Philanthropy Roundtable’s Free to Give campaign elevates the voices of everyday Americans who have dedicated their careers to supporting those in need. Their work is made possible by the freedom of all Americans to give to the causes and communities they care about most. 

Philanthropy Roundtable recently had the privilege of interviewing a representative of No One Left Behind, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting former interpreters and U.S. government employees who qualify for the Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programs. The Roundtable also spoke with Matt Watters, a former Green Beret with the United States Army Special Forces and current member of No One Left Behind’s Board of Directors, along with Sahil, Watters’s interpreter in Afghanistan. 

Founded by Janis Shinwari, a former Afghan interpreter who arrived in the United States by way of the SIV program, No One Left Behind has evacuated approximately 6,800 Afghans to safety and provided over $3.75 Million in resettlement assistance to approximately 6,630 newly resettled allies in the United States since 2021 alone. 

Watters and Sahil discuss the crucial role of our allies left behind under Taliban rule, and highlight the need for continued advocacy and support. No One Left Behind emphasizes how critical donor privacy and the freedom to give are to their mission. 

No One ​L​eft Behind estimates that 140,000 allies remain in Afghanistan fearing for their lives and waiting for America to fulfill its promise. 

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.  

Q: Matt, can you give us a quick history of your service and time in Afghanistan? 

Watters: I was deployed with the U.S. Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. My deployment in 2020 was during the wind-down of operations in Afghanistan. But it was highly kinetic with a lot of combat, which was unusual for that time. We were an expeditionary force out of Bagram, moving to wherever there was fighting in the country. 

Sahil was assigned as our interpreter along with a couple of others. As a weapons sergeant, I often worked closely with the Afghan Special Forces. Green Berets are unique in that we act as teachers, conducting complex missions often through allied forces. 

In Afghanistan, we trained the Afghan Special Forces in advanced techniques and conducted missions together. This collaboration was impossible without interpreters, as I spoke essentially no Pashto, the native language. A great interpreter like Sahil did more than translate; he helped us understand the culture and political landscape. For instance, he was able to learn from local kids where the Taliban or ISIS-K had placed IEDs (improvised explosive device), potentially saving our lives by avoiding those areas. 

Q: Sahil, we’re curious, what inspired you to become an interpreter?  

Sahil: I started working as an interpreter during my childhood. The American and Afghan soldiers and interpreters would come to the streets where we lived. The soldiers would talk to the kids and give them chocolates, water and such. I was very small and I thought, “I can be an interpreter someday.” When I grew up, I saw the Taliban and ISIS killing innocent students, people and teachers. I believe that the Taliban and ISIS were terrorists. I believed in democracy which is why I wanted to work with U.S. forces to help Afghan’s previous government resist the Taliban. So, I joined as an interpreter in 2019 and I met Matt in 2020. I worked for a year as an interpreter, and I went on almost 150 missions with those teams. 

Q: Matt, as a veteran, can you share why it’s so important to advocate for the interpreters who are still in Afghanistan or other countries?  

Watters: The first thing I would say is it’s incredibly dangerous for our interpreters like Sahil. You’re basically asking them to go on these missions with us without combat training. They’re walking into a gunfight with just a bulletproof vest on. Secondly, they’re flagging themselves to their community as being part of our effort. They could very easily face ramifications for that, should we not succeed.  

America promises safe passage to the U.S. for those who serve with us honorably. This promise matters for our ability to recruit future interpreters and help but also to the soldier who’s making that promise – there’s nothing more important than your word. There is an incredible bond when you go through trauma or combat together because you are so dependent on the people around you and interpreters become part of your team. So, when you leave you take comfort in the fact that you can help them through the SIV and come to America should they ever need it. 

Q: Can you expand on what it looks like on the ground in Afghanistan, Sahil? I imagine you still have family and friends there?  

Sahil: It is deteriorating and getting worse. Right now, our people don’t have freedom of speech. Nobody can say anything against those in charge or the media. I have friends there who cannot leave their homes after the Taliban took power. They were interpreters, laborers or mine detectors for the U.S. and they’re still hiding. So right now, their life is not safe. 

Watters: No One Left Behind keeps a roster of SIV eligible people. Not just interpreters, but people who could have been fixers or drivers for U.S. forces—we have more than 300 people on the list. Sahil mentioned friends who are not leaving their houses, but we know of others who have literally been hiding in a room because they don’t feel safe to get out and walk around because they were so visible to the community as being part of U.S. efforts. People have had to send their families to live in other places for safety and haven’t seen those family members for years. It’s just a tragic circumstance. 

Q: How is No One Left Behind filling the gap caused by the failure of our government to keep its promises to our Afghan interpreters by bringing them for resettlement in the U.S.? How has philanthropy stepped in to help America keep our promise to our allies? 

No One Left Behind: No One Left Behind is the nation’s oldest charitable organization dedicated to fulfilling America’s promise to our Afghan and Iraqi allies. As it stands today, 140,000 allies and their family members remain left behind in Afghanistan in fear for their lives. This reality is a national failure that spans administrations and Congresses of both parties. As an organization, we believe it is up to us collectively as a nation to do the right thing and stand true to our word. 

Because of generous donors, volunteers and our dedicated staff, we serve our allies by way of evacuation, resettlement and advocacy efforts. Since August of 2021 alone, we’ve evacuated 6,797, supported 6,629 here in the United States and played a role in passing critical legislation, including the largest addition of visas (12,000) in the program’s history. Philanthropy has made all of this possible and is the driving force in ensuring our work continues until every promise has been fulfilled. 

Q: Because of the work you do, how important is donor privacy to No One Left Behind’s mission? 

No One Left Behind: No One Left Behind maintains high standards of privacy. We always ensure that our allies’ information is kept safe from those that would do them harm. That ethos carries over to our donors whose privacy we protect. We are funded strictly by generous donors, not the government. Simply put, donors are the reason we’re able to do this life-saving work. We take pride in safeguarding our donors’ information and protecting their privacy at every stage of the donation process. We are honored by their financial contributions and feel it is our duty to safeguard their privacy. 

Q: Why do you believe protecting the freedom to give – the freedom of all Americans to support the charities and nonprofits they choose, and the right to do anonymously – is vital to the American charitable sector? 

No One Left Behind: Protecting the freedom to give is crucial for maintaining a vibrant and effective American charitable sector. It is not just about facilitating donations. It’s about upholding the principles of generosity, diversity, privacy and democracy that are fundamental to our nation’s charitable sector. Ultimately, protecting the freedom to give ensures that nonprofits, regardless of size, focus or history, can continue to make a meaningful difference in the world. 

View more stories about the importance of philanthropic freedom at FreeToGive.org. 

Philanthropy Roundtable is grateful to all the men and women who have served our country. We owe you our freedom and will never forget your sacrifice and courage. For questions about the Roundtable’s work related to veterans or America’s founding principles, please contact Philanthropy Roundtable Portfolio Director Clarice Smith. 

Photo source: SSG William Tremblay

The post No One Left Behind: Keeping America’s Promises to Our Allies  appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

The day we heard the news I could not sleep. The agonizing pain, the disbelief and heartache were too much to bear. My eyes were swollen from tears, my heart was filled with sorrow and my mind couldn’t stop racing. 

After tossing and turning all night, I got up and put on my uniform. It was early and pitch-black outside, and I remember using my flashlight to find a fresh uniform packed deep in my duffle bag. I grabbed my weapon, put on headgear and met fellow soldiers to walk across the base.

I saw four to six Army band soldiers warming up when we arrived at the base. I distinctly remember the trumpet player blowing into the muzzle and the trombone player making adjustments. I spotted a few soldiers and friends from my battalion who had flown in from other RC-East bases. They were preparing for what was about to happen. To my left was an enormous empty plane with the rear door open. 

The small group of us who arrived continued to stand there. Then it happened. “Salute arms!”

