Publication date: 06.06.2024
A grant for veterans: a chance for a new life
Upon returning from a combat zone, many veterans often lack the financial stability and prospects for successful reintegration into civilian life. Special grant programs come to the rescue, the purpose of which is to support ATO/JFO participants in running their own business or getting an education. Grants for veterans open the way to self-realization and a decent life.
A good place to start is by identifying potential grantmakers who fund programs for veterans. Today, such grants are provided both by government agencies and local authorities, as well as by a number of international organizations and foundations. The initiatives of UNDP, EU, NATO, World Bank, and International Organization for Migration are popular.
Since the list of grant programs is quite wide, it is important to decide on the area of future business or educational direction. This will allow you to specifically search for suitable offers. For example, they provide separate grants for opening agricultural enterprises, industries, startups in the IT field, etc. There are specialized programs for retraining veterans and new professions.
After selecting several potential grants, the stage of preparing an application in accordance with their requirements begins. A typical package of documents will include a motivation letter, a detailed business plan or educational program, resume of participants, letters of recommendation, financial documents, etc.
Particular attention should be paid to the business plan of the future project. It should be as detailed and convincing as possible, contain financial calculations, a marketing strategy, and a production plan. The grant committee’s assessment of the prospects of your idea depends on the quality of this document.
Successful examples of receiving grants for veterans include farm projects for growing raspberries and potatoes, the opening of tutoring centers, IT training courses, and craft workshops. Increasingly, veterans are finding funding to start their own businesses in the field of green technologies and renewable energy.
To attract the best veterans, grants supporting young entrepreneurs or women veterans are in particular demand. Some programs provide additional training in business management or acquisition of new necessary skills.
The opportunity to receive a grant is not limited to combatants. There are projects to support business initiatives of family members of ATO/JFO military personnel, including those whose relatives died or became disabled as a result of participating in the anti-terrorist operation.
Although Ukrainian government and local grant programs provide sufficient funding, international grants are particularly attractive to veterans. In addition to more significant amounts of funding, they provide access to the world's best business practices, provide prestigious expert support and promote international partnerships.
However, competition for international grants is traditionally higher. The commissions put forward more stringent requirements for applicants: a high level of English language proficiency, professional diplomas and certificates, an experienced project team and a detailed business plan with a clearly defined innovative component. Potential grantees' network connections are often additionally assessed.
Regardless of the size of the program, every veteran seeking to rebuild a decent life through education or entrepreneurship has a chance to receive a grant. The main thing is to carefully prepare a high-quality package of documents and defend the idea of your project before the commission.
Experts advise sequentially following the following steps:
1. Decide on the purpose of the grant – starting a business or getting an education.
2. Select several potential programs and carefully study their requirements.
3. Develop a detailed business plan or educational program with a reasonable budget.
4. Prepare a complete package of high-quality accompanying documents.
5. Apply to several different programs at the same time.
6. Prepare thoroughly for possible interviews or public presentations.
If you didn’t manage to attract a grant the first time, don’t despair. Experienced grant writers advise collecting as much feedback as possible from the commission, correcting all errors and trying again. Often a successful application comes only on the third or fourth attempt.
Today, grant programs are an important mechanism for supporting the veteran movement, social adaptation of former military personnel and the formation of the middle class in the country. Grants help combatants not only gain financial independence, but also unlock their potential, realize their potential and benefit society in civilian life.
