Minnesota Dept. of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) — LinkVet
Minnesota · state benefits
State benefits, the LinkVet help line, and support behind every county CVSO.
Veteran Resource Board
Minnesota Veteran Resources
State programs and the Minnesota nonprofits that serve veterans locally — from MDVA benefits and emergency grants to wellness campuses, outdoor programs, and family support. LockLeed is a veteran-owned firm based in Minneapolis.
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Veteran resource directory
Search within these 49 listings, or search all 350 resources.
Please verify before you rely on a listing. Phone numbers, links, and office details change over time. This board was compiled from official and reputable sources and is offered as a convenience — confirm current contacts with the organization directly. In an emergency, call 911; for veteran crisis support, dial 988 then press 1. Last verified July 2026.
Minnesota GI Bill
Minnesota · education
State education benefit for eligible MN veterans, service members, and some family members.
Minnesota CareerForce — Veterans
Minnesota · employment
Free Minnesota employment services with dedicated veteran representatives.
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)
Minnesota · housing & legal
Statewide help for MN veterans facing homelessness, plus legal and employment services.
Minnesota Veterans Homes
Minnesota · long-term care
State-run skilled nursing and domiciliary care homes for Minnesota veterans.
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon (MN)
Minnesota · Guard & families
Connects service members and families to community support before, during, and after deployment.
State Soldiers Assistance Program (SSAP)
State financial assistance grants
MDVA subsistence assistance that pays shelter costs (rent, mortgage, property taxes), utilities, and health-insurance premiums for eligible Minnesota veterans and un-remarried surviving spouses, for up to six 30-day periods. Apply through your County Veterans Service Officer; related SSAP dental and optical benefits are listed on adjacent MDVA pages.
Find Your County Veterans Service Officer (MACVSO)
County benefits officer locator
County-by-county locator for Minnesota's certified County Veterans Service Officers, who file VA and state benefit claims for free. Every Minnesota county is required by law to have one, and most MDVA programs are applied for through them.
Every Third Saturday (ETS)
Minneapolis MN · supplies, gym & groups
Veteran-founded Minneapolis nonprofit at 5402 43rd Ave S. Veterans and immediate family can visit the supply store monthly for free clothing and household goods (proof of veteran status required), use the fitness center free on weekdays 10am-3pm, join the 5-week Warrior's Return post-traumatic-growth course, or start with the Pop-Smoke intake form. Also runs paid 6-12 month veteran internships with life- and career-coaching.
Folds of Honor Minnesota
Wayzata MN · family scholarships
Minnesota chapter of Folds of Honor, based in Wayzata, raising funds locally for educational scholarships for spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members and first responders. Scholarships are applied for through the national program (applications open February 1 to March 31).
Magnus Veterans Foundation
Dayton MN · veteran wellness campus
Veteran-founded 501(c)(3) running a 37-acre wellness campus on Diamond Lake in Dayton, with a medical and psychological health clinic, gym, and mindfulness and art spaces for veterans and their families. Campus tours are held the first Tuesday of each month; ask about membership and program costs.
Reuniting After War
Crystal MN · combat unit reunions
All-volunteer Minnesota 501(c)(3) that fully funds reunions for combat veterans who served together, covering travel, lodging, and meals at no cost to the veteran. Also hosts honor events for the fallen; more than 600 veterans reunited since 2017.
Eagle's Healing Nest
Residential healing & recovery
Nonprofit residential recovery community in Sauk Centre, MN for veterans and service members working through addiction, PTSD, and other invisible wounds. Offers long-term peer-supported housing plus family support programs.
MDVA Higher Education Veterans Programs
On-campus veteran support
MDVA places regional coordinators at colleges and universities across Minnesota to help student veterans access education benefits and remove enrollment barriers, and to create and manage on-campus Veterans Resource Centers. Call 1-888-LinkVet to reach the coordinator for a specific campus.
VA Minneapolis Health Care System
Twin Cities VA medical care
The VA's major medical center for the Twin Cities region, based at One Veterans Drive in Minneapolis with community clinics across the area. Offers primary, mental health, and specialty care plus online health management for enrolled veterans.
Minnesota State Veterans Cemeteries
State cemetery burial benefits
MDVA operates state veterans cemeteries in Little Falls, Preston, Duluth, and Redwood Falls; burial for eligible veterans is at no cost (gravesite, headstone, and perpetual care), with a fee for spouses and dependents. Pre-registration is available to confirm eligibility in advance.