As I raised my right hand to my right eyebrow the Army band started playing Taps. Then, an M939 five-ton cargo truck drove toward us. My friends I had just spotted were seated facing each other with our friend and comrade, Cpl. Christopher Coffland (“Coff”) in the middle—in a casket with an American flag draped over it. 

I had never experienced debilitating grief like I was feeling in that moment in time.

What was well known about Coff was his resolute patriotism and the depth of his friendships. After an already fulfilling life playing professional football in Europe and studying anthropology by living with Pygmies of Gabon, Africa, Coff’s desire to serve and his selflessness ultimately led him to enlist in the Army Reserves at age of 41 and 11 months, just one month short of the cut off age to enlist. He thought his fascination with working with people would align seamlessly with military intelligence work, and it did.

As the music continued, the soldiers shuffled out of the truck and carried Coff in marching cadence. They walked him into the empty plane slowly, steadily, with pride. I could see tears from the distance. Then they placed him down in the bare plane.

As I looked on, my mind was racing. “There he is. In a casket. By himself,” I thought. “How did this happen? He was here one day. Gone the next. It made no sense.”

We all knew this was war—and this is what happens in war. It could happen to any of us. The brutality and sacrifice of serving had never hit so hard.

From there, I walked onto the plane, took off my headgear and kneeled in front of him. I put my hand over the flag, draped over his casket, and said my goodbyes. Grief and memories from pre-mobilization training rushed through my mind like a movie.

I got up and saluted him, knowing he would be laid to rest with the greatest men who have ever lived. That was the last time I saw him in country. 

To this day, every time I drive into D.C. and pass Arlington National Cemetery, I say hi to Coff under my breath—every time. I visit him when I can, and I know others from my battalion do the same. 

Coff left a lasting impact on my life, and I know he did the same for others. He would say, “Shake off any dust that may accumulate from stagnation of purpose.” That can’t be any truer.

Christopher Coffland was killed by a roadside improvised explosive device on November 13, 2009 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His bravery earned him two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart, leaving an indelible mark on those of us who had the honor to serve alongside him.

In his memory, his sister, Lynn Coffland, founded the Catch a Lift Fund, a charity aiding wounded post-9/11 combat veterans. Inspired by Coffland’s mantra, “I’m goin’ catch a lift,” the organization helps veterans regain physical and mental fitness through gym memberships and home equipment.

Coffland and the many other servicemen and women who have died serving in combat since the Revolutionary War died for the freedoms ingrained in our Constitution, including the freedom to give to the causes and communities you care about most.

Their honor, selflessness and dignity should never be taken for granted. If it wasn’t for them, we would not live in the freest country in the world. We should remember their legacies and appreciate the freedoms they fought to defend every single day, not just this Memorial Day.

Kara Ann Hirschfeld is the director of marketing at Philanthropy Roundtable and a former Army Reservist who deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009.

The post A Veteran’s Perspective: How to Honor America’s Fallen Heroes this Memorial Day appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

As Lekendric Doyle faced the end of his naval career, he wasn’t sure where to go next. But when he connected with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, everything clicked into place. The organization, based out of Syracuse University, has several programs for veterans looking to jump in, or back in, to the workforce. For Doyle, it was the Onward to Opportunity program that stood out.  

Doyle had no college degree, but through IVMF, he had the time and opportunity not only to get his project management certification, but also to complete his ​Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and his ​bachelor’s degree. Today, Doyle works for aerospace manufacturer Blue Origin, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. 

IVMF, Doyle says, “gave me the opportunity to seize my own time, and without doing that I would not have been successful in my endeavors. 

“Time was the key piece, and the mentorship from the program, to really help me achieve that,” he adds.  

Problems Persist During Transition Out of Service 

For other veterans, the transition is not so easy. Only one in four have a job ready when they transition out of the service, per Pew Research Center. “Finding a job after their military service affects nearly 200,000 veterans every year,” CBS reports. “A U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation study from 2016 found that 53% of veterans are unemployed for four months or longer after leaving the military.” 

Many veterans lack the degrees or certifications necessary to find gainful employment. Some find themselves out of a job, while others flounder at a poorly paying and unfulfilling career.  

This continuing problem isn’t due to a lack of effort in the nonprofit world. But it may be made worse by some nonprofits that refuse to do more than throw money at the problem.  

The most infamous example is the Wounded Warrior Project. In 2016, the nonprofit came under fire for spending “lavishly on itself,” per a New York Times exposé. The “country’s largest and fastest-growing veterans charity,” the paper reported, “has spent millions a year on travel, dinners, hotels and conferences that often seemed more lavish than appropriate.” 

Top executives were subsequently fired, and the organization tried to rebrand. But a massive budget with little oversight is a recipe for disaster, nonprofit leaders say. Luckily, there are many veterans organizations committed to getting a real return on their investment.  

Putting Veterans on the Path to Success 

IVMF works with veterans and military spouses to help them succeed in the civilian workforce ​primarily ​through three programs:​ career training, entrepreneurship training and navigation of community services​. Onward to Opportunity, the career training program that helped Doyle, offers 40 different learning pathways, from training in information technology to business management and customer service, free of charge.  

“It’s an excellent opportunity to help veterans transition, and it provides a supportive environment where you can start to look outward from the military and gain a grasp on what there is out in the world for you as a veteran,” Doyle says.  

IVMF has built a diverse alumni network as well as an impressive slate of corporate partners, including Walmart, J.P. Morgan​ Chase, Fiserv​ and USAA.  

Maureen Casey, chief operating officer for IVMF, says despite their unique skill sets, veterans can face a disconnect with ​potential ​employers, who aren’t always sure ​how military skills translate to the private sector.​​     ​ 

“We need to ensure that there’s some cultural competency​ on both sides [employers and veterans]​,” Casey says. “Some of ​[veterans’]​​ ​challenges are going to be unique. We just have to help them overcome them​,​ and we know they will be very valued community members.” 

Importantly, she explains, IVMF measures its success not ​only ​on the number of veterans it serves, but on their outcomes.  

How Philanthropists Can Fund Effective Organizations  

As philanthropists research organizations that help veterans find meaningful careers in the civilian workforce, Aaron MacLean, senior director at the Paul E. Singer Foundation and a board member at Philanthropy Roundtable, warns them against adopting a dangerous mentality.  

“It’s easy to see ways in which a disconnect [between employers and veterans] could appear,” he explains. “But it’s important that philanthropists resist buying into a victimhood model or mentality about veterans.” 

MacLean, who was an active-duty Marine for seven years, says although veterans may need unique assistance, they are not victims.  

“You see in a lot of places in our society this notion of a veteran as this wounded bird that needs very special care and treatment to be reintegrated into society,” he says. “Generally speaking, that’s just false. I think, if anything, veterans are valuable to any employer.” 

After all, veterans certainly develop many soft skills that could be beneficial to a potential employer. But they have hard skills, such as logistics, as well. The key is the transition.  

“But I do think it would be possible to do harm, operating with an attitude where you’re encouraging people who are not victims to think of themselves as victims,” he says.  

If traps for organizations focusing on veterans in the workforce include wild spending and lack of oversight, plus the danger of embracing a victimhood mentality, who should philanthropists look to as a success story?  

Dan Goldenberg, executive director for the Call of Duty Endowment, says the nonprofit spent its first ​three​​ ​years as a “typical corporate philanthropy​ effort​.” They wrote big checks with little to show for them, he says, and large​, well-known​ nonprofit partners failed to show impact.  

​​In 2013​, the endowment moved to an accountability-based model. “W​e’re deeply skeptical about​​ ​trust-based philanthropy,” Goldenberg says.  

This doesn’t mean underperforming nonprofits are left out to dry. In fact, the opposite is true.  

