The Grant Program / Olympic Opportunity Fund (OOF) for Disabled Veterans and Members of the Armed Forces provides grant funding to organizations to increase and expand the number and quality of opportunities disabled Veterans and disabled members of the Armed Forces have to participate in physical activity within their home communities, as well as more advanced Paralympic sport programs at the regional and national levels. The OOF is administered through a partnership between the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Those eligible to apply for a grant through the OOF include Paralympic Sport Clubs, colleges / universities, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and community-based organizations. In addition, these organizations must also:
Additional consideration is given to programs that:
As specified in the legislation that established the fund, federal agencies are not eligible to receive grant funding from the program. However, federal agencies are encouraged to collaborate with community organizations or VSOs to jointly create community-based programs that serve disabled Veterans.
The amount of grant funding awarded to each organization varies per calendar year. In 2011, the grants ranged from $10,000 to $25,000 per organization.
To apply for an OOF grant, each organization must submit a proposal based on the instructions provided.
The OOF grant application period changes each calendar year. To receive information about future OOF grants, sign up for the U.S. Paralympics e-newsletter or send an email to vacoadaptiveSP@va.gov.
The next available grant funding cycle will begin in April 2012.
To read the 2012 Olympic Opportunity Fund Guide click here.
To learn more about the 2012 Olympic Opportunity Fund visit their website .