VA Opens $111 Million in Suicide Prevention Grants for Communities
March 23, 2026 · 2 min read
Jared Klein
The Department of Veterans Affairs on March 18 published the Fiscal Year 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program, making $111 million available to community-based organizations working to reduce veteran suicide.
Applications open April 6, 2026, and close at 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 12, 2026.
What the Program Funds
The SSG Fox program, now in its third funding cycle, extends suicide prevention efforts beyond VA clinical settings into the communities where veterans live. Authorized by the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019, the program addresses both mental health services and social determinants of health.
Eligible activities include outreach and education, peer support services, clinical suicide prevention services, assistance with VA benefit applications, and connections to community resources including housing, employment, and legal services.
New applicants may request up to $750,000. Current grantees with strong performance records seeking renewal may apply for funding equal to or less than their existing award amount.
Eligibility and Application Details
Eligible applicants include state and local governments, federally recognized tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. The program specifically seeks organizations that can reach veterans in rural and underserved areas where VA facilities may be hours away.
The full NOFO is available on Grants.gov under opportunity number VA-SSG-FOX-FY27. Applicants should pay careful attention to the program's emphasis on evidence-based and evidence-informed practices, as the VA has increasingly weighted evaluation criteria toward interventions with demonstrated outcomes.
Why Grant Seekers Should Act Now
With a 67-day application window—shorter than many federal grant cycles—organizations interested in applying should begin preparing immediately. The VA's mental health grant portfolio has expanded significantly in recent years, and the SSG Fox program represents one of the largest dedicated funding streams for community-based veteran suicide prevention in the federal government.
Organizations new to VA grant programs should review the detailed eligibility criteria and required partnerships outlined in the NOFO. Grantedai.com offers additional coverage of veteran-serving grant opportunities.
For a full breakdown of the application requirements and strategic positioning advice, visit the Granted blog.