Opportunity Information: Apply for VA SPORTS 26
Apply for VA SPORTS 26
- The National Veterans Sports Programs in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces" 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 2026-03-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-13. (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: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Department of Veterans Affairs, through the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events (NVSPSE), is offering a discretionary grant opportunity titled "Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces" (Funding Opportunity Number: VA SPORTS 26). The program makes up to $16,000,000 available in total funding, contingent on the availability of federal funds, to support organizations that can plan, develop, manage, and run adaptive sports programs and related activities for Veterans and current members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have disabilities. The overall intent is to expand access to adaptive sports, structured training, and other sports-based opportunities that can help participants build skills, improve physical functioning, and strengthen community connection through organized, accessible athletic programming.
Awards are issued as grants, and the funding is categorized under CFDA/Assistance Listing 64.034. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $750,000 per grant, which sets an upper bound on how much a single applicant can request or receive under this opportunity. While the notice indicates expected awards, the specific number of awards is not provided in the source data, so applicants should plan with the assumption that funding may be competitive and that awards may be sized and distributed based on merit, program reach, and available appropriations.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of public, private, and community-based entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also small businesses; and even individuals. This wide eligibility pool suggests VA is open to partnering with established adaptive sports nonprofits, local governments running community recreation programs, universities with adaptive athletics or rehabilitation research capacity, tribal entities serving their communities, and private providers capable of delivering accessible sports programming, as long as the proposed program directly benefits disabled Veterans and disabled service members.
The grant is designed to support real program delivery rather than purely conceptual work. Funded projects are expected to involve the actual implementation of adaptive sports opportunities, which can include organized activities, instruction, coaching or training components, and other supportive elements that make sports participation possible and meaningful for people with disabilities. In practice, this typically aligns with activities such as acquiring adaptive equipment, securing accessible facilities, hiring or training staff with adaptive sports expertise, covering program operations, and building partnerships that help recruit and serve eligible participants. The program emphasis is on providing direct opportunities to participate in adaptive sports and related training, not just one-time events, and on ensuring programming is structured in a way that safely accommodates a range of disabilities.
Key dates included in the notice show the opportunity was created on March 27, 2026, and the original closing date for submissions is May 13, 2026. Applicants should treat that deadline as firm unless an amendment extends it, and should anticipate that the application will need to clearly explain the organization’s capability to deliver adaptive sports programming, the design and logistics of the proposed activities, how disabled Veterans and disabled service members will be identified and served, and how the program will be managed and evaluated. Because the funding is discretionary and capped per award, proposals that demonstrate a strong operational plan, credible partnerships, participant safety considerations, and clear benefits to the target population are typically positioned more competitively within federal grant frameworks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), administered through the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events (NVSPSE). The opportunity is titled "Grants for Adaptive Sports Programs for Disabled Veterans and Disabled Members of the Armed Forces" and is identified by Funding Opportunity Number VA SPORTS 26.
What is the purpose of the program?
The purpose is to expand access to adaptive sports programs and related activities for disabled Veterans and disabled members of the U.S. Armed Forces. The intent is to support structured, accessible athletic programming that can help participants build skills, improve physical functioning, and strengthen community connection through organized sports-based opportunities.
How much total funding is available?
Up to $16,000,000 is available in total funding under this opportunity, contingent on the availability of federal funds.
Is the funding guaranteed?
No. The notice states the total funding is contingent on the availability of federal funds, meaning awards depend on appropriations and available funding at the time of award.
What is the maximum amount an applicant can request?
The award ceiling is $750,000 per grant. This is the maximum amount a single applicant can request or receive under this opportunity.
How many awards will be made?
The specific number of awards is not provided in the information available. Applicants should plan for a competitive process where award sizes and distribution may depend on proposal merit, program reach, and available appropriations.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
Awards are issued as grants.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this program?
The funding is categorized under CFDA/Assistance Listing 64.034.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of entities and individuals, including:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other tribal organizations
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses)
- Individuals
Does eligibility include nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are included as eligible applicants (subject to the note in the opportunity describing those nonprofit categories as not being institutions of higher education).
Are for-profit organizations and small businesses eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses.
Are individuals allowed to apply?
Yes. Individuals are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.
Who must the program serve?
Funded programs are intended to directly benefit disabled Veterans and disabled members of the U.S. Armed Forces by providing adaptive sports programs and related activities designed for people with disabilities.
What types of activities are expected to be supported?
Funded projects are expected to involve actual program implementation and delivery of adaptive sports opportunities. The notice emphasizes structured, accessible sports participation and related training opportunities, which may include organized activities, instruction, coaching or training components, and supportive elements that make participation possible and meaningful for people with disabilities.
Is this funding meant for implementation or planning only?
The grant is designed to support real program delivery rather than purely conceptual work. Applicants should propose activities that result in actual adaptive sports participation and related programming for the target population.
Does the program focus on one-time events or ongoing programming?
The emphasis is on providing direct opportunities to participate in adaptive sports and related training, and not just one-time events. Applicants should consider how their programming will be structured and delivered as an organized, accessible athletic program.
What kinds of program components might be included in a competitive proposal?
Based on the notice description, proposals commonly align with practical delivery needs such as acquiring adaptive equipment, securing accessible facilities, hiring or training staff with adaptive sports expertise, covering program operations, and developing partnerships that support recruitment and service to eligible participants. Programs are also expected to be structured to safely accommodate a range of disabilities.
What considerations does the opportunity highlight for program quality and competitiveness?
The information indicates that competitive proposals typically demonstrate a strong operational plan, credible partnerships, participant safety considerations, clear benefits to disabled Veterans and disabled service members, and a plan for how the program will be managed and evaluated.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The opportunity was created on March 27, 2026. The original closing date for submissions is May 13, 2026.
Is the May 13, 2026 deadline final?
Applicants should treat the May 13, 2026 closing date as a firm deadline unless the VA issues an amendment extending it.
What should applicants be prepared to explain in the application?
Applicants should be prepared to clearly describe their capability to deliver adaptive sports programming, the design and logistics of the proposed activities, how disabled Veterans and disabled service members will be identified and served, and how the program will be managed and evaluated.
What does "discretionary" mean in this context?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant, meaning awards are competitively awarded based on the sponsoring agency's program priorities, proposal quality, and available funding, rather than being issued automatically by formula.
What organization within VA is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs through the National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events (NVSPSE).
What does the opportunity number mean, and why does it matter?
The Funding Opportunity Number is VA SPORTS 26. This identifier is used to track and reference the specific grant opportunity in communications and documentation.
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