The month of May highlights Military Appreciation Month, which plays a crucial role in fostering an awareness and understanding of the challenges service members, veterans, and their families face. [1] Military Appreciation Month celebrates a few of the following observance days:

• National Silver Star Banner Day (May 1, 2025): National Silver Star Service Banner Day honors Armed Forces members awarded the Silver Star medal, as well as their families, and recognizes the sacrifices of ill, wounded, and dying U.S. military members. [2]
• National Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 9, 2025): National Military Spouse Appreciation Day observes the sacrifices made by military families who support the Armed Forces. [3]
• Children of Fallen Patriots Day (May 13, 2025): Children of Fallen Patriots Day shows appreciation for the children of fallen soldiers. [4]
• Armed Forces Day (May 17, 2025): Armed Forces Day, which falls on every third Saturday of May, honors those currently serving, or have served, in the National Guard, the reserves, or on active duty. [5]
• Memorial Day (May 26, 2025): Initially called Decoration Day, Memorial Day commemorates fallen Civil War soldiers. [6]

In honor of Military Appreciation Month, USFCR would like to highlight select grant opportunities and other services to assist service members, veterans, and their families.

• Third-party inspection and developer fees not exceeding $750;
• Construction costs for a newly constructed home;
• Necessary modifications (i.e., installing grab bars, ramps, door widening, and lowering of countertops, non-disability related repairs to a primary residence); or 
• Down payments and/or closing costs assisting eligible veterans, service members, or Gold Star Families to purchase their first home.

To qualify, households must have an occupant who was disabled as a result of active military service or has been a Gold Star Family since August 2, 1990. Furthermore, eligible applicants must be living in the FHLB Dallas District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. HAVEN funds are available until the funds are exhausted or until December 31, 2025—whichever occurs first. 

Veteran Housing Grants by the Home Depot Foundation
The Home Depot Foundation (THDF) is awarding U.S. and Puerto Rico 501c3 nonprofits up to $500,000 in awards towards the new construction or rehabilitation of permanent supportive housing for veterans. Though rural areas are considered, priority will be given to “large cities” defined as populations over 300,000 residents, with special focus on the following cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, Seattle, and Tampa. The next proposal deadline for FY2025 is July 3, 2025, with final determinations expected by December 2025.

Further Requirements

• Organizations maintain good standing with the IRS for at least five (5) years.
• Organizations with a current operating budget of at least $300,000 and audited financial statements from the past three (3) years.
• Organizations with previous experience developing veteran housing and currently managing or owning veteran-specific housing.
• Organizations with a 15+ year ownership stake in the development.
• Organizations involved in the Continuum of Care (CoC) or a local collaboration

Eligibility Requirements

• THDF supports new construction or rehabilitation of multifamily, permanent supportive veteran housing.
• Only the physical construction of veteran housing (hard costs) is covered.
• Grant funding must comprise less than 50% of the total development cost of the program/project.
• The target population of honorably discharged veterans must be at or below 80% AMI.
• 75% of the development/program’s funding sources must be identified at the time of proposal submission.
• The project must commence within twelve (12) months of proposal submission.
• At least 20% of the housing units must be reserved for veterans.
• Supportive services must be provided.
• Proposals must provide evidence of a third-party binding agreement ensuring the units are occupied by veterans for a minimum of 15 years (i.e., deed restriction, zoning requirement, project-based HUDVASH, other funder requirements, etc.).

• Bridging community divides,
• Financial assistance & food insecurity, 
• Mental, social, and emotional health, 
• Safety; or 
• Workforce development.

• United States: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, or West Virginia
• Canada: Ontario, Quebec

Ineligible Support

• Telephone/mail solicitations (U.S. mail and email)
• Organizations outside of CSX’s service network
• Religious organizations not registered with the IRS
• Organizations that discriminate (based on race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation)
• Political candidates or lobbying organizations
• Limited constituency organizations/clubs
• Individuals, conferences, and travel
• Anti-business groups or controversial organizations

Blue Star Outposts Grant by Blue Star Families
Blue Star Families (BSF) is providing an opportunity for U.S. 501c3 or 501c6 nonprofits to become Outposts that help military families feel a stronger sense of community belonging. Specifically, BSF is looking to partner with nonprofits that conduct high-impact, evidence-based, in-person and virtual programming. The organizations must provide one or more of the following impact areas: improving social detriments of health, enhancing opportunities for Veterans to thrive after service, increasing accessibility to evidence-based programming that fosters a healthy lifestyle, and creating a greater sense of belonging for military-connected families to each other and to the communities in which they live.

Eligible applicants must be located in the following areas: Alabama (District 3); Arkansas (District 3); Colorado (District 6); Georgia (District 2); Indiana (District 3); Iowa (District 1 & 3); Michigan (District 1 & 10); Nevada (District 2); Pennsylvania (District 6); South Carolina (District 1); or Texas (District 23). 

As an Outpost, organizations can:

• Promote BSF’s annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey to increase data specific to Outpost demographics.
• Participate in Blue Star Welcome Week activities in late September by hosting events, crafting social media outreach, and engaging civilian neighbors.
• Use your organization’s social media channels to share information about BSF and direct visitors to The Neighborhood, our digital community.
• Participate in at least one Blue Star Program: Blue Star Outdoors and/or Blue Star Careers.
• Participate in BSF program evaluation.