Minnesota Veterans Preference Act
Public hiring preference points
Official MDVA guide to the state law giving veterans a hiring preference in Minnesota public employment: a 10-point exam credit for veterans and 15 points for disabled veterans in local-government hiring, and preferential ranking with guaranteed interviews for state jobs. Also covers spouses of deceased or disabled veterans and how to assert the preference.
Minnesota Homeless Veteran Registry
Homelessness help & housing
MDVA registry that connects Minnesota veterans experiencing homelessness with a coordinated team of housing and service providers, open regardless of discharge type or length of service. Veterans can join directly, or anyone can refer a veteran by calling 1-888-LinkVet.
Camp Bliss
Walker MN · accessible veteran retreats
Wheelchair-accessible 48-acre retreat center on three lakes near Walker, run by 501(c)(3) Independent Lifestyles, Inc., offering weekend veteran retreats — OIF/OEF deployed, fishing, women veterans, and veterans with disabilities. Eligibility requires a DD-214 and a Minnesota driver's license or state ID; a registration deposit is fully refunded to qualifying veterans who attend, and spouses and children under 18 may come along.
Gateway Meadows Equine-Assisted Services
Dayton MN · equine therapy for veterans
501(c)(3) in Dayton MN offering equine-assisted therapy, coaching and group workshops to veterans, first responders and their families, with veteran sessions led by an Army nurse veteran and certified coach. Veterans receive services at no cost; first responders are offered a reduced rate.
Veterans on the Lake Resort
Ely MN · barrier-free veteran resort
501(c)(3) barrier-free resort on Fall Lake near the Boundary Waters, founded in 1982 to give disabled veterans and their families accessible cabins, docks and pontoons. Reservation priority goes to disabled veterans, veterans 65+, active duty and the non-veteran disabled; lodging is paid, with a 10% discount for veterans and current military.
Hometown Hero Outdoors
Stillwater MN · free outdoor adventures
Stillwater-based 501(c)(3) (EIN 82-3021911, founded 2017) that runs hunting, fishing and other outdoor adventures for veterans, service members and first responders as peer support and recreational therapy. Membership is free to join and trips are at no cost to participants; the group maintains an active 2026 event calendar.
Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch — Operation Welcome Home
Stewartville MN · free family retreats
Nonprofit ranch in southeastern Minnesota running no-cost weekend retreats for veterans, service members and their families — including winter, summer and fall family camps and a Families of the Fallen retreat — funded by a Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs grant. Veterans must show a DD-214 and proof of Minnesota residency (active duty from any state qualify); a $50 refundable deposit holds a spot.
Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake
Marine on St. Croix MN · veteran campground
Nonprofit campground run by the Disabled Veterans Rest Camp Association, serving veterans since 1926 with 24 cabins, RV and tent sites, a marina, boat rentals and a swimming beach. Open to active duty, Guard/Reserve, honorably discharged and disabled veterans, retirees, veteran families and sponsored guests; nightly site fees apply and summer camping runs April 15 to October 15.
Minnesota Veterans Outdoors
Chaska MN · disabled-veteran hunts
501(c)(3) that runs free guided outdoor recreation events for Minnesota veterans with disabilities — a spring turkey hunt and fall deer hunt at Camp Ripley plus the Trolling 4 Troops fishing day, with meals and lodging provided at no cost. Open to veterans with disabilities who are Minnesota residents; apply online through the site, with participants chosen by lottery.
Eagle Group of Minnesota Veterans
Minneapolis MN · veteran peer network
Veteran-led 501(c)(3) (EIN 27-3516215) that runs monthly gatherings with guest speakers, weekly "Career Track" coaching sessions, and an Accountability Ally peer-support program for veterans, active military, and their families. Built on a "pay it forward" model in which veterans who have already made the civilian transition mentor those going through it.
Honor Flight Twin Cities
Lindstrom MN · free memorial honor flights
All-volunteer 501(c)(3), founded 2008, that flies WWII, Korean War and Vietnam veterans to Washington D.C. for a one-day visit to their memorials, entirely free to the veteran. Open to eligible veterans living within 70 miles of the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport (including western Wisconsin); 26 flights and 5,000+ participants to date, with the 27th flight set for October 5, 2026 and a waiting list of over 200 veterans.
