OAN Staff Addie Davis
12:07 PM – Friday, March 20, 2026
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reportedly opened applications for $112 million in grants aimed at supporting community-based organizations that provide critical suicide prevention services to Veterans.
In a Wednesday press release, the VA stated that the funds will be available through the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, and eligible grantees have until June 12, 2026, to apply.
The announcement exemplifies a major expansion of the VA’s community-based mental health strategy. In short, the VA is offering $112 million to local organizations since they recognize that many Veterans at risk of suicide are not currently using VA healthcare services.
By funding local groups, the VA can “cast a wider net” to reach Veterans in their own neighborhoods.
“These grants invest directly in communities that know Veterans best and are often the first to recognize when someone is struggling,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “They have been successful in connecting Veterans, service members, and their families, especially those not yet engaged with VA, to services that help reduce suicide risk and promote well-being.”
Funding is available to nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, federally recognized tribes and other community-based organizations that have a demonstrated capacity to serve Veterans, according to the VA.
Since its 2022 inception, the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program has awarded $210 million to 111 organizations across 46 states, U.S. territories, and tribal lands.
In 2025 alone, these grants provided a lifeline to more than 17,000 Veterans, service members, and their families. This community-led approach is critical, as VA data shows that a majority of Veterans who die by suicide have not accessed Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care in the two years prior to their deaths.
The program’s impact is evident: over 90% of participants report significant improvements in mental health, financial stability, and social support — vital metrics in reversing the tragic trend of more than 6,000 Veteran suicides annually since 2001.
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