Be aware that this opportunity is a multi-step opportunity, requiring applicants to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) prior to moving forward to completing the full application. Awarded recipients will receive up to $15,000 in funding. Accepted applications will result in a one-year agreement with the potential to renew for up to two (2) more years.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant
The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is offering up to $45,000 to U.S. and Puerto Rico schools for its final quarter in 2025. Requesting exceeding $45,000 will be denied. The grant portal will officially open on July 10, 2025. Grant award notifications will be emailed prior to the Foundation’s portal reopening date each quarter.

The Foundation accepts applications for the following funding areas: disaster relief, prevention education, scholarships & continued education, support for military members, and lifesaving equipment. A maximum of 600 grant applications will be accepted per quarter. The Foundation also primarily makes grants to organizations located within a 60-mile radius of Firehouse Subs locations.

The Foundation requests that past grant recipients wait a minimum of three (3) years from the date of approval before reapplying. Though the Foundation considers partial funding requests, the balance of funds must already be secured and outlined within an applicant’s grant request. Furthermore, the Foundation does not approve reimbursements for purchased equipment. Other items not supported by the board of directors include body cameras, building exhaust removal systems, crash data boxes, dash cams, drones and drone accessories, exercise equipment, goodie bags, guns/firearms/use of force equipment, riot gear, laser pointers (designators), inflatable bounce houses, license plate readers, Narcan, portable message signs, Pluggie the fire plug robot, Polar Breeze thermal rehabilitation systems, police radar equipment, power load stretchers, recording devices, refurbished equipment, security systems, surveillance equipment, Sparky the Fire Dog robots and costumes, stop sticks, tasers, throw bots, traffic road barriers, TruNar analyzers, t-shirts & polos, etc.

Additional Resources

• The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Service Trust: The DAV provides grants to U.S. nonprofits that improve the lives of injured veterans and their families with services and programs such as rehabilitation programs, shelters for the homeless, the supply of mobility items, career training and education, or therapeutic and recreational activities.
• The Robert L. & Margaret K. Balmes Family Trust: This opportunity provides support to 501c3 organizations that repair or care for those who have lost limbs in military duty for the United States, and secondarily to support organizations that actively improve Southern California.
• CareerSource Palm Beach County: Its Get There Faster Grant offers funds to Florida veterans residing in Palm Beach County for professional training and career development activities.
• Home for our Troops (HFOT): HFOT offers specially adapted custom housing to U.S. veterans to accommodate severe injuries they sustained while in service to the country.
• Syracuse University: The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans’ Families Program offers an intensive entrepreneurship education and training program for U.S. family members of eligible military veterans.
• The Wawa Foundation: Wawa offers up to $2,500 to U.S. nonprofits for charitable events that address hunger, health, and appreciation towards heroes in local communities, including first responders, the military, veterans, and others.
• Sons of the Flag: They offer in-kind medical support to treat burn injuries for military personnel, first responders, and civilians, and undergo reconstructive surgery performed by a team of specialists in Florida.
• Military OneSource: This organization, by the Defense Department, offers military parents child care services.
• National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA): NSCA offers various resources and funding opportunities that support U.S. military members and veterans for standardized testing and preparation course expenses.
• Luke’s Wings: This organization provides emergency travel planning services and airplane tickets for the families and loved ones of wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, and fallen officers, during hospital recovery and rehabilitation.
• Hivers & Strivers Capital: Their network assists entrepreneurs with military experience who possess highly developed leadership skills capable of building strong, successful companies.
• The Military Assistance Fund (MHAF): MHAF provides active military and veteran families with closing cost gift funds to assist them with purchasing a home. Services are for homebuyers only, and services are unavailable in Arkansas, Ohio, or New York at this time.
• Air Force Aid Society (AFAS): Its Standard Assistance program helps Air Force and Space Force members, and their eligible family members, solve emergency financial situations so they can focus on Air Force/Space Force missions. 
• Modest Needs Foundation: Its Homecoming Heroes Grant helps U.S. military veterans with financial support upon returning from overseas deployment and eases their transition from military to civilian life. 
• Operation Finally Home: This organization provides mortgage-free homes, home modifications, and transitional housing to wounded, ill, and injured military veterans, first responders, and their families.

Need Assistance?

USFCR’s Consulting Division offers assistance with grant applications through grant writing and review and submission services. To learn more about USFCR’s grant services, please contact us at (877) 252-2700 or complete the grant assessment below.

Citations

1. Military.com Network. Military Appreciation Month 2025. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.military.com/military-appreciation-month
2. Blinded Veterans Association. Recognizing Silver Star Service Banner Day. April 25, 2025. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://bva.org/recognizing-silver-star-service-banner-day/ 
3. Veneran.com. Military Spouse Appreciation Day 2025. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://veteran.com/military-spouse-appreciation-day/
4. Fallen Patriots. May 13 Celebrates Children of Fallen Patriots Day. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.fallenpatriots.org/children-of-fallen-patriots-day 
5. USO. When is Armed Forces Day? May 17, 2022. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.uso.org/stories/2225-when-is-armed-forces-day#:~:text=Who%20created%20Armed%20Forces%20Day,law%20on%20July%2026%2C%201947.
6. PBS. The History of Memorial Day. Accessed April 28, 2025. https://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/memorial-day/history/ 

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