Call of Duty Endowment currently supports 10 nonprofits with a turnover rate of “maybe 10% per year.” It ​assesses​​ ​the groups every quarter, ​reevaluating annually, ​looking for a strong ratio of veterans served to veterans placed​ into high-quality jobs​. ​This gives the nonprofits opportunities to improve. ​ 

​​For example, a number of grantees that were off track in their placement numbers turned out to have unsophisticated outreach capabilities, Goldenberg says.​ ​T​he quarterly evaluations helped the endowment ​identify and address this critical gap​. It was able to connect those groups to social media experts, ​fund​​ ​website improvements ​and​​ ​automate client service functions. ​The nonprofits were back on track within a year.​ 

“​Conversations like this​​ ​are super helpful for coaching these nonprofits, but also for ​channeling targeted resources to improve their performance,” ​Goldenberg​​ ​says.  

To ensure its money is going to the right place, ​the ​Call of Duty Endowment also doesn’t partner with organizations ​that haven’t passed its formal performance assessment and also presented audited financials.​​     ​ 

“If you love an organization, you need to invest in systemically evaluating their performance,” he says. 

Organizations that are held accountable continue to get better, Goldenberg says.  

“​While we started with impact results similar to U.S. government programs, today o​ur grantees​ ​place veterans into jobs for 1/13 the cost of the federal government’s efforts. Last year, every $618 placed a veteran in a job.​ This has enabled us to fund the placement of 125,000 veterans—that’s a group two-thirds the size of the U.S. Marine Corps.”​​     ​ 

An Urgent Need to “Step Up” for Veterans 

While the government pours billions of dollars into the Department of Veterans Affairs, many veterans find it is too slow to meet their needs, or they are ineligible for VA support.  

“Federal agencies do what they can, but it really needs to be a public-private partnership to fill in the gaps,” Casey says. ​The VA isn’t always able to provide certain kinds of support to families​, making IVMF’s support of military spouses key for transitioning families.  

This is not to mention the VA scandal from a decade ago when an internal audit revealed tens of thousands of veterans were waiting 90-plus days to receive health care. Despite the controversy, the VA is still being criticized for its wait times.  

The infamous failure of the government when it comes to supporting veterans leaves the door open for policy philanthropy, MacLean says. But “the lower hanging fruit, and what philanthropists who are interested in this subject should challenge themselves to do, is to be what philanthropy can be: the flourishing of civil society to take on challenges in ways that civil society can actually do best.” 

The philanthropic sector certainly isn’t lacking in veterans’ organizations. Typing the word “veteran” into Guidestar yields more than 36,000 results. With so many options, the lack of accountability in some veterans’ nonprofits has harmed others, as less successful organizations essentially siphon funds from more successful ones.  

“There are too many veteran nonprofits​ and ​precious few market forces to hold them accountable​.​​ ​​At the same time, ​the amount of money going into the space​,​ if anything​,​ is decreasing,” Goldenberg​ says​. ​“As a result, high-performing nonprofits are under-resourced, and low-performing organizations with big names are kept on life support.”​ 

Meanwhile, there is an urgent need for results.  

“The way we treat our veterans has become a national security issue,” Goldenberg says, adding that for the last two years, each military branch besides the Marines has missed its recruiting goals. “The perception is that veterans have bad outcomes after their service.” 

That perception, he emphasizes, “is not a true story.” As Casey notes, veterans are much more likely to be entrepreneurs than the general population. According to Small Business Administration data from 2022, veterans owned nearly two million businesses and employed more than five million people.  

“We should step up when they return and ensure they have every opportunity to thrive post-service,” Casey says.  

And while high-profile scandals may have turned some philanthropists off from supporting veterans’ charities, they can still make a great impact if they find the right groups to support.  

“There’s a saying in the military that amateurs focus on tactics, professionals focus on ​logistics​. Same for philanthropy,” Goldenberg says.  

When funders throw money at the problem without oversight, they risk seeing their money wasted on overhead, excessive spending or programs that sound nice in theory but don’t really work. When funders and nonprofits work together to focus on measurable outcomes, they can help people like Doyle find a new career — and truly change people’s lives. 

The post How Philanthropy is Helping Veterans Navigate the Workforce appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

For some, it was the homecoming they never received, and for one veteran it was a chance to say goodbye. 

Walter Kotzur (USAF retired) spent the majority of his time during the war in Vietnam flying combat missions on the AC-47D, a fixed wing gunship affectionately known as “Spooky” or “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Thanks to the North Country Honor Flight, Kotzur has the opportunity to say a final farewell to his fallen brothers of the “Spooky Brotherhood” as he continues to find their names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in our nation’s capital. After being drafted, Kotzur lost 28 comrades in his first year in Vietnam alone and 59 since. 

The North Country Honor Flight, which serves veterans in upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire, is part of the larger national Honor Flight network that celebrates our nation’s veterans by offering them a one-day trip to the nation’s capital and memorials. Each hub organizes travel, accommodations and any individual needs for each veteran and their sponsor, typically a family member, for the entirety of the trip. 

For many veterans, the day begins with a police escort from their home or nearby hotel. While the Honor Flight prioritizes World War II veterans and those with serious medical conditions, veterans from every era receive special accommodations to make sure it’s a day to remember. Communities organize “goodbye” sendoffs when the veterans board the airplanes, as well as homecomings complete with “welcome home” signs and banners from volunteers of all ages. 

For some veterans, this is the only homecoming they have ever received. 

“Coming home [from Vietnam] was the absolute worst,” said one veteran who traveled to Washington, D.C. last month. “I feel like I did everything for nothing. My service didn’t matter.” 

To make sure everyone receives a proper homecoming, Barrie Finnigan, organizer of the North Country Honor Flight, spreads the word through the local newspaper and television news station, community newsletters and Facebook. “Younger people will tell grandpa about the Honor Flight. That happens a lot,” Finnigan said. 

The veterans who participate in the Honor Flight find themselves a part of a new family as they remember fallen friends and share stories on the flight and bus ride. The North Country Honor Flight flew 30 veterans with their sponsors to D.C. this fall and has planned events like barbeques and outings to keep in touch.  

“Like it or not, you are a part of our Honor Flight family now,” said Finnigan. “We are one big happy family.” 

For the crowds of tourists who flock to the National Mall, the arrival of the Honor Flight brings history to life. As the veterans exit the buses in their matching “Honor Flight Veteran” jackets and make their way through the memorials, often in wheelchairs, visitors to the capital from around the world look on as the granite monuments are juxtaposed with the flesh-and-blood men and women they honor. These veterans’ stories could fill libraries, but they often go untold, sometimes because the veteran doesn’t think anyone is interested in hearing them or because the memories are still too painful. 

The Honor Flight changes that. As veterans walk the memorials and find the names of fallen brothers-in-arms, they remember the struggles they endured and the friends they lost. But they also remember the sense of pride they felt, and still feel, in donning uniforms to answer their nation’s call. Finnigan and other volunteers say one of the flight’s biggest blessings is the impact it has on veterans long after they return home. Finnigan says he receives calls from at least 20 families after each flight, thanking him for the life-changing work they do.   

“Since that Honor Flight, we’ve got a brand-new person. Grandpa’s back where he was 10 years ago, he had cashed it in sitting in his recliner all day long,” Finnigan said. “Now he wants to go do things and tell us all about the war. If you can change someone’s life like that, how can you not get involved?” 

The busy one-day itinerary includes stops to Arlington National Cemetery and our nation’s war memorials, beginning with the WW II Memorial and ending with the Korean and Vietnam Memorials. The Honor Flight network has Washington, D.C.-based volunteers who greet the veterans with welcome signs and fanfare at their various stops. Some are veterans, but most are civilians seeking to honor their loved ones who served. 

That’s why Finnigan does what he does. During WWII, his father served in the Army Air Corps in the South Pacific and his mother served in the Canadian Army.  His son also served in the military after 9/11. Although the Honor Flight didn’t come to northern New York until after his parents passed away, Finnigan honors their legacy and his son’s service through his volunteer work.  

