The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has announced that the 2022-23 Veterans' Trust Fund (VTF) is accepting grant applications for programs and services benefiting Pennsylvania veterans. The DMVA will award VTF grants to nonprofit organizations, veteran service organizations, and county directors of veterans affairs across the state. Grant applications must be received no later than 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19.

Grant funding is available for new, innovative or expanded programs or services operated by the county directors of veterans affairs or the Pennsylvania Association of County Directors of Veterans Affairs. The areas of emphasis for applicants in this category are veterans outreach, transportation services, and homelessness.

Grant funding is also available to veteran service organizations with 501(c)(19) status and nonprofit organizations that have a mission of serving Pennsylvania veterans and have been granted 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code. Funding priorities for applicants in this category are transportation services, behavioral health initiatives, homelessness, and employment and education.

Since the grant program began in 2013, 254 grants totaling $6,591,860 have been awarded to organizations providing services to veterans in Pennsylvania.

The VTF is funded by Pennsylvanians who voluntarily donate when applying for or renewing driver's licenses, photo IDs, or motor vehicle registrations; purchase Honoring Our Veterans standard and motorcycle license plates; purchase Honoring our Women Veterans standard license plates; or make private donations.

The DMVA is authorized to solicit and accept donations to the VTF on behalf of the commonwealth. Tax-deductible donations can be made at http://www.donate.dmva.pa.gov; information about donating by mail is also available on this website.

To learn more about the VTF and the grant application process, visit https://tinyurl.com/padmva-vtf or http://www.facebook.com/padmva.