Answers, plainly stated.

Any veteran of the United States Armed Forces. We accept all branches — Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force — and all eras of service. Active Guard and Reserve members are also eligible.

No. We serve veterans from every era and every branch. There is no minimum length of service requirement.

No. We are headquartered in Texas — but we have funded veterans in all 50 states. Our underwriting committee reviews applications from coast to coast, and our vendor network reaches every state. Texas residence is neither required nor weighted in any decision.

Yes — and in fact, that's often the most common scenario. Veterans and programs typically discover the gap mid-training: a tool requirement, a testing fee, a missing module. We're designed to step in exactly at that point. Bring an enrollment letter from your program along with a quote for the specific item you need funded.

Grant amounts vary based on the type of support needed. We fund across four categories: tools and equipment, testing and credentials, curriculum gaps, and travel to attend in-person training. All funds are paid directly to the approved vendor supplying the goods or the service — never to a school or program, and never as cash to the student. Grants are contingent on completing the training program.

The approved vendor supplying what was funded — never the veteran, and never the school or the training program. Payment goes directly to whoever provides the goods or the service: the tool supplier, the testing or credentialing body, the provider delivering a supplemental course, or, in the case of travel, the airline, the hotel, or the ground transportation provider.

We do not issue cash, checks, gift cards, or transfers to students under any circumstances, and we cannot reimburse a veteran for something they paid for out of pocket. We also do not route grant funds through a school or program for them to spend on a student’s behalf. Every dollar goes straight to a vendor. You sign nothing, and you never handle the funds.

No money comes to you. Travel to in-person training is funded the same way as everything else: paid directly to the vendor. We book and pay the airline, the hotel, and the ground transportation provider ourselves, against their invoices. Nothing is routed through your school or program.

Because we cannot reimburse a student, do not book travel out of pocket expecting to be paid back. Talk to us before anything is booked and we will arrange payment with the travel vendors directly. Driving in from out of state works the same way: a rental car and fuel can be billed to us by the rental agency and the fuel vendor, approved in advance, but we never pay a mileage check to a student.

No — the Valor Forge Foundation is a private foundation. We are not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the GI Bill, or any federal or state benefits program. Because our funding is entirely private, it does not conflict with or affect any government benefits you may be receiving. You can use a Valor Forge grant alongside Chapter 33, VR&E, state programs, or any other benefits. They are completely separate streams.

We do not fund tuition for four-year academic programs, graduate degrees, real estate or stock licenses, MBAs, coding bootcamps over $8,000, cosmetic procedures, vehicles (other than required transportation accommodations on a case-by-case basis), or any line item outside our four funding categories.

We also do not pay rent, household bills, child care, or living expenses. We exist to fund the credential, the tools, and the testing — not the life around them.

No. All funds are paid directly to the vendor — never to the veteran. The student does not receive cash and does not recognize taxable income. We never issue a 1099 to a recipient.

We onboard new vendors regularly — tool and equipment suppliers, testing and credentialing bodies, course providers, and travel providers. We require that a vendor hold the proper licensing, accreditation, or authorization to operate in their state, whether that's through a state licensing board, an accrediting body, or an industry-recognized credentialing organization. Reach out through the contact page and we'll walk through the details.

Start by filling out the inquiry form on our contact page — it takes just a few minutes. Tell us who you are, what trade or program you're involved in, and what kind of funding gap you're facing. Someone from our team will follow up within a few business days to discuss eligibility, what we can fund, and what documentation we'll need to move forward.

Within fourteen calendar days. We commit to that window because most application deadlines — apprenticeship start dates, testing windows, semester enrollment — operate on a similar clock. If we need additional information, we'll call or email within 72 hours of receipt.

Potentially, yes. Each situation is reviewed individually. If you've completed a funded program and are pursuing additional credentials or a different trade, reach out and we'll talk through it.

No. We do not make grants to schools, apprenticeship programs, or vocational training centers, and we do not send funds to a program to spend on a student's behalf. Every grant we approve is paid directly to the vendor supplying what the student needs — the tool supplier, the testing body, the course provider, the airline, the hotel.

What we do welcome is the referral. If you run a program that trains veterans and your students are coming up short on testing fees, tools, or a curriculum gap, tell us who they are and what's missing. We'll work the request with the student and pay the vendor. Reach out through our contact page.

You'll receive a written explanation. The most common reasons for denial are: requested funds outside our four-category scope, vendor not yet onboarded (which we can usually fix together), or budget exhausted in the current grant cycle. You may re-apply, and we will help you reshape the request if it can be made to fit.

Every grant is contingent on completing the full training program. No repayment is required as long as you finish. If you fail to complete the program for any reason — including withdrawal, dismissal, or failure to attend — the full amount of grant funds disbursed must be repaid within thirty days of separation. This applies to all four categories of funding.

Never without your explicit, written consent. By default, we publish only your trade and your state — for example, "Veteran welder, Virginia." If you'd like to share your story to help inspire other veterans, we welcome it; we'll provide a signed release form.

The Valor Forge Foundation is a private foundation. Donations are not tax-deductible. If you have questions about how a contribution may affect your tax situation, please consult your tax advisor.

You can earmark by trade category — welders, diesel mechanics, electricians, etc. We do not allow earmarking for specific individuals, as this would compromise our underwriting independence. Trade-category sponsorship is welcome and tracked.

Reach out via the contact page with your licensing or accreditation details and a summary of your trade specialty. We require that every approved vendor hold proper authorization to operate — whether through state licensing, an accrediting body, or an industry-recognized credentialing organization.