“It’s a labor of love. I just love doing it,” he said. “You just meet so many people and their stories. It’s unreal.” That is, after all, the Honor Flight’s mission: ensuring that no veteran goes unappreciated.  

As Walter Kotzur takes one more look at the names of his fallen brothers from the “Spooky Brotherhood,” he ponders the significance of this experience.  

“This is a solemn place,” he says. He’s right, of course, and it couldn’t be otherwise for him.  

But it should be a solemn place for all Americans, a permanent reminder that any society that wishes to remain free has a corresponding duty to defend that freedom. Men and women like Kotzur, veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, are steadily dwindling as the years pass by. But these war memorials are permanent reminders of what they’ve done and the legacies they leave behind. 

It’s up to us, on this Veterans Day and every day, not only to remember those legacies, but to make the most of them. 

If you are interested in learning more about Philanthropy Roundtable’s work with organizations serving veterans, please contact our Programs team.    

The post A Flight to Remember: How the Honor Flight is Bringing Hope and Healing to Veterans  appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

In honor of Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, Philanthropy Roundtable sat down with Kara Hirschfeld, U.S. Army Reserves veteran and digital marketing manager at Philanthropy Roundtable, and Rich Rodriguez, U.S. Navy Reserves service member and director of IT at Philanthropy Roundtable, to talk about their military service and the vital role philanthropy plays in supporting the military and veteran communities. 

Kara Hirschfeld deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom under the 82nd Airborne Division from 2009-2010. She served in RC East, Parwan Province and Bamyan with the New Zealand Kiwis. Her specialization was Military Intelligence, HUMINT. 

Rich Rodriguez deployed to Central America to support counter illicit drug operations [in 2014] and the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2016-2017, supporting multiple commands in the Southwest Asia area of operations. He currently serves as a Master-at-Arms with a specialty in ground combat. 

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length. 

Q: Could you share the reasons why you joined the military and your thoughts on overall differences regarding the sentiment of those who joined with you compared to the sentiment toward the military now? 

Hirschfeld: Unlike many on the West Coast on September 11, 2001, I was up very early and watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center tower. I remember going to school that day and my math teacher told us her brother was going to deploy. At that point, I knew I wanted to serve our country. 

A couple of years later, I started my first year at the University of Arizona and ran into a military recruiter on campus. The recruiter discussed the sense of patriotism he carried daily, what it meant to serve, how the military could prepare me for the real world and the benefits of helping with college. I was sold on everything. I raised my right hand for the oath of enlistment in a time of war, and little did I know at that time, it would forever change my life for the better.  

I went in when America still rallied around President George W. Bush, picking up a bullhorn and standing on Ground Zero yelling, “I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you.” Military service members were dying in battle. War footage was on the news daily, and the hunt for Osama bin Laden was at its peak. Today, the honor of serving is not as clear. I hear from veterans and current military members serving today, “People don’t care about us.” Unfortunately, “serving our country” with patriotic pride seems to be a thing of the past. It almost seems as if “it’s not cool” to serve, and that’s evident in current recruitment numbers. I hope this can be turned around because it’s an honor to serve this country. The fulfillment, experiences and the lessons learned can never be taught in a classroom. 

Rodriguez: My father, his father, his family, have all served this country in peacetime and in its conflicts since WWII. After 9-11, my father deployed to the Middle East in support of our country, its values and dedication to service. I had similar aspirations to serve and ended up enlisting in the United States Navy. I look back on the first time I wore my uniform, graduated boot camp, first deployment, as some of the proudest moments in my life.  

It feels like the tides have shifted, and serving for duty and selflessness are no longer reasons for joining the service, but rather, benefits and financial reasons. We are now facing recruitment issues, and in some of our most critical communities, which in my opinion is due to the fact that we have service members at home that are not doing well physically or emotionally, or worse, tragically ending their own lives. I think the sentiment is if we can’t take care of our service members, why would I want to be a part of that? It’s unfortunate, as military service is a beautiful thing. But the lack of support and resources for our brave service members and their families is slowly peeling away at the new generations’ desire to serve. 

Q: Since your military separation, how have you stayed connected to the military community and other veterans?  

Hirschfeld: Within the first month of my deployment in Afghanistan, my friend was killed by an improvised explosive device. His sister created a nonprofit called Catch A Lift Fund, which serves post 9-11 veterans all over our country through fitness and mentorship. I volunteer for this organization and have helped them with development and media appearances to get the word out about their mission. 

Rodriguez: My second deployment was in the Middle East for Operation Enduring Freedom, which is ironic as my father deployed in support of the same operation 15 years earlier [in 2001]. After getting back from that deployment, our unit had someone take their own life, which was incredibly tough for all of us. One of the things that my father and I got really involved in when we both respectively returned home was our local American Legion, Post 139.  

In thinking about local community support for veterans, I had seen programs on the government side to help veterans’ post-deployment not be super effective. Our local Legions have recently partnered with George Mason University to give free family and legal services to service members and veterans, something that can be difficult to properly receive on the military side of things.  

Q: May is National Military Appreciation Month, where we also honor service members on Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day. This month can be a hard time for service members, veterans and their families. What are some ways people can recognize those who are serving or have served? What are some ways people can offer support?  

Hirschfeld: The best way that people can support our service members is to have honest conversations about the military and current events affecting them. Making a social media post once a year on Veterans Day to check the box is not enough. Nor is saying Happy Memorial Day when there is nothing happy about it.  

The most alarming news I’ve seen recently is the record number of “cries for help” on the Veterans Crisis Line in March. It was the highest volume ever, even more than during COVID or after the Afghanistan withdrawal. Many say, “The war is over,” but there are decades of veterans that are suffering from multiple deployments, PTSD and other trauma stemming from service. We need to have a conversation on how to address their ongoing needs. 

Rodriguez: It’s all about having hard conversations with service members, and volunteerism in your own local community. People might not actually realize service members need support, whether that’s a person to talk to or mental or physical health support. We live in 2023 where everyone has some kind of social media presence, which presents a great opportunity for organizations that can tap into their communities and can make veterans aware of events or opportunities that are going on.  

I think a lot of people don’t realize the day-to-day sacrifices that military members and their families have made to keep our status as the best and most prosperous country in the world. Volunteering, or even saying thank you for your service, whether it’s on a social media post or if you see someone walking in uniform, really does go a long way. 

Q: As veterans, in your experience, what are some of the most common needs of those returning to civilian life after serving? 

Hirschfeld: Outside organizations are crucial to bridging the gap between active duty and civilian life. Programs that assist with fitness and mentorship, resume-building workshops and apprenticeships can tremendously help. So many skills learned in the military are equivalent to civilian jobs, sometimes our veterans just need assistance making those connections. 

Rodriguez: I think there’s a specific point where you separate from active duty to civilian life that’s incredibly important that our current reintegration system is lacking. When you leave active duty, you take part in multiple reintegration efforts that are available and required through the military for its departing service members. I’ve gone through these programs and found them incredibly unhelpful. I think it’s a very, very critical, maybe three-month period that we’re just missing the mark on entirely, especially when it comes to job stability, family support and mental health when leaving the military.  

I do think this creates a fantastic opportunity to have local organizations assist with some of these transition items—to really have that dialogue and have someone on the civilian side in local communities help service members through that transition.  

Q: How important are veteran-centered charities, and how do they make up for when the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or military falls short in addressing these needs? 

Hirschfeld: There are some tremendous veteran-centered charities that address mental health, which is one of the top issues veterans are facing. I lived in Arizona during the VA waitlist scandal, where veterans died waiting for care. It became ground zero for Veterans Affairs health care reform. Reform has been made over the years, but we can still do much more for our veterans in the system and through outside charities. 

