Points of Light: Innovate community solutions for service members, veterans and their families.

Over the next 3 years, more than 300,000 U.S. military service members will return home to their families. This community is experiencing significant challenges related to health, education, employment, housing, finances, and family strength.

Points of Light and its Military Community Blueprint partners are looking for innovative solutions for how communities can better meet the needs of service members, veterans, and their families. These solutions should target a local military or veteran population, and utilize volunteers as a strategy to meet the need. Submit your idea here, and the top-voted entry will receive a $1,000 grant.

Submissions are open from June 18th to July 17th (noon Pacific Time). Our judges will select which applicants will pass to the voting round. From July 17th to July 31st, we’ll open it up to public voting. Rally your colleagues and friends to get behind your effort and join the public in selecting the winner.

Connect with this challenge on Twitter at @GOODmkr and @PointsOfLight and join the conversation via #helpvets.

Submission tips:

• Include a photo or video that represents your idea. Photos should be in JPG, PNG, or GIF format, at least 570 × 345 pixels and no larger than 10MB. To include a video, use a YouTube URL.
• Be sure to describe the population you would work with, and how volunteers are key to your strategy.
• If you have any questions, please review these FAQs or send us an email at maker@goodinc.com.

• This challenge is open for submissions from June 18th to July 17th (noon Pacific Time). Individuals, groups and nonprofits are eligible to apply. Only US-based organizations and individuals are eligible apply. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• Submitted solutions must be able to be implemented with $1,000 within 6 months of receiving the grant. Let us know how you’re going to put this money to work!
• Solutions will be featured on this page and public voting will be open from July 17th to July 31st (noon Pacific Time).
• The solution with the most votes will receive $1,000 to implement their idea.
• In order to vote, log in with your GOOD account. If you don’t have a GOOD account, it’s free to join. All you need is an email address or a Facebook account to register. You will be emailed a link that you need to click in order to validate your address.
• Read all the rules.