• Your organization must be defined as a Section 501(c) nonprofit of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
• Your program must improve the quality of life for active duty, reserve, or National Guard and/or veterans and their families.
• Any organizations proposing programs that will affect or take place on a Department of Defense installation will be asked to present documentation that their programs are approved for operation on a Department of Defense installation by the installation commander or the commander’s designee.
• Chairman's Award funding cannot be used to pay salaries or wages. Professional fees will be considered if an expert's specific skills are necessary to execute the program. Ex: mental health counselors, physical therapists, etc.

Further questions concerning eligibility should be directed to Shannon Spencer-Watson:
1-888-294-8560 or sspencer-watson@fisherhouse.org

Programs will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:

• program description
• relevance of problem
• originality/innovation
• anticipated benefits
• resources
• community/command/volunteer support

Winning organizations will be asked to prepare an interim 6-month report and a final 1-year report, evaluating their programs for the award sponsors and detailing how funding was expended in the form of a simple budget narrative. Organizations selected to receive awards must use the money received for the specified program.