Rodriguez: I hate to keep harping on health but it’s just such a big deal to me. When I was deployed, I had a shipmate who fractured his lower back. He went to the doctor that was on our Forward Operating Base (FOB) who essentially told him to “suck it up” and gave him some Tylenol. He still has back problems, but the VA claims it wasn’t service connected so he cannot be compensated for it. It’s a part of a larger problem, which leads me to believe I think there’s a big need for VA reform to get our veterans the care they actually need. There’s a lot of organizations that are trying to spread awareness and bridge this gap. Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) is trying to tackle some of these issues head-on from a policy perspective. 

As a country, one of our biggest priorities should be making sure our service members are cared for mentally and physically. I think organizations that can supplement the care that the VA would provide are incredibly helpful and have been proven more effective than government solutions. At the bases I have been stationed at, they sometimes wouldn’t let us see people externally until we got a referral, which can take months and sometimes gets denied. Giving people the opportunity to seek out that care in the way that they think is best for them I think will go a long way. 

Q: Are there any opportunities that you see where philanthropy and nonprofits can step up to help tackle some of the challenges and needs we’ve discussed? Is there a service or support that we are failing to provide that might be an opportunity for civil society to innovate and better provide than the government?  

Hirschfeld: We need philanthropy and nonprofits to fill that gap where the federal government fails to help veterans. Too many veterans slip through the cracks and need help. The transition to the civilian world can be challenging for most. Creating that sense of community and camaraderie experienced in active duty, but in post-active duty, can save veteran lives. This can be through mentorship, fitness, therapy, sports teams, etc. Community is everything.   

Rodriguez: It’s specifically around that three- to six-month window of your transition from military service. You can bring local community ambassadors into the picture to help with that transition, rather than have this process be driven by government programs that ultimately end up doing nothing. Nonprofits, local businesses and foundations have the agility to assist in having checkpoints with service members that are leaving the military on issues like physical or mental health care, supplementing costs of health care that the VA won’t cover or something as simple as a small grant for a work certification.  

Q: What do you think is most important for donors to consider when evaluating and giving to veteran-centered charities? 

Hirschfeld: Donors should look at two data points with the first being how many veterans are being served, and the second is the total administration costs vs. the funds actually helping veterans. Unfortunately, over the years, there have been too many fraudulent veteran charity schemes aimed at helping disabled and wounded veterans. It’s imperative to do your homework and ensure the organization is legitimate and the money is directly helping veterans. 

Rodriguez: I would look at their financial disclosures to find out where the money is actually going, and what the split is for operational costs versus their programmatic work. Due diligence around organizations is incredibly important in making sure that the funds are going toward the cause you want to support. 

The post How Charitable Giving Can Help Those Who Served: Q&A with Army and Navy Veterans appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

This Veterans Day, Philanthropy Roundtable spoke with Quentin Hatfield, executive director of Wisconsin Veterans Network (VetsNet), a nonprofit that serves veterans facing crises and their families. Through its extensive partnerships with public, private, nonprofit and veteran service organizations, VetsNet can quickly assess the needs of veterans and their families and connect them to the appropriate resources, without respect to branch of service or time served.

Q: What inspired the creation of Wisconsin Veterans Network?

We realized a great many veterans were not successfully navigating the veteran service space and were left lacking the resources and benefits they earned through their service. Too often, veterans had been left on their own to find resources in a confusing network of government, private and nonprofit organizations – and many of their needs were not being addressed. And in many cases, veterans who did approach agencies with requests were not given the assistance they deserved, leaving many frustrated and ready to quit trying.

Q: What makes Wisconsin Veterans Network unique from other groups doing work in this space?

We are unique in that we are connected with agencies of all types statewide and work with them collaboratively, including Veterans Affairs (VA); the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs; county veterans’ offices; large and small nonprofits supporting veterans; non-veteran sector nonprofits; private agencies; city, county and local government human resource agencies and others with whom we collaborate. No other group or agency in the state is networked to the extent that we are, and some are connected only in the veterans’ service space, which excludes over 50% of the veteran population who don’t qualify for VA benefits or resources. That also excludes them from benefits with any of the nationally chartered veteran service organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, etc.

Further, we do not partner with any agency that places costs on their services, and we provide partner agencies space in our offices for meetings with veterans to expedite the delivery of resources and earned benefits.

Q: From your organization’s perspective, what is the most urgent need veterans face?

Without question, the most urgent issue confronting the community is the veteran suicide rate. Billions of dollars, task forces and other efforts have been committed without a significant impact on this tragedy. Mental health resources exist but are disjointed and the VA itself is overwhelmed with demand for mental health services.

At Wisconsin Veterans Network, the most basic way we try to address this problem is by quickly intervening for solutions to the individual crises we address with clients. If a veteran has any self-harm ideation, then loss of a job, housing, etc., only exacerbates those thoughts, so our goal is to intervene as early as possible and resolve the situation as quickly as possible. In addition, we broadly promote any peer support or suicide prevention training available to equip as many people as possible to recognize indicators and have the tools to intervene.

Q: How do your services help current veterans as well as transitioning service members?

For current veterans, we can provide direct emergency assistance if no resources are available, but generally we prequalify them and connect them with partners so their needs can be met quickly. The most common needs addressed are homelessness and homeless prevention, energy and rent assistance, benefits qualification, food insecurity, employment, qualification for education benefits, urgent home repairs and mental health services, though this certainly is not an exhaustive list.

For transitioning service members, we are the state representative of the Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program and are licensed by the VA Mental Health Administration to connect transitioning service members in Wisconsin with volunteer sponsors/mentors. Beginning six to 12 months before transition, these sponsors help service members build a homecoming plan that includes resources they’ll need when they arrive home – school, housing, jobs, etc.— so those resource are in place upon arrival. A long-term goal of the program is suicide prevention, and early studies in the states where the program was first implemented, including Texas and New York, indicate that stressors are greatly reduced for service members exiting though the program.

Q: What are some of the biggest obstacles you have faced in accomplishing your work?

The biggest obstacles are threefold.

First, many in the veterans and nonprofit space are reluctant to collaborate, feeling it might compromise their missions.

Next, it is difficult to reach underserved segments of the veteran population and to determine how best to message to them. This group includes post-9/11 veterans and ethnic minority veterans like Hispanic, Hmong, Native American and others. These mostly younger veterans do not communicate using traditional means. They do not attend job fairs or resource events seeking literature, and are more prone to communicate in their affinity groups online or search online for resources without guidance. An urgent need for our agency is developing those digital communication skills and resources.

Finally, funding is constantly a challenge, especially as it relates to targeted outreach and any new initiatives that hold merit.

Q: How do you measure your work’s impact? How many veterans have you helped since Wisconsin Veteran Network’s launch?

We have served almost 2,900 veterans and/or veteran families though our partnerships since our inception in early 2016, first as a “program” then incorporated as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in early 2017. We measure success by doing targeted communication in the form of “customer satisfaction surveys” annually and by following up to determine whether a veteran’s situation is stable in the post-service period.

Q: Anything else you think is important for the Roundtable donor community to know about your work?

I believe we have been influential in our state in modeling collaboration that serves our veteran population. Traditional structures have not, fundamentally, worked as long-term solutions, mostly because they rely on a “silo,” or single issue, solution. We’ve worked hard within new coalitions, including the Veterans Health Coalition, Southeastern Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Task Force, Impact 211, Governors Challenge on Veteran and Military Suicide Prevention, the Governor’s Task Force on Homelessness and others, to build bridges for cooperation.

Philanthropy Roundtable is grateful to all the men and women who have served our country. We owe you our freedom and will never forget your sacrifice and courage. For questions about the Roundtable’s work related to veterans or America’s founding principles, please contact Philanthropy Roundtable Program Director Clarice Smith.

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Last year, Philanthropy Roundtable Digital Marketing Manager Kara Subach, also an Army veteran, wrote an article reflecting on what the anniversary of 9/11 means to her and her fellow veterans.

