Veterans' Foundation

The Veterans' Foundation, established in 2016 as a UK-wide grant-maker, delivers vital financial support to charities and organisations aiding British armed forces veterans, serving personnel, operationally qualified seafarers, and their families facing challenges like homelessness, mental health, employment barriers, poverty, disability, and family welfare. Funded primarily by the Veterans' Lottery and public donations, it has awarded over £25 million to more than 540 charities since inception, embodying values of fairness, transparency, need-driven allocation, and strategic stewardship through a non-executive board with military and finance expertise. Its distinctive approach as a responsive secondary funder emphasises rapid cycles, innovation, preventative work, and leveraging frontline charities for maximum impact across acute crises and systemic change.

It prioritises frontline services in mental health, homelessness prevention, employment retraining, family support, emergency relief, rehabilitation, and poverty alleviation, funding projects, core costs, salaries (multi-year), capital, running costs, and direct delivery—exemplified by grantees like Walking With The Wounded, Combat Stress, and Help for Heroes. Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs, and not-for-profits of all sizes (preferring low- to medium-wealth with demonstrated impact), operating UK-wide with no regional limits; start-ups face enhanced scrutiny but unsolicited applications are welcomed.

Grants range from Small (£up to 5,000, rolling) and Standard/Salary (£5,001–£30,000/£75,000 max over 3 years) to Major (£100,000–£200,000, currently closed). Applications via online portal require eligibility checks, profiles, and documents, with one per quarter; quarterly trustee meetings decide, next deadline 8 October 2025 (8–12 week turnaround). Exclusions include direct individual aid, profit-making, unrestricted/endowment funding, or non-charitable costs, setting it apart as the UK's largest dedicated armed forces community funder.