Five Grants in Honor of Military Family Appreciation Month

There is no denying that serving in the military is difficult and demanding. However, being a family member of someone serving in the military can come with its own unique challenges as well.

According to the Department of Defense, about 50 percent of all military personnel are married, while 39 percent have children. For this reason, it is imperative that these families get the resources they need. November is also Military Family Appreciation Month. So, in honor of the month, GrantWatch is sharing five grants below specifically for family members of active military employees.

Not knowing if they will see their loved ones again can take a lot out of these families. Because of this, many family members of active military personnel struggle with their mental health. The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) notes that outpatient mental health visits provided to children of active duty parents doubled from one million to two million between 2003 and 2008. The center also states that children of military families ages 11 to 17 were found to have a higher prevalence of emotional and behavioral difficulties than children in the general population.

In addition, many military families face financial difficulties due to injuries and fatalities caused during service. The NCCP notes that at least 19,000 children have had a parent wounded in action. These grants below can help by providing funding for education and other general finances for these military families.

Helping Military Families with Grants

1. Awards of $10,000 to U.S. young military dependents, ages 13 to 18, to recognize their exceptional ability to succeed despite the challenges of military family life. One award will got to a young nominee who has devised an original and bold solution to address a local, regional, or global challenge.
2. Grants to U.S. veteran and military families in multiple states for financial assistance to purchase a new home.
3. Grants of up to $500 to U.S. students and family members in eligible branches of the military for expenses related to acquiring a GED, higher education, or vocational training. Applicants must be in the U.S. Coast Guard or in a Coast Guard family.
4. In-kind donations of housing assistance to U.S. families of fallen US military service members. Applicants must have demonstrated financial need. Families must have at least one child aged 14 or younger.
5. Grants of up to $300 to U.S. families of active overseas military personnel and severely injured service members or veterans to support their children’s participation in recreational programs and camps. Funding is for activities such as sports, fine arts, camps, tutoring, drivers education, high school band trips, and STEM programs. Eligible children are those that are at least five years old through high school graduation.