She also reflected on the critical role philanthropy can play in helping veterans heal and prepare for success after they leave the military.

“Philanthropy focuses on those in need, and right now, the needs of veterans are many,” Subach wrote. “Thankfully, there are some phenomenal organizations that have made it their mission to help veterans and their families with critical services.”

Today, as we remember 9/11, Philanthropy Roundtable would like to recognize the important work of five veterans service organizations.

The Gary Sinise Foundation: Always Doing “A Little More” for Veterans

The 9/11 terrorist attacks inspired actor and philanthropist Gary Sinise to deepen his long-standing commitment to supporting U.S. service members and first responders.

“After that terrible day, I decided to become much more active in devoting my time and resources to serving our defenders however and wherever I could,” Sinise wrote.

The mission of the Gary Sinise Foundation is to “serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need.” The foundation accomplishes this mission by “creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen and build communities.”

For example, through its RISE program, the foundation builds 100% mortgage-free specially adapted smart homes for the severely wounded.

The foundation also seeks to “bridge the gap” between defender and civilian communities, and provides essential equipment, emergency relief and training for first responders.

In 2021, Sinise and Home Depot co-founder and philanthropist Bernie Marcus also announced a partnership to build a network of mental health clinics for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

More than two decades after the 9/11 attacks, Sinise’s commitment to the military continues to grow. As he has said numerous times, “While we can never do enough for our defenders and their loved ones, we can always do a little more.”

The American Veterans Center: Preserving America’s Heroic Memory

“The mission of the AVC is to guard and preserve America’s heroic memory,” said Tim Holbert, executive director of the American Veterans Center (AVC), in an interview with the Roundtable.

“The AVC works to inspire and educate Americans through the people and stories that have defined us since our founding,” he added.

The organization’s main focus is historical preservation. AVC has recorded the oral histories of veterans from World War II through the present day. These stories are made available in documentaries on PBS, Netflix and other outlets, and are preserved by the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project.

AVC also features heroic military stories on its annual Emmy Award-winning show “American Valor,” which is broadcast nationally each Veterans Day weekend. These tales of courage, sacrifice and heroism are narrated by major Hollywood celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Scarlett Johansson and Morgan Freeman.

AVC also hosts live events, including an annual Veterans Conference each November and a National Memorial Day Parade each May.

Hire Heroes USA: Empowering Veteran Success in the Civilian Workforce

As the Roundtable’s Erica Haines detailed in a blog published earlier this year, Hire Heroes USA is a nonprofit organization that “empowers U.S. military members, veterans and their spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce.”

The statistics related to veterans’ employment may seem stark. “Each year the military discharges 270,000 service members. Eighty percent of them won’t have a job lined up,” according to Hire Heroes USA, which also notes the unemployment rate of military spouses is four times higher than the national average.

That’s why the services offered by Hire Heroes USA are so critical. Their team connects veterans and military spouses to resources that help them find meaningful and stable employment.

As Haines noted:

Through highly personalized sessions with an assigned transition specialist, Hire Heroes USA provides career mentorship, professional resume writing assistance, mock interviews and salary negotiation strategies, among other services – all at no cost. Hire Heroes USA also maintains a job board with thousands of postings, hosts quarterly virtual career fairs and partners with a network of employers dedicated to hiring veterans and military spouses.

To date, Hire Heroes USA has helped more than 65,000 veterans and military spouses secure meaningful careers.

Council on Criminal Justice: Tackling Problems for Incarcerated Veterans

The National Library of Medicine reports almost one third of military veteran respondents have been arrested and booked by law enforcement, a rate significantly higher than among civilians, indicating larger problems for many who have transitioned home after serving their country.

Despite the scope of this problem, Col. Jim Seward, director of the Veteran Justice Commission for the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ), told the Roundtable there has been “shockingly little research and policy work” dedicated to improving criminal justice policies and practices” for military service members.

“Far too many veterans are incarcerated, and too few services are available to treat their behavioral health conditions, traumatic brain injuries and other conditions that contribute to the high rate at which they enter the civilian justice system,” he said.

That’s why CCJ has launched a “full-scale initiative to document the unique issues facing veterans in the civilian justice system – and build consensus for reforms that enhance safety, health and justice.”

“By elevating these issues and building support for solutions, we have a chance to make real change that can benefit veterans and their families,” said Seward.

Travis Manion Foundation: Reconnecting Veterans and Gold Star Families to Service

Service members who leave the military and families of the fallen, known as Gold Star families, often feel disconnected and isolated from the military community, leaving some of them lost and without a sense of purpose.

Founded by Janice Manion to honor her son Travis, who was killed while serving in Iraq, the Travis Manion Foundation addresses the challenges and transitions these groups are facing, bringing these communities together.

“We provide service opportunities for both veterans and families of the fallen,” said Molly Boyle, the foundation’s chief strategic communications officer, in an interview with the Roundtable.

“Veterans have a diversity of experience and thought, yet they have a special talent of being able to come together and accomplish a mission. And families of the fallen find comfort in redirecting their grief into serving others as a very healing experience,” she said.

The Travis Manion Foundation focuses on reconnecting veterans and Gold Star Families to service by helping them make a positive impact in their communities and for future generations. Their “character-based” programming offers leadership training, mentorship opportunities, service projects and expeditions to help communities in need.

At Philanthropy Roundtable, we express our condolences to those who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001 and our continued gratitude to those who defend our freedoms. Click here for more Roundtable resources related to philanthropic support for military service members, veterans and their families.

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Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, is a well-known supporter of American service members and their families. The home improvement retailer is widely recognized as one of the most veteran-friendly companies in the country, and in his philanthropic work, Marcus helps injured veterans and first responders who have sustained traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Elise Westhoff recently sat down with Marcus for an episode of the Roundtable’s interview series “Doers to Donors,” which highlights how innovators and self-made entrepreneurs are improving lives through charitable giving. During their conversation, Marcus discussed the origins of his support for our nation’s defenders and their families.

It all began in 2007. That year, while touring the Shepherd Center, a renowned neurorehabilitation hospital he had supported for years, Marcus met a young soldier with a spinal cord injury and a traumatic brain injury. Military doctors had told the soldier he would never walk again. 

“He was lying in a VA (Veterans Affairs) bed for seven months,” Marcus recalled. “They were doing nothing for him.”

Ultimately, thanks to his mother’s persistence, the injured veteran had secured a place at the Shepherd Center and within weeks, he was walking with braces.

This encounter had a profound impact on Marcus, who called Alana Shepherd, co-founder of the center, to inquire further about its treatment programs. She told him while she had many patients come to Shepherd for help, the treatments were often too expensive for them.

“I said let’s do something,” said Marcus. “And we started this [program] called Operation Share.”

Marcus provided the seed funding for Operation Share at the Shepherd Center, later renamed the SHARE Military Initiative, “a comprehensive rehabilitation program that focuses on assessment and treatment for service members who have served in the U.S. military since September 11, 2001, regardless of discharge status.”

“Pretty soon we found that the real issue is the invisible one,” said Marcus.

By that, Marcus is referring to a growing triple threat for returning veterans: TBI, PTSD and veteran suicide, which has taken the lives of 65,000 veterans since 2010 – all things SHARE aims to address in its treatment programs.

Following the success of Operation Share, Marcus decided to further invest his time and money to create a “winning formula” for treating traumatic brain injuries. In partnership with the University of Colorado, Marcus launched the Marcus Institute for Brain Health, an “intensive, outpatient program [that] combines the best tools in traditional rehabilitation with complementary medicines.” Marcus intends for the institute to become the hub of a national network of treatment facilities dedicated to helping veterans with TBI and PTSD.

Through his philanthropic initiatives, Marcus intends to take care of as many as 20,000 veterans per year. A veteran of the Air National Guard, he says his passion to help those in service is inspired both by devotion to his country and the sacrifices of those who defend it. 

