If you’re a veteran and money is tight, the Purple Heart Foundation might be able to help. And here’s the part a lot of people miss: you don’t have to be a Purple Heart recipient to qualify for most of it.
The Foundation runs four programs. One covers overdue bills. One covers school costs. One connects veterans with pets. And one helps the nonprofits that serve veterans directly.
Here’s everything you need to know about each.
Purple Heart Foundation Programs
Tap on the program you’re interested in learning more about to reveal more details.
This is the Foundation’s main program, and it’s worth knowing about even if you can’t apply today.
What it covers: Up to $3,000 toward past-due bills. That includes rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, or emergency car repairs. The money goes straight to your creditor, not to you, so it can’t be used to pay yourself back for something you already covered.
Who qualifies: You’re eligible if either of these is true:
- You’re an honorably discharged veteran and can provide your DD214 when asked.
- You’re the widow or widower of an honorably discharged veteran, and you can provide their DD214 along with your marriage and death certificates.
You don’t need to be a Purple Heart recipient. That’s the part worth sharing with any veteran in your life who assumes this foundation isn’t for them.
The fine print that trips people up:
- Bills have to actually be past due, not just coming due. Minor car repairs are the one exception.
- You’ll need real statements showing your name, address, account number, and balance. Screenshots aren’t accepted.
- Car repairs need a written estimate from a licensed garage, plus proof of current registration and insurance.
- This is a one-time, lifetime grant. If you’ve received it before, you can’t apply again.
- Payments are made by check through the mail, not online, so there’s no fast electronic option.
- The Foundation communicates only by email, including for follow-up requests. Check your spam folder regularly after you apply, since a missed email can close your file after 14 days.
When you can apply: Applications open and close quarterly. Grants are first-come, first-served once the window opens, so having your documents ready ahead of time helps. If you need assistance when it’s closed, take a look at our roundup of hardship grants for low income families for other options in the meantime.
The GI Bill covers a lot, but not everything. This scholarship helps fill the gaps.
What it covers: Tuition, room and board, books, fees, and other direct school costs. Funds are paid straight to the school, whether that’s a four-year university, community college, or a vocational program leading to a certification.
Who qualifies: Purple Heart recipients and their direct descendants, which includes spouses, children, and grandchildren. Great-grandchildren aren’t currently eligible.
When you can apply: Applications for the 2027–2028 school year open on Monday, February 1, 2027. If you know a Purple Heart family with a student heading to school soon, this is worth bookmarking now so you don’t miss the window.
Sometimes the most helpful support isn’t financial. Battle Buddies pairs veterans with companion animals through a partnership with Sponsor-A-Pet.
What it covers: Qualified veterans can be matched with a companion animal at no cost.
Who qualifies: The program is still in its pilot phase, so location matters here. It’s currently only available in Tampa, Santa Fe, and three locations in California. If you’re outside those areas, it’s worth checking back as the program expands to new cities.
Good to know: This program is newer than the others, and the Foundation is actively raising funds to grow it into more communities. If it’s not in your area yet, that could change.
This one isn’t for individual veterans. It’s for the nonprofits and organizations that serve them.
What it covers: Grants to 501(c)(3) organizations working on veteran causes, with a focus on traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, suicide prevention, and other mental health challenges tied to combat. Other initiatives that support the Foundation’s broader mission may also qualify.
Who qualifies: Only organizations with 501(c)(3) status can apply. This isn’t a grant individual veterans or families can request directly.
How to apply: Organizations can download the grant application from the Purple Heart Foundation’s site and direct questions to the Foundation’s grants team through the contact information listed there.
If you run or volunteer with a veteran-focused nonprofit, this is worth passing along to your board or grants team.
These programs are obviously very helpful to veterans.
Relief Recap
The Purple Heart Foundation is proof that help for veterans doesn’t always require a combat medal to qualify. If the grant application window has you waiting until October, don’t wait around empty-handed. Take a look at our veterans assistance resources for more programs that might be able to help right now.
