The foundation concentrates its giving on programs that support military families and veteran-focused services, especially veteran recognition and healing initiatives delivered through hospitals and veteran-service organizations. Grants are targeted and programmatic rather than broad capacity-building, often funding events, care packages, and therapeutic experiences for service members and their families. While primarily supporting local healthcare providers in North Carolina, the foundation also funds national military-family programming.
Concentrated, program-focused giving: a small number of mid-size grants (two or three in the $25k–$50k range) with repeat support to local healthcare partners and occasional funding of national military-family organizations.
Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation directs its largest recent grants toward veteran recognition and healing, with $50,000 in 2023 to National Military Family Association for Operation Purple Healing Adventures. That same pattern continues in hospital-based support: in 2025, the foundation gave $25,000 to Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation for a veteran recognition program that identifies and honors inpatients and provides care packages during their stay. Another $25,000 grant went to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center to rebuild a veterans’ program that recognizes veterans in care and veteran staff at the hospital. The foundation’s giving is programmatic and targeted, not broad general support, and it consistently centers veterans, active military members, first responders, and their families. Its work includes therapeutic experiences for military families, recognition initiatives inside hospitals, and support connected to veteran care settings. Recent grants also show a smaller, responsive award to first responders during Hurricane Helene, which fits the foundation’s broader service-oriented approach. The portfolio points to a funder that uses direct partnership grants to support morale, healing, and recognition rather than general operating support alone.
In veteran recognition programs, the foundation has backed hospital-based efforts that honor service members during inpatient care. Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation received $25,000 in 2025 for a program that identifies and recognizes veterans receiving care and gives each one a care package. Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center received $25,000 in 2025 to create a more robust veterans’ program for both patients and veteran staff. Therapeutic and family-healing work is another clear thread. In 2023, National Military Family Association received $50,000 for Operation Purple Healing Adventures, tying the foundation to programming for military families. The portfolio also includes first responder support. First Responders 1st received $1,296 in 2025 to aid response efforts during Hurricane Helene.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range: the p25 is $27,500, the median is $35,000, and the p75 is $42,500. The recent record shows both repeat support and multiple-year activity: Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation appears in 2023 and 2025, suggesting ongoing partnership rather than a one-time gift. The foundation operates as a private grantmaker rather than funding individuals, and its programs include both a general grant program and named partnership grants. Unsolicited applications are accepted in the general grant program, which is reviewed twice a year.
$51K
$406K
$176K
$140K
Most grants fall between $28K and $43K, with a median of $35K.
25th Percentile
$28K
Median
$35K
75th Percentile
$43K
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Notable grantees: National Military Family Association (Operation Purple Healing Adventures), Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
Giving is regional, with 50% of grants awarded to recipients in North Carolina. Recent recipients include Concord and Charlotte, alongside Harrisburg. The remaining recent grants were also in the United States, including Alexandria, Virginia. The pattern shows a strong concentration in North Carolina hospital and community settings, with occasional national support for organizations serving military families.
It funds nonprofit organizations serving veterans, active-duty service members, first responders, and their families. Recent grants show support for hospital-based veteran recognition, military-family healing programs, and first responder assistance.
Yes, through its General Grant Program and BKCFF General Grant Program, which both state that eligible organizations may apply. The general program is reviewed twice a year.
The grant-size distribution centers in the mid-five-figures: p25 is $27,500, median is $35,000, and p75 is $42,500.
There is evidence of repeat support. Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation appears in both 2023 and 2025, with grants tied to veteran recognition programming.
The record includes veteran recognition in hospitals, therapeutic healing for military families, veteran staff and inpatient support, and first responder relief. Examples include Operation Purple Healing Adventures, hospital veteran recognition programs, and aid for Hurricane Helene response.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Eligible organizations (nonprofits) that support veterans, active military, first responders, and their families. See funding guidelines PDF for full eligibility details.
Deadline: Applications are reviewed twice a year; specific submission windows are not listed on the site.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation | Concord, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | Veteran's recognition program which identifies and honors veterans that are receiving inpatient care at the hospital and provides each veteran with a care package during their stay. |
| Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Cente | Charlotte, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | Veterans' Program - Revive and create a more robust program to recognize veterans in their care and veteran staff at the hospital. |
| First Responders 1st | Harrisburg, NC | $1,296 | 2025 | To aid first responders in response to Hurricane Helene. |
| Cabarrus Healthcare Foundation | Concord, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | Veteran's recognition program |
| Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Cente | Charlotte, NC | $25,000 | 2024 | Veteran's recognition program |
| Service Dogs for Veterans | Greenville, SC | $8,500 | 2024 | Veteran and service dog sponsorship |
| NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY ASSOC | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $50,000 | 2023 | OPERATION PURPLE HEALING ADVENTURES |
| CABARRUS HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | CONCORD, NC | $20,000 | 2023 | VETERAN'S RECOGNITION PROGRAM |
Veteran's recognition program which identifies and honors veterans that are receiving inpatient care at the hospital and provides each veteran with a care package during their stay.
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Cente
$25,000Veterans' Program - Revive and create a more robust program to recognize veterans in their care and veteran staff at the hospital.
First Responders 1st
$1,296To aid first responders in response to Hurricane Helene.
Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Cente
$25,000Veteran's recognition program
Service Dogs for Veterans
$8,500Veteran and service dog sponsorship
NATIONAL MILITARY FAMILY ASSOC
$50,000OPERATION PURPLE HEALING ADVENTURES