“I love this country,” Marcus said. “People [put] their lives on the line … fighting in wars. Going out there [and] putting their lives at risk, but coming back broken … and my heart goes out to them.” 

Marcus hopes the incredible success of the programs he helped build will inspire other philanthropists to join his cause.

“We have story after story of people [who were] ready to commit suicide [and] didn’t. They came to us and now [they] are able to earn a living [and] keep their families. And I can tell you that the only thing we’re lacking now are other philanthropists,” said Marcus. “We’re looking for people to do this all around the country [and] we’re asking philanthropists to step up.”

To watch the full episode of “Doers to Donors” featuring Bernie Marcus, click here.

The post Bernie Marcus: Healing the Wounds of War Through Philanthropy appeared first on Philanthropy Roundtable.

In 2007, Janet Manion founded the Travis Manion Foundation to honor her son Travis Manion, who was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq. Earlier that year, Travis was “fatally wounded by an enemy sniper while aiding and drawing fire away from his wounded teammates.” He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Valor for his courage in helping the other members of his patrol survive.

To further his legacy, the Travis Manion Foundation inspires people to make an impact by serving others, uniting communities by “training, developing and highlighting the role models that lead them.” Their programs are “designed to empower veterans and families of the fallen,” bringing Gold Star families together with veterans – and dispelling a commonly-held belief that the needs of each group are disparate.

In fact, Travis Manion Foundation leaders say they recognize that both groups often feel disconnected from a previous purpose. For veterans, this feeling stems from exiting the military, while Gold Star families are cut off from military life with the loss of a loved one. The foundation found it meaningful to bring members of these communities together, as they face challenges like grappling with new identities and reconnecting with others.

Service plays a central role connecting these two communities and achieving the foundation’s mission.  The Travis Manion Foundation focuses on empowering veterans and the families of the fallen by utilizing them as resources to make a positive impact in their communities and for the next generation. Their “character-based” programming makes use of leadership presentations, mentorship opportunities and service projects, among others.

“We provide service opportunities for both veterans and families of the fallen,” said Molly Boyle, the foundation’s chief strategic communications officer. “Veterans have a diversity of experience and thought, yet they have a special talent of being able to come together and accomplish a mission. And families of the fallen find comfort in redirecting their grief into serving others as a very healing experience.” 

The foundation’s programs are available nationwide and more than 60% are open to the public regardless of a military connection. They include:

• Character Does Matter: This is one of the organization’s oldest and largest programs. The foundation trains veterans and families of the fallen to go into their communities and lead character development seminars. These presentations teach children about character through the lessons of our country’s heroes, both those in the military and other historical, patriotic figures. Since its inception, over 400,000 students have been impacted by this program.
• Expeditions: These are service trips that bring together several families of the fallen to serve a community in need. Each family participant is asked to serve in honor of their fallen hero, providing them the opportunity to give back … and to keep their loved one’s story alive.
• Spartan Leadership Program: This selective,  high-intensity leadership development program is comprised of veterans and families of the fallen who are looking “to hone and leverage the leadership of our nation’s heroes.” Over seven months, professionals blend character-based education and positive psychology to teach leadership skills to participants, who prepare to take newly-learned skills to address a pressing need in their community.

Program participant and Marine Corps veteran Ben Alexander said the foundation and the community it has built have brought him renewed energy.

“I love to serve. I love to be around people who love to serve selflessly and that’s what you get when you join the mission.  It reinvigorated me,” he said.

As the nation observes Memorial Day, the Travis Manion Foundation is recognizing those who lost their lives in service with its Honor Project, an effort that began in 2021 to remember the sacrifice of our fallen heroes on this sacred holiday. Amid COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, families last year were unable to travel to pay respects to their loved ones – and Arlington National Cemetery was open to very few people. In response to this, the foundation asked the general public to submit names of fallen heroes buried in Arlington and visited 4,000 of those grave sites, laying a commemorative flag made by veteran-owned company Flags of Valor at the foot of each tombstone. 

This year, the foundation is expanding this effort to six additional national cemeteries in Jacksonville, Florida (Jacksonville National Cemetery); San Diego, California (Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery); Fort Leavenworth, Kansas (Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery); Fort Logan, Colorado(Fort Logan National Cemetery); Bucks County, Pennsylvania (Washington Crossing National Cemetery); and West Point, New York (West Point National Cemetery).

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As we approach Memorial Day and honor our nation’s active-duty service members and veterans during Military Appreciation Month, Philanthropy Roundtable is recognizing Call of Duty Endowment, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans find employment. Its mission is to identify and fund “the most efficient and effective organizations that get unemployed veterans back to work.”

The backdrop to Call of Duty Endowment’s work is a changing landscape in the field of American philanthropy. While charitable donations and programs for veterans and military families have been one of the fastest growing areas of philanthropy over the last 15 years, the government remains the largest provider of veterans support services – and has done so for decades. The current system is expensive and has not produced intended outcomes – namely employment and economic opportunity post-service. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the cost per job placement has risen significantly over the last few years while the number of veterans hired has decreased. In contrast, there has been a much slower increase in cost per placement in the nonprofit sphere … and the philanthropic sector is pioneering new ways to approach challenges related to veterans’ employment.

That’s where Call of Duty Endowment enters the picture. Named after the famous video game inspired by those who served in uniform, Call of Duty Endowment has become one of the most impressive charitable actors in the veterans service space.

In fact, Call of Duty Endowment has helped place over 100,000 veterans in jobs, spending under $547 per veteran placement in 2021. This is in sharp contrast to the average $5,901 spent by the Department of Labor for similar services. Moreover, the organization boasts an average starting salary of $64,000 for veterans.

It all started with a chance encounter in 2007, when Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, a video game holding company, met former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson at Walter Reed Hospital. The men discussed a philanthropic foundation that was planning to build a performing arts center on the grounds of a VA facility in West Los Angeles, and Nicholson expressed frustration that more attention wasn’t being paid to finding jobs for veterans

Following that conversation, Kotick felt compelled to research employment statistics for veterans, and found that 50,000 out of 150,000 veterans returning to the workforce at the time were unable to find jobs. These troubling statistics moved Kotick to action, and he founded the Call of Duty Endowment in 2009. In 2013, Kotick hired Dan Goldenberg, a former Navy officer with strong business consulting experience, to lead an effort reimagining veteran employment support.

Goldenberg chose to partner with organizations that provided direct services to veterans like resume creation, interview preparation and job placement assistance, rather than what he saw as more indirect services like mentoring or coaching. Then, applying some of the same “narrow and deep” business principles that made parent company Activision Blizzard a success, he developed the Seal of Distinction, a prize awarded to nonprofits that “demonstrate the highest level of effectiveness, efficiency and integrity in placing veterans in quality jobs.”

To vet organizations for the prize, Call of Duty Endowment, in concert with professional services company Deloitte, examines a nonprofit’s impact, financial health and scale potential. Call of Duty Endowment pays particular attention to the organization’s cost per placement, average starting salary and retention rates. The Seal of Distinction award, which is intended to nationally recognize outstanding organizations and incentivize them to continue good work, includes a $30,000 prize. Notable grantees include Hire Heroes USA, which was awarded the Seal of Distinction in 2013.

As Goldenberg looks ahead, he says his organization remains focused on finding and helping to scale the highest-performing nonprofits that place veterans in high quality jobs.

“Given our grantees place veterans into good jobs at one-tenth the cost of U.S. government efforts, it’s clear that the nonprofit sector has pioneered an approach far superior to that of the government,” he said. “We’d love to see federal veteran employment funding reprogrammed to support what works in the nonprofit sector. If this happened, we could effectively solve the veteran employment problem in the United States.” 

