Opportunity Overview
Open now. The Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families (DVMF) has released the FY2027 Maryland Veterans Service Animal Grant Program. The program funds qualified service/support animal and equine-assisted therapy organizations serving Maryland veterans and eligible family members, with an overriding focus on improving mental health and overall well-being and reducing veteran suicide risk.
Funding and Deadline
DVMF anticipates $211,930 in FY27 program funding, subject to state budget revisions. Applications are due October 2, 2026 by 3:00 PM. The NOFA does not state a timezone, so Atlas does not invent one. Award notices are scheduled for November 6, 2026, and the anticipated one-year performance period is January 1 through December 31, 2027.
Mandatory September 10 Application Gate
Attendance at DVMF’s Technical Assistance Conference call is required to be considered for funding. The required FY27 Technical Assistance call ended September 10, 2026 at 11:30 AM; DVMF says no advance sign-up is required. DVMF publishes direct access as +1 978-633-5617, PIN 817 503 299#, or Google Meet code cgd-wfab-pvz. Applicants should have the NOFA and budget template open during the call and use the session to resolve the conflicting individual-request ceiling before locking their budget. Organizations that miss this required session should not assume they remain eligible.
Who May Apply
Applicants must be Maryland-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organizations. A canine organization must be certified/accredited through Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and train service or support dogs for eligible veterans and their eligible family members. An equine applicant must be a Maryland-licensed stable that is either a PATH International Member Center or has EAGALA-certified professionals providing services to veterans and eligible family members. Each organization may submit only one application.
For this NOFA, eligible family members are the veteran’s spouse and dependents. Applicants must use a data-driven, evidence-based approach, explain how funds will address veteran mental health and well-being, and describe outcome measurement and follow-up.
Program Priorities
Applications should address at least one published priority: expand service/support animal or equine-therapy access in underserved geographic areas; provide in-person military cultural competency, suicide-prevention and veteran mental-health training; involve veteran suicide-prevention and mental-health subject-matter experts in program planning; or increase staff certification capacity for service-animal training or equine-assisted therapy.
Allowable Uses
The NOFA allows direct-service and outreach staff salary/fringe, PATH or EAGALA certification and other staff development, software licenses directly related to program delivery, training equipment and supplies, qualifying travel, equine training, canine/equine equipment, and animal-care supplies and services. Examples include projectors, pop-up displays, saddles, bridles, driving carts, canine crates, large arena fans, feed, farrier services, grooming supplies, kennel costs and veterinary services. Rent, utilities, food/beverage, fundraising, lobbying, research, audit and consulting costs are listed as unallowable. No match is required.
Application Readiness
DVMF requires two current Letters of Support and expects applicants to document local need, objectives, measurable outputs and outcomes, program partnerships and a justified budget. Prospective grantees must also be in good standing with the State of Maryland. Applications are submitted through the DVMF Service Animal Grant Program online form with the required budget template.
How DVMF Will Evaluate Applications
DVMF’s merit review places particular emphasis on the Statement of Need/Purpose of Request, Outcome Evaluation, and Budget Narrative. Applicants should also make objectives, anticipated participant metrics, and the evaluation tool/questionnaire concrete; a timeline is required when proposing a new program. Two current, signed Letters of Support dated within the past year should clearly describe the supporting organizations’ relationship to the applicant.
Cash-flow planning: DVMF states that the initial payment will equal half of the total award, with the remaining balance paid after submission of the Interim Grant Report due July 16, 2027. Award recipients must also attend required post-award Technical Assistance calls tied to interim and final reporting.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 88/100. This is a small but highly actionable statewide behavioral-health and suicide-prevention opportunity with a clear eligible-applicant niche, a mandatory near-term application gate and a one-year implementation period. The internal award-cap conflict is material and lowers readiness until DVMF clarifies it.
N9+ Direct Vendor Fit: 0/100. Although the NOFA allows certain program equipment, its verified equipment examples are service-animal, equine and training-program items rather than connected clinical examination technology. QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. The program does not establish a physician-coverage pathway.
Next Action
Qualified Maryland nonprofits that attended the mandatory September 10, 2026 Technical Assistance call should now verify ADI or PATH/EAGALA eligibility, gather two current Letters of Support, and apply any DVMF clarification on the NOFA’s conflicting $21,190 versus $12,000 request ceilings before locking the budget. Organizations that missed the required call should not assume they remain eligible unless DVMF formally announces an exception or reopening. Then complete the online application and required budget submission well before October 2, 2026 at 3:00 PM.
Official source: Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families — Service Animal Program.