Minnesota Armed Forces Service Center
MSP Airport · free troop lounge
All-volunteer Minnesota 501(c)(3) running a free lounge inside security at MSP Airport (Concourse A entrance, Level 2), open daily with food, showers, bunk rooms, luggage storage and a family play area. Free to traveling DoD ID card holders — active duty, Guard, Reserve, retirees, dependents and Purple Heart recipients.
Serving Our Troops
St. Paul MN · deployed-family connection dinners
Saint Paul nonprofit that since 2004 has served 150,000+ steak dinners across 17 projects, hosting simultaneous meals for deployed Minnesota National Guard soldiers overseas and their families back home, linked by live video. Runs in partnership with the Minnesota National Guard; the most recent project listed is Saint Paul to Djibouti in 2026.
Wounded Warriors Guide Service
Stanchfield MN · free outdoor adventures
All-volunteer Minnesota nonprofit, founded in 2009, that runs year-round hunting, fishing, long-range shooting and camping trips for veterans with a VA service-connected disability. Membership and all trip expenses are free; recent outings include Lake Superior lake trout fishing and the annual Crosslake family camping weekend, next scheduled for August 27-30, 2026.
Veterans on the Water
Arlington MN · accessible fishing trips
Minnesota 501(c)(3) founded in 2016 by a Vietnam veteran that runs free guided fishing trips for veterans on lakes across the state, from single-day outings to multi-day trips on Lake Kabetogama and Lake Winnibigoshish. The fleet includes wheelchair-accessible pontoons; trips are at no cost, though multi-day trips require a $100 deposit that is returned to the veteran on the last day.
Minnesota Paralyzed Veterans of America — Adaptive Sports
Twin Cities · adaptive sports, SCI
The Minnesota chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America runs a year-round adaptive sports and recreation program out of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, including trap shooting, air rifle and pistol, archery, bocce, bowling, and scuba, plus support for veterans competing in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and VA Winter/Summer Sports Clinics. Some benefits are member-only, but the chapter invites non-member veterans and others with disabilities to inquire about participating.
Minnesota Warriors Ice Hockey
Vadnais Heights MN · disabled-veteran hockey
501(c)(3) and the only USA Hockey-sanctioned Disabled Warrior hockey program in Minnesota, fielding teams by skill level in the Twin Cities metro, St. Cloud, Duluth and the Iron Range. Open to veterans with a service-connected disability at any skill level, and donation-funded so cost is not a barrier to playing.
Fishing For Life — Military R&R
Minneapolis MN · veteran fishing outings
Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) founded in 2004 whose Military R&R (Relationships through Recreation) program runs fishing and outdoor outings for veterans, wounded warriors and their families, including the annual Holes 4 Heroes ice-fishing tournament on Medicine Lake in Plymouth (15th annual held February 2026). The organization hosts over 160 events a year across Minnesota and surrounding states.
Bridging
Twin Cities MN · furniture bank
Twin Cities 501(c)(3) furniture bank providing donated furniture, beds, and household goods to people moving into housing; a referral from one of its 270+ partner agencies (case manager, healthcare, or faith-based provider) is required. An $80 appointment fee applies; self-pickup is free and metro delivery costs $230, and a case manager may be able to help with fees.
Minnesota Veterans Food Pantry (MNVP)
Golden Valley MN · veteran food pantry
Minnesota 501(c)(3) founded on Veterans Day 2024 that funds free groceries for food-insecure veterans, primarily the pop-up Veteran Food Pantry held the third Tuesday of each month at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Free and confidential for any veteran who is food insecure; partners include the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and DAV Minnesota.
Homeless & Wounded Warriors MN
Emily MN · emergency veteran aid
All-volunteer Minnesota 501(c)(3) providing short-term emergency financial assistance to vulnerable and homeless veterans statewide — rent and mortgage payments, utilities, vehicle payments, and accessible home modifications. Also helps veterans connect to earned VA benefits; no cost to veterans.
Minnesota Veterans Assistance Fund (Fund 85)
St. Paul MN · emergency needs grants
Non-repayable emergency grants for Minnesota-resident veterans, deployed service members' families, and surviving minor children, covering shelter, food, utilities, transportation, and medical costs. American Legion membership is not required, but applications start at a local Legion Post; payments go directly to vendors, with a $5,000 lifetime maximum.
