The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), through its Veterans Experience Office (VEO), has launched the 2025 VA VetResources Community Network (VRCN) Catalyst Award. This initiative is designed to recognize and support non-profit organizations serving the Veteran community. Specifically, the award aims to identify innovative solutions that improve access to VA and non-VA services, focusing on reaching underserved Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. The VEO seeks to bridge gaps in Veteran services by partnering with community-serving organizations that can engage and assist those in need. The VRCN Catalyst Award highlights community-based solutions that provide sustainable and scalable outreach, helping to improve the customer experience for Veterans.

The award targets four priority groups: Transitioning Veterans, Rural Veterans, Minority Veterans, and the Veteran Gaming community. Organizations may be considered for more than one category, but only one award will be given per organization. The award is organized into two phases: Phase 1, which involves submitting a detailed application, and Phase 2, where top candidates present their proposals for funding. Phase 1 requires applicants to submit a 3-page description of their program or idea, demonstrating how they meet the award's objectives, such as improving outreach, customer experience, and access to services. This phase does not provide cash prizes, but it offers an invitation to the top 20 applicants to move to Phase 2.

In Phase 2, the top 20 applicants will present their ideas to a panel of judges. This phase includes webinars and office hours to help teams refine their presentations. The ten best submissions will each receive a $10,000 cash award to implement their proposed event(s) or activation(s) to reach underserved Veterans. The total prize pool for Phase 2 is $100,000. Awardees must demonstrate effective community engagement, coalition-building, and the use of innovative outreach strategies that are scalable and adaptable to local needs.

Applications for Phase 1 will open on January 20, 2025, and close on March 3, 2025, with a Q&A session scheduled for February 19, 2025. The top 20 finalists will be announced by March 17, 2025. Phase 2 presentations will take place in early April 2025, and winners will be announced on May 5, 2025. The award's purpose is not only to provide financial support but also to foster long-term collaborations that can enhance access to services for underserved Veterans.

Organizations applying for this award must show that their proposed outreach activities have the potential to improve Veterans' experiences, increase awareness of available services, and provide a better understanding of how community-based efforts can support this cause. Additionally, successful applicants must demonstrate their ability to create scalable solutions and use technology to track and measure the effectiveness of their programs.

The VA emphasizes that all outreach efforts should be in coordination with local VA offices, reflecting the importance of collaboration between community-based organizations and government agencies. This collaboration aims to create a comprehensive, veteran-centric support system that can serve as a model for future outreach and engagement efforts. The award is a key part of the VA’s mission to address the challenges Veterans face in accessing services, particularly those living in underserved or isolated areas.