Free tier covers two tailored resumes and two cover letters.

Are you a woman veteran or minority veteran building a nonprofit? You may also need a real day job to fund the early years. Start with our Resume Builder. Built by veterans who have run the transition.

Want more context on the broader transition? Read our companion guides on moving from military to nonprofit work and women veterans in the workforce.

What is the bottom line on 2026 nonprofit grants?

The money is real. The programs are open. The path is slow but it works.

Start with structure. Get 501(c)(3) approval or sign with a fiscal sponsor. Build a real board. Get a bank account. Write a one-page theory of change.

Then apply small. Hit your state veterans grant first. Hit your local women foundation or community foundation. Get a small win. Build a track record.

Then apply big. SSVF. Bob Woodruff. WKKF. First Nations. Texas Veterans Commission. CalVet. The federal and national private funders are there for nonprofits that have done the work.

One last note. A nonprofit is not a hobby. It is a real organization with real legal duties. Treat it like a business that happens to serve a public mission. The founders who win grants are the ones who run their nonprofits like serious operations from day one.