Opportunity Information: Apply for VP 20 003
The Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program (WWSDP) FY2020 is a competitive grant opportunity run by the Department of Defense through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), under the Defense Health Program. The purpose of the program is to strengthen support for service members and veterans with disabilities by funding qualified nonprofit organizations that already train and place service dogs. A core emphasis of the FY2020 funding announcement is broad impact across different regions and diverse populations, while also pushing the service dog field forward through continued learning, innovative training approaches, and higher industry standards.
This funding opportunity traces back to Congressional appropriations that began in FY2015, when $1,000,000 was set aside to create the program. Funding increased in later years, with USU receiving $5,000,000 in FY2016 and FY2017 and $10,000,000 in FY2018 and FY2019 to carry out awards. For FY2020, USU planned to distribute about $10,000,000 total through multiple grants with 12-month periods of performance, expected to run from roughly April 2020 through April 2021, assuming funds were available. While the announcement lists an expected 25 awards, it also makes clear that both the number of awards and award sizes depend on application quality and available funding. Historically, awards have averaged around $251,500, but have ranged widely from about $45,000 up to $1,536,000, reflecting differences in scope and capacity among applicants.
Eligibility is tightly defined. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding institutions of higher education in this listing) that were established specifically to train and provide service dogs. The program does not accept pass-through entities, meaning organizations cannot apply simply to regrant the funds to other groups; the applicant must be the direct operator delivering the service dog training and placement work. The funding is also not meant to bankroll brand-new programs or start-up initiatives. Instead, it is intended to sustain and strengthen existing operations and established programming that already connects trained service dogs with service members and veterans who have disabilities.
The announcement uses a standard, broad definition of a service dog: a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, which can include physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. It also sets an expectation for quality and readiness by requiring that service dogs be evaluated through a recognized Public Access Test, such as the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Public Access Certification Test (PACT). Applicants are expected to present a comprehensive operational plan describing how their program trains, evaluates, and provides assistance dogs to service members and/or veterans with disabilities, and they must meet all stated eligibility requirements by the application deadline or they will be ruled out for award.
Administratively, this opportunity is a discretionary grant (Funding Opportunity Number VP 20 003; CFDA 12.750) issued by USUHS Medical Research Projects. The opportunity was posted November 8, 2019, with an original closing date of January 8, 2020. Prior recipients of WWSDP funding were allowed to apply again and compete in FY2020, but the program would not accept applications framed as renewals or supplement requests for existing awards; every submission needed to compete on its own merits as a new competitive application within the FY2020 cycle.Apply for VP 20 003
- The Department of Defense, USUHS Medical Research Projects in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program (WWSDP) FY2020" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.750.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 08, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 08, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program (WWSDP) FY2020 - FAQs
What is the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program (WWSDP) FY2020?
The Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program (WWSDP) FY2020 is a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity run by the Department of Defense through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), under the Defense Health Program. It provides funding to qualified nonprofit organizations that already train and place service dogs for service members and veterans with disabilities.
Who runs this grant program?
The opportunity is issued by USUHS Medical Research Projects under the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Defense Health Program.
What is the purpose of the program?
The purpose is to strengthen support for service members and veterans with disabilities by funding established nonprofit organizations that train and place service dogs. The FY2020 emphasis includes achieving broad impact across regions and diverse populations, while advancing the service dog field through learning, innovation, and higher industry standards.
Is this a competitive or non-competitive grant?
This is a competitive grant opportunity. Applications compete against each other, and awards depend on application quality and available funding.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
Funding Opportunity Number: VP 20 003. CFDA: 12.750.
How much total funding was planned for FY2020?
For FY2020, USU planned to distribute about $10,000,000 total through multiple grants, assuming funds were available.
How many awards were expected?
The announcement lists an expected 25 awards, but it also states that the final number of awards depends on application quality and available funding.
How large are individual awards typically?
Historically, awards have averaged around $251,500. However, award sizes have varied widely, ranging from about $45,000 up to $1,536,000, reflecting differences in scope and applicant capacity.
What is the period of performance for FY2020 awards?
The awards were planned as 12-month periods of performance, expected to run from roughly April 2020 through April 2021, assuming funds were available.
When was the funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on November 8, 2019. The original closing date was January 8, 2020.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (excluding institutions of higher education in this listing) that were established specifically to train and provide service dogs.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Not in this listing. Eligibility is described as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, excluding institutions of higher education.
Can a fiscal sponsor or pass-through entity apply on behalf of other organizations?
No. The program does not accept pass-through entities. The applicant must be the direct operator that delivers the service dog training and placement work, not an organization applying to regrant funds to others.
Does the program fund brand-new or start-up service dog programs?
No. The funding is not intended to bankroll brand-new programs or start-up initiatives. It is intended to sustain and strengthen existing operations and established programming that already connects trained service dogs with service members and veterans who have disabilities.
What population(s) must be served with the funded activities?
The program is aimed at strengthening support for service members and veterans with disabilities by funding organizations that train and place service dogs for those groups.
What types of disabilities are included under the program's service dog definition?
The announcement uses a broad definition of a service dog: a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Disabilities referenced include physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities.
Does the grant require specific service dog evaluation or certification?
Yes. The announcement expects service dogs to be evaluated through a recognized Public Access Test, such as the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) Public Access Certification Test (PACT).
What kinds of program information do applicants need to describe?
Applicants are expected to present a comprehensive operational plan describing how their program trains, evaluates, and provides assistance dogs to service members and/or veterans with disabilities.
What happens if an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements by the deadline?
The announcement indicates that applicants must meet all stated eligibility requirements by the application deadline or they will be ruled out for award.
Can prior WWSDP recipients apply again in FY2020?
Yes. Prior recipients of WWSDP funding were allowed to apply again and compete in FY2020.
Are renewal or supplement applications accepted for existing awards?
No. The program would not accept applications framed as renewals or supplement requests for existing awards. Each submission had to compete on its own merits as a new competitive application within the FY2020 cycle.
What are the key priorities emphasized in the FY2020 announcement?
A core emphasis includes broad impact across different regions and diverse populations, as well as advancing the service dog field through continued learning, innovative training approaches, and higher industry standards.
What is the grant type?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant.
Which federal program area is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is run through the Defense Health Program under the Department of Defense, with USUHS Medical Research Projects issuing the funding opportunity.
How is award size and number ultimately determined?
The announcement notes that both the number of awards and award sizes depend on the quality of applications received and on available funding.
When did WWSDP funding begin and how has it changed over time?
The opportunity traces back to Congressional appropriations that began in FY2015 with $1,000,000 set aside to create the program. Funding increased to $5,000,000 in FY2016 and FY2017, then to $10,000,000 in FY2018 and FY2019. For FY2020, USU planned to distribute about $10,000,000 total.
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