Financial help for veterans: 18 sources and programs
Transitioning out of military service can be a major adjustment. For many veterans, the move to civilian life comes with financial challenges. Whether you’re currently on active duty or have been out of the military for years, a variety of resources are available to help. We’ve rounded up veteran organizations, nonprofits, and financial assistance programs that may help ease financial burdens and support your path to greater financial stability.
Emergency financial assistance for disabled veterans
There are countless federal, state, and nonprofit programs that provide grants for disabled veterans, particularly those struggling to pay for medical bills, home repairs, and housing assistance. The organizations listed below offer veterans benefits through grants and stipends that can be used to cover medical treatments, housing needs, and day-to-day living expenses. Visit the links to see which providers are best suited to your needs.
1. Operation Family Fund
This private nonprofit gives short-term and long-term emergency assistance to disabled veterans who were injured while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. All funds raised are used to assist veterans, caregivers, and family members of personnel who were left severely disabled as a result of this operation, and can be used to cover everything from medical bills to essential living expenses.
2. Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes
Founded in 2004, this nonprofit provides financial assistance for veterans disabled in the line of duty during Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. They have provided millions of dollars’ worth of emergency financial aid, helping those injured or disabled to pay for utility bills, rent, mortgage payments, and other living expenses such as food and transportation.
3. The American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA)
The American Legion’s TFA program supports the minor children of veterans who are American Legion members or active duty service members. They provide cash grants to assist with expenses like food, shelter, utilities, and health costs, enabling dependent children to have the stability they need during difficult times.
4. VA Disability Compensation
VA Disability Compensation provides tax-free monthly payments to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Benefits are based on a disability rating ranging from 10% to 100%, with higher ratings generally resulting in larger monthly payments. The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of 2.8%, effective December 2025, raised benefit amounts this year, making this an important source of financial help for disabled veterans.
Financial aid for veterans wounded in active duty
For veterans who have sustained injuries during active service, the following grants and assistance programs offer healing and life-changing support services.
5. The National Association of American Veterans, Inc. (NAAV)
The Military Family Program offers housing assistance, counseling, job training, respite care, and other services for families taking care of severely wounded veterans. They aim to make reintegration into the local community as smooth as possible.
6. USA Cares
The Military Assistance Response program from USA Cares offers financial support to veterans and loved ones experiencing hardship resulting from military service. Applications are verified thoroughly to determine if eligibility requirements are met, and all funds are allocated on a case-by-case basis.
7. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
The VFW’s Unmet Needs program offers grants of up to $2,500 to help cover basic living expenses. The funds are awarded as grants, not loans, offering direct help without repayment obligations. Read through the Unmet Needs eligibility criteria today to see if you and your family qualify.
8. Operation First Response
Operation First Response helps wounded veterans cover basic needs such as groceries, clothing, and housing while they work through the Department of Veterans Affairs claims process.
9. Semper Fi & America’s Fund
Semper Fi & America’s Fund provides financial assistance tailored to the needs of wounded, ill, and injured service members, helping with transportation, home repairs, bedside support, and caregiver retreats.
10. VA Pension
VA Pension provides needs-based monthly payments to wartime veterans with limited income and net worth who meet age or disability requirements. The program helps eligible veterans supplement their income and cover essential living expenses. Veterans who need assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or eating may also qualify for the Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides an additional monthly payment.
11. Post-9/11 GI Bill
The Post-9/11 GI Bill helps eligible veterans pay for college, graduate school, vocational training, and other approved education programs after military service. Benefits can cover full in-state tuition and fees at public schools, provide a monthly housing allowance, and include up to $1,000 per year for books and supplies. The program can make higher education and career training more affordable for veterans transitioning to civilian life.
Veteran financial assistance programs for women veterans
Women veterans now constitute roughly 11% of the veteran population. That number is projected to climb to 18% by 2046, according to a report from the Women Veterans Alliance. Though the programs above serve both men and women, the following programs are designed to help women veterans and those who are active service members:
12. Combat Female Veterans Families United (CFVF United)
The goal of this nonprofit is to support women veterans as if they were old friends, operating with a three-pillared approach of transition, education, and advocacy initiatives. From housing and employment assistance to mentorship programs and political advocacy, CFVF United provides support tailored to every stage of the vet reintegration process.
13. Dixon Center
The Dixon Center offers one-time grants through its Women Veteran Emergency Financial Assistance program to help women veterans and their families meet basic needs during financial emergencies. Funding may be used for expenses such as food, housing, utilities, baby supplies, and car repairs.
14. Center for Women Veterans (CWV)
An arm of the VA, the CWV helps female service members achieve equitable outcomes in access to veterans’ services and benefits. From home loans, employment services, and life insurance to a range of specialized health care programs, this government division is one of the leading voices in female veteran advocacy.
Organizations that help homeless veterans
Veterans make up a significant portion of the homeless population. For those facing housing instability, veteran housing assistance programs can provide critical support. One of the largest programs, HUD-VASH, combines rental housing vouchers with VA case management and supportive services to help veterans secure and maintain stable housing. These organizations offer hope and help:
15. Veterans Inc.
The goal of the Veterans Inc. Housing Program is to end chronic homelessness for veterans. The program helps veterans with referrals for local housing, employment training, and access to legal and medical services. An online housing application can be submitted on their website, but you can also talk to them directly if you have inquiries.