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota — Military & Veteran Services (CORE)
Statewide MN · veteran housing & casework
Minnesota nonprofit that has partnered with the state Department of Veterans Affairs since 2008 to run the CORE program (casework, outreach, referral, education), covering case management, behavioral health, caregiver support and respite, financial counseling, home-delivered meals, and supportive housing in the Twin Cities metro with a rent subsidy. Services are free to qualifying veterans; for housing, start by contacting your County Veterans Service Officer to check eligibility.
Salvation Army St. Cloud — Homeless Veterans Program
St. Cloud MN · transitional veteran beds
Transitional housing run in partnership with the VA since 2009, with beds for up to seven homeless veterans at a time plus case management toward permanent housing, employment, and sobriety. Serves Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, and Wright counties; veterans can call the case manager or walk in weekdays 8:30am–4:00pm.
Minnesota Military Family Foundation
Golden Valley MN · emergency family grants
All-volunteer Minnesota 501(c)(3) that makes emergency financial grants to currently serving service members and their families — active duty, National Guard and Reserve, all branches — facing a crisis not covered by other programs; it reports over $7 million distributed to more than 2,500 families since 2004. Families do not apply directly: a Minnesota Soldier & Family Readiness Center (1-888-234-1274) verifies the need and forwards the request to the MMFF board.
Minnesotans' Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF)
Statewide MN · combat-service grants
Statewide 501(c)(3) that makes cash grants to Minnesota service members who served in a combat zone since 9/11 and to their families: $5,000 to families of those killed in combat, $2,000-$10,000 to Purple Heart recipients based on injury severity, and $500 for combat-zone service. Privately funded with no public money, it has awarded more than $13.6 million to over 20,000 recipients since 2005.
Wings for Widows
Minnesota · free widow financial coaching
Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) offering free one-on-one financial coaching from CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals to widowed men and women, with a dedicated track for service members, veterans and their immediate family members of every branch, service era and discharge status. Coaching covers estate settlement, budgeting and debt management, credit and fraud prevention, and banking and investments at no cost.
Pawsitivity Service Dogs for Veterans
St. Paul MN · service dogs
Saint Paul 501(c)(3) founded in 2012 that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service dogs for veterans with PTSD, TBI, mobility limitations, vision or hearing loss, and seizure disorders. Veterans are never charged for the dog or the training; the organization places a small number of dogs each year and training takes 6-12 months.
Believet Canine Service Partners
Northfield MN · service dogs
Northfield, Minnesota 501(c)(3) that trains and places service dogs with American military veterans living with PTSD, MST, and other disabilities. Dogs are provided free of charge; veterans apply directly through the organization's website.
Patriot Assistance Dogs
Detroit Lakes MN · psychiatric service dogs
ADI-accredited 501(c)(3) founded in 2011 that trains mostly rescued dogs as certified psychiatric service dogs for military veterans with PTSD, TBI, and related conditions, placed at no cost to the veteran. Applicants must be honorably discharged, reside in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, or Wisconsin, be in ongoing mental health treatment, and attend required training in Detroit Lakes.
Helping Paws
Eden Prairie MN · PTSD assistance dogs
Eden Prairie 501(c)(3), accredited by Assistance Dogs International, that trains and places assistance dogs with veterans and first responders who have service-related PTSD; applicants must live in Minnesota or a bordering state, be ages 24-70, and have an honorable or general discharge. The dog carries no purchase price, but recipients pay a $100 application fee plus a $300 equipment fee and cover ongoing veterinary care (the site estimates upwards of $1,000 per year), with waits running several months to two years.
Windfall Equine Therapy Center
Stillwater MN · equine therapy
Stillwater 501(c)(3) offering a 12-week equine-assisted therapy program for veterans, pairing equine specialists with licensed therapists in weekly 90-minute group sessions. The program is free — no veteran pays out of pocket; costs are covered by donations.
Veterans Defense Project
Minneapolis MN · veterans justice advocacy
Minnesota 501(c)(3) founded by veteran criminal defense attorneys that helped write the state's veterans sentencing mitigation law and the 2021 Veterans Restorative Justice Act, and trains defense lawyers, judges, and prosecutors on veterans' cases. It is an education and policy organization rather than a legal clinic — veterans facing charges should ask their defense counsel about Minnesota's veterans restorative justice sentencing options.
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