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This week, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced her latest round of giving: $3.9 billion to 465 nonprofits, including those working in education, housing, criminal justice and veterans affairs. Hire Heroes USA, an organization dedicated to helping veterans find meaningful and lasting careers, received a record-breaking $11 million – the largest gift in its history. While Scott’s gift is the most recent public sign of recognition for the organization, Hire Heroes USA has built a national reputation for assisting veterans and military spouses in the transition from the military to civilian life. 

According to Hire Heroes USA, “Each year the military discharges 270,000 services members. Eighty percent of them won’t have a job lined up.” The organization also notes the unemployment rate of military spouses is four times higher than the national average. That’s why the services Hire Heroes USA offers are integral in connecting veterans and military spouses with resources to help them find meaningful and stable employment. Through highly personalized sessions with an assigned transition specialist, the organization provides career mentorship, professional resume writing assistance, mock interviews and salary negotiation strategies, among other services – all at no cost. Hires Heroes USA also maintains a job board with thousands of postings, hosts quarterly virtual career fairs and partners with a network of employers dedicated to hiring veterans and military spouses.

Much of the organization’s success is rooted in its high-touch, individualized approach to serving the military community, which is grounded in firsthand knowledge of the specific needs of the people they serve. 

It all started when U.S. Army Sgt. Justin Callahan was severely injured in a landmine explosion on duty in Afghanistan. While recovering from his wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he had a chance encounter with John Bardis, the founder of MedAssets and former assistant secretary for administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Bardis was moved by his conversation with Callahan and his concerns over being able to find work, and offered him a job on the spot. This partnership would later lead to the creation of Hire Heroes USA. 

Since then, the organization has helped more than 65,000 veterans and military spouses secure meaningful careers. 

Retired U.S. Air Force Capt. Erin Pineda is one of the veterans who found success in his civilian job search with the assistance of Hire Heroes USA. He credits the organization with providing hands-on support to help his transition.  “Hire Heroes USA will help usher you through this challenging time with personalized support. They have tons of resources, connections and the know-how to help you translate your unique background,” he said. “And it’s all free for veterans and military spouses thanks to their nonprofit model.”

The organization runs several programs including:

• Partnered Career Transition is the nonprofit’s hallmark program. Through the process of assessment, training and mentorship, clients are paired with transition specialists to create professional resumes and learn effective job search techniques.
• Career Transition Workshops teach veterans how to develop a strategic plan, create a resume and conduct a job search.
• The Hire Heroes USA Volunteer Mentor Network connects veterans with volunteers for industry-specific coaching, networking and interview practice to move them forward in their job search.

A focus on helping female veterans

As they continue to grow their offerings, a significant strategic priority for Hire Heroes USA is the expansion of its services to targeted populations, including female veterans who face unique employment barriers.

Women represent the fastest-growing population in both military service and the veteran community. In greater numbers than ever, women have stepped up to serve in new, critical and formidable roles defending American principles and contributing to the nation’s national security.  Nevertheless, women routinely face challenges that put them at an increased risk of victimization and isolation while deployed – and higher rates of homelessness than their male counterparts when they return to civilian life.

The Hire Heroes USA team recently spoke with the Roundtable about why they believe this is a particularly important time to help female veterans. One staffer said, “While our support of female clients is not driven by the current pandemic, COVID-19 has deeply impacted female workers. Given that women veterans already face greater hurdles than their male counterparts, the impact of the pandemic on these clients is an issue of significant concern to our organization and our clients.” 

The expansion of program offerings to a new population is no easy task.  In an effort to ensure they understand the unique needs of female veterans, Hire Heroes USA spends time conducting focus group discussions and listening tours to hear directly from the people they are trying to support.

As a U.S. Army reserve soldier and director of corporate partnerships at Hire Heroes USA, Elizabeth Reyes is familiar with the myriad challenges women experience when transitioning out of the military.

“Women are an indispensable part of the armed services, but they face challenges that male veterans don’t. Female veterans are more likely to experience financial hardships after transitioning to civilian life,” Reyes said. “On average, their job searches take longer than their male counterparts. It’s unacceptable and it’s why we’re working to better understand and ease the barriers to employment that women veterans face when they return to civilian life.”

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For more than a decade, red and blue states alike have worked to adopt a range of reforms that improve safety and justice. On the federal level, Congress has also made bipartisan progress on criminal justice, most notably with the First Step Act of 2018.

Despite such gains, a key issue has been largely overlooked: how the justice system manages men and women convicted of crimes who also have served our country in the armed forces. 

There are more veterans in U.S. prisons than total prisoners in all but 14 other countries.

Specialized courts that handle cases involving veterans with substance use disorders have begun to tackle that critical aspect of the challenge, but daunting problems such as lack of connections to critical services and access to benefits based on discharge characterization remain. Now, the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) is launching a full-scale initiative to document the unique issues facing veterans in the civilian justice system – and build consensus for reforms that enhance safety, health and justice.

In an interview with Philanthropy Roundtable, the project’s director, Col. Jim Seward, discussed the challenges and opportunities for progress.

Q: What is the overarching problem CCJ’s Veterans Justice Project is addressing, and how will this initiative solve it? 

A: We have come a long way from the widespread “broken veterans” horrors following the Vietnam War. But far too many veterans are incarcerated, and too few services are available to treat their behavioral health conditions, traumatic brain injuries and other conditions that contribute to the high rate at which they enter the civilian justice system. We will tackle these and other problems through a multi-year research, policy development and communications initiative that spans the full scope of the system, from transition out of military service through reentry into society. Aimed at building consensus and political momentum for evidence-based reforms, the project will be guided by a diverse committee of senior military and criminal justice leaders. A research team will establish key facts and context to inform the committee’s discussions and shape its findings. Those findings will become actionable policy recommendations that we will aggressively disseminate to federal, state and local policymakers and practitioners, and to the media and the public. Although veterans have been involved in the criminal justice system in significant numbers since the post-Civil War era, there remains a dearth of rigorous research aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of efforts to address their unique needs as they transition back to civilian life. It’s time to change that – and elevate the issue in a national conversation.

Q: What has been the biggest obstacle in conducting this work?

A: The sheer magnitude of the issues. Diving into the work done by the Department of Defense to ease veterans’ transition from active service to civilian life, for example, is a massive lift. So is scoping out the work other federal agencies have done to care for veterans and treat their mental health needs and other challenges, and then getting a handle on various efforts underway at the state and local levels. This research is essential to understand the scope of work that is being done, what has worked and what is still relevant. Lack of data in other areas will be a further complication. For instance, identification of incarcerated veterans is not a uniform practice in state prisons and jails. While the Department of Veterans Affairs has an identification system available to law enforcement agencies, many don’t use it or even know about it. But these obstacles are opportunities: by elevating these issues and building support for solutions, we have a chance to make real change that can benefit veterans and their families.

Q: What is something surprising you have learned along the way?

A: Two things. One is the extent of veterans’ entanglement in the justice system. In 2016, the last year for which we have reliable data, 107,400 veterans were in federal and state prisons, and roughly 181,500 were in local jails and prisons. Almost one-third of veterans have been arrested and booked at some point in their lives, a rate significantly higher than among civilians (18%). The other surprise is that more has not been done to improve criminal justice policies and practices to benefit the men and women who have served our country. There’s been almost shockingly little research and policy work. There is a giant gap to fill.

Q: How can those interested in supporting your work help out?

A: This project requires robust data collection, research and considerable resources to communicate the findings to the right audiences at strategic moments. CCJ welcomes help from anyone who can share current research and other information that would support the project. In addition, we welcome help from financial partners to ensure our extensive investigation and deliberations succeed in improving the lives of veterans, their families and their communities.

If you are interested in helping accelerate this organization’s impact, please reach out to Philanthropy Roundtable Program Director Erica Haines or contact Col. Jim Seward, project director of The Veteran’s Justice Project at the Council for Criminal Justice at jseward@counciloncj.org.  America’s future is bright, yet dialogue, refinement of ideas and commitment to our country’s values and principles is fundamental to our future.

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