16. Adjoin for Veterans
Adjoin uses a housing-first approach, assigning dedicated coordinators to help veterans find housing and access education, vocational services, and healthcare resources.
17. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)
The HUD-VASH program offers rental vouchers and refers veterans for VA case management. Veterans can also call the VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans for immediate assistance.
Many VA benefits are also available to members of the National Guard and Reserve, whether you’re engaged in active duty or serving the traditional two weeks per year.
18. VA Home Loan Guarantee
The VA Home Loan Guarantee helps eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses purchase a home with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance (PMI) requirement. As a leading form of veteran housing assistance, the program offers competitive interest rates and a streamlined lending process that can make homeownership more affordable. For many veterans, it is one of the most valuable long-term housing benefits available through the VA.
How to fundraise for a veteran on GoFundMe
Government programs and nonprofit organizations can provide valuable support for veterans and their families. However, assistance may not always be available right away, and it may not cover every expense. When funding is delayed or falls short, crowdfunding can help veterans raise money for essential costs such as housing, healthcare, transportation, and caregiving.
Creating a fundraiser gives veterans, family members, and supporters another way to seek financial assistance while exploring other support options. Funds raised may be used for a variety of needs, including service dogs, counseling, addiction treatment, mental health services, and out-of-pocket medical expenses. Visit our fundraising FAQs to learn how to start and share a fundraiser.
Looking for a way to support veterans on Veterans Day? Friends, family members, and allies can create fundraisers on behalf of veterans to help cover important expenses and provide additional financial support.
Why choose GoFundMe for your veteran fundraiser
- GoFundMe does not require eligibility verifications.
- Donations are protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.
- Funds are processed quickly and sent directly to organizers.
- Sharing tools makes it easy to get help from friends, family, and the broader local community.
If you’d like to support a veteran in your life, you can start a fundraiser on their behalf to help cover essential expenses and provide meaningful financial support.
Veteran crowdfunding success stories
Help my elderly vet friend Donald!
Donald is a 91-year-old, disabled Air Force veteran who acts as a full-time carer for his wife, who was recently diagnosed with dementia. After his landlord raised their rent and put Donald further behind in paying his bills, the fear of displacement and losing his wife to a care home became overwhelming. Donald’s friend Jenelle Marie decided to appeal to the power of community and launched a GoFundMe page with an ambitious fundraising target of $450,000. After just a few short months of crowdfunding, and with the help of some lucky media attention, Donald’s veteran fundraiser spread far and wide, and their massive fundraising goal was surpassed.
Help U.S. Air Force Veteran DILLON MCCORMICK retire at 90!!!
On a blazingly hot Memorial Day in the parking lot of a Louisiana grocery store, one local woman spotted Dillion McCormick, a 90-year-old US Air Force veteran, pushing shopping carts back and forth. Social security payments were falling far short of what Dillon needed to live, forcing him to make ends meet by spending hours reorganizing carts. Shocked at what this veteran was being forced to endure, Karen Swensen, the bystander who spotted him, turned to GoFundMe. Within just six months, a life-changing $240,000 was raised, and Dillon now enjoys a far more comfortable standard of living.
Please help a Veteran through heart surgery
Extensive medical costs can be a major struggle for anyone, but for 52-year-old veteran Robert Treat, it was a matter of life and death. Facing double bypass surgery and lacking the family, friends, and funds to see him through the recovery process, Robert enlisted the help of strangers by starting a GoFundMe. After successfully hitting his fundraising target of $25,000, Robert has since been able to afford a move to Oklahoma, where he will be able to receive reliable, ongoing medical care.
Find veteran financial support today
GoFundMe makes it easy to ask for help when you need it most. If you’re a struggling veteran and don’t know where else to turn, we’re here to help you find financial relief and the hope that comes along with it.
Whether you’re a veteran in need or just looking to offer your support, crowdfunding allows you to raise funds and make a lasting difference. Check out our GoFundMe Heroes story on Making a House a Home for Veterans for more inspiration, and sign up to create your fundraiser today.
Financial help for veterans FAQs
Veterans may be eligible for financial assistance through VA benefit programs, including VA Disability Compensation, VA Pension, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and the VA Home Loan Guarantee. Additional support may be available through federal housing programs such as HUD-VASH, nonprofit grants from organizations like the VFW Unmet Needs program and Operation Family Fund, and community fundraising. Eligibility requirements vary based on factors such as service history, disability rating, and income. Visit va.gov to learn more about available benefits and determine your eligibility.
For immediate assistance, consider contacting a nonprofit that offers emergency grants. Organizations such as Operation Family Fund, Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, and the VFW Unmet Needs program may provide direct financial aid. Veterans in crisis can also contact the VA’s National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID-VET for support. Community fundraising is another option when government assistance is delayed or unavailable. Unlike many aid programs, fundraising platforms such as GoFundMe do not require applicants to meet specific eligibility criteria to start a fundraiser.
Yes. Family members, friends, and community supporters can create a GoFundMe fundraiser on behalf of a veteran to help cover expenses such as medical bills, housing, home repairs, or daily living costs. There are no eligibility requirements to start a fundraiser. Depending on how the fundraiser is set up, donations are sent to the designated organizer or beneficiary. Fundraisers can be shared through social media, email, and text to help reach potential supporters.