What we fund
A grant from the Valor Forge Foundation closes one of four specific gaps. We are a private foundation — not a government program. Veterans can apply directly, and schools, programs, and instructors can point a veteran student our way. Every grant is paid directly to the vendor supplying the goods or the service — never to a school or program, and never disbursed as cash to the student.
For trade-specific tools and equipment. We handle procurement ourselves and pay the supplier directly — Snap-On, Mac, Klein, Lincoln, Miller, Hilti, DeWalt, Trimble — whatever the trade requires.
Welder's kit
Hood, leathers, gauntlets, MIG/TIG starter rig.
Diesel tech box
Snap-On or Mac roll-around with tier-one wrench set.
Electrician's bag
Klein bag, journeyman tester, fish tape, hand tools.
Surveyor's instrument
Total station, prism pole, GPS rover starter.
HVAC field kit
Manifold gauges, recovery, vacuum pump, Fieldpiece.
Carpenter's chest
Festool or DeWalt cordless platform, framing kit.
Roofer's harness
Full fall arrest, anchor kit, nail gun, knee pads.
Marine canvas tools
Industrial machine head, edge tools, hot-knife rig.
Testing fees, certification dues, license applications, bonding, renewals. The line items that government programs quietly exclude and that always seem to come due the week before payday.
CDL Class A & B
Permit, road test, endorsements (HazMat, Tanker, Doubles).
OSHA 10 & 30
Construction or general industry, including study guides.
NCCER credentials
All four levels of any craft, plus assessor fees.
ASE certifications
A1–A9, plus L1, L2, T-series, and re-certs.
EPA 608 Universal
Refrigerant handler certification with prep materials.
NABCEP solar
PV Associate or PV Installation Professional.
Journeyman license
State exam fees for electrical, plumbing, HVAC.
Contractor bonding
Initial surety bond fees for general or specialty.
When the training covers A through Y but the job requires Z. The supplemental course, the missing module, the prerequisite the apprenticeship assumes you already had. We pay the course provider directly and you enroll.
Trade math refresher
Algebra-to-trig accelerator before journeyman testing.
Code update courses
Latest NEC, IRC, IBC modules between certifications.
Blueprint reading
Plan-set comprehension for trades transitioning to GC.
Spanish-on-jobsite
Conversational tradesman Spanish for foremen.
CAD & BIM modules
Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Revit fundamentals.
Estimating & bid
For tradesmen launching their own LLC.
Specialty welding
6G, pipefitting, structural to add to AWS portfolio.
EVSE & high-voltage
EV charger install certs added to electrical license.
When a veteran has been accepted into an in-person training program but can't afford to get there. We book the travel and pay the providers ourselves — the airline, the hotel, the ground transport company. No cash is ever given to the student, and no funds pass through the school.
Lodging
Booked by us, typically near the training location. Paid directly to the hotel on your reservation.
Airfare
Booked and paid directly with the airline. The ticket is issued in your name.
Rental car & fuel
For students driving in from out of state. Billed directly to us by the rental agency and fuel vendor.
Ground transport
Connecting transportation between airports and training sites, arranged and paid with the carrier directly.
Every grant is contingent on the student completing the full training program. No repayment is required as long as the student finishes. If a student fails 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.
We're investing in outcomes. We want every veteran we fund to cross the finish line, and this policy exists to make sure the commitment runs both ways.
Trades we serve
If your trade isn't on this list, that's not a no — it's a not-yet. Submit a grant inquiry and we'll review whether it fits inside one of our four funding categories.
How it works
Complete the online application — or ask your school, program, or instructor to refer you to us.
Two veteran underwriters read your file independently. We may call you. We will never sell your data.
Within 14 days. Award letter or denial letter — either way, you'll know.
Funds wired or check cut directly to the vendor — tool supplier, testing body, course provider, airline, hotel. You sign nothing.
Finish the program and owe nothing. We'll check in when you're done. No repayment as long as you cross the finish line.
If you're ready
Tell us about your situation — whether you're a veteran or a program that trains them. We'll take it from there.
Get Started →