Bridging the Gap

Veterans Collaborative's Mission to Unite Donors and Doers and Boost Local Nonprofits

Let's dive into the thrilling world of charitable funding—a wild ride filled with twists, turns, and unexpected drops, like your favorite rollercoaster with all the feels. Now, picture this journey in the realm of military and Veteran communities. A whopping 92% of nonprofits are hustling with budgets under $1 million, and 62% are making a big impact with budgets under $250,000. These NGOs are the unsung heroes for our service members, Veterans, and families, yet they often hit roadblocks accessing national charitable funding. In reality, they lack all access to charitable support outside their local grassroots level.

Having seen the aftermath of long-term disaster recovery efforts, where big organizations swept in for relief, but ultimately left these communities after a few months, the need for sustainable and community-centric solutions became glaringly apparent to me. Change happens at the local level, and communities need ongoing support, not just temporary or sporadic relief. This realization seamlessly translated into the realm of Veteran and military communities, giving birth to Veterans Collaborative—a mission-driven initiative to bridge the funding gap between national NGOs/corporations/individual funders (the Donors) and local nonprofits serving military and Veteran communities (the Doers) through responsible and equitable grantmaking. That's the essence of our Partner Services.

The challenges faced by smaller organizations in securing funding outside their community are multi-layered. Their size and structure make them less visible to national funders, and the restrictive grantmaking practices of these larger entities create access barriers. You know these national organizations with their well-intentioned coalitions, but their funding is often reserved for just 8% due to unnecessary restrictions. This leaves local nonprofits struggling to meet the diverse needs of our military and Veteran communities without crucial philanthropic resources.

Enter Veterans Collaborative—a link between donor intent and pressing needs on the ground. Through initiatives like Radar and VETCheck, we identify local NGO needs, assess risks, and establish equitable grantmaking practices as a bridge between our Partner funders and our grantees—your community nonprofits. Our goal? Increase access to resources for service members, Veterans, and their families. Our Approach? Build awareness and a comprehensive network that strengthens the resiliency of local nonprofit organizations serving our military and veteran communities through strategic funding. Resiliency for us means the capacity to withstand or recover quickly from challenges—a term that isn't a given; it takes intention, resources, and community.

With high inflation and interest rates, philanthropic giving is down by double digits nationwide. Even Partners, national charitable organizations, and corporations are becoming more risk-averse during these economic challenges, making your philanthropic investment more critical than ever. This 92% doesn't have the runways of larger NGOs and they don't have robust investments to fill the void—it just isn't there.

Veterans Collaborative invites you to join this collective effort. Here's how you can contribute:

1)      Recommend Nonprofits to RADAR: If you know local nonprofits making a difference, share our information with them. We'll assess their needs and be a resource for their growth.

2)      Advocate for Our Partner Services: Spread the word about our approach to corporations and organizations you know. Cross-functional collaboration is essential, and we're uniting Doers and Donors for a serious impact in the areas of Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention, Family Services, and Transitional and Financial Wellness.

3)      Join Our Mission: Explore our Funding Initiatives and consider being a part of the change! Your support from liking our media pages, sharing content, or supporting our initiatives can make a tangible difference in the lives of those who have served our nation.

To wrap it up, we're asking you to take a good look at the nonprofits in your community. You are the hope they're waiting for. It's all about creating access for those who need it most, and Veterans Collaborative is here to help turn goodness into action. Together, we can ensure that the essential organizations serving our military and Veteran communities receive the support they need to thrive and increase access, resources, and services to our heroes and families.

#GiveLocal #VeteransLab