Cherishing a Year of Collaboration and Impact
As we reflect on the past year, Veterans Collaborative takes immense pride in presenting our Annual Impact Statement – a testament to the collective achievements resulting from collaboration, unwavering dedication, and a shared commitment to empower Veterans, service members, and families. This Statement of Activities encapsulates the strides made in fostering positive change, building networks, and providing essential support to our Veteran and military communities.
Mission Recap:
Veterans Collaborative remains steadfast in its mission to create a unified network that connects local nonprofits to critical funding, amplifies community resources and impact, and shares stories of resilience. Throughout the year, we've harnessed the power of collaboration and philanthropy to empower Veterans, service members, families, and those dedicated to serving them.
Key Achievements:
Partner and Grantmaking Services: Through our Funds, we served as strategic philanthropic investors to NGOs serving our Veteran and military communities— establishing the connection between our Partners, the donors, and local changemakers, the doers. Our focus— the 92% of NGOs with operating budgets under $1M, each doing incredible work at the grassroots level. Unfortunately, these unsung heroes often lack access to national charitable funds due to restrictive giving and grantmaking practices. Consequently, these organizations, the driving force for positive change in communities across our Nation, receive less than a quarter of all charitable dollars and have little access to grants and charitable opportunities beyond their local communities— until now.
We are bridging this crucial funding gap one Partner at a time, and we take immense pride in serving both existing Partners and our grantees through our innovative VETCheck program, strategic funds, and grantmaking services! Our efforts have extended even further, connecting with organizations that operate on budgets under $250K (62%) and those with budgets under $50K (25%). This initiative entailed a thorough review and elevation of these outstanding organizations, fostering a win-win scenario. And this is just the beginning!
Fiscal Sponsorships: In our unwavering commitment to uplift charitable initiatives founded by or serving the Veteran/military community, we take great pride in providing fiscal sponsorships. Under our oversight, we proudly stand as the only fiscal sponsorship tailored specifically for our community. Here are the projects we wholeheartedly believe in: “Brothers,” ProtectED, Bugle, and US Ukraine Veterans Bridge Educational Fund – each spearheaded by Veterans and making a significant impact in the world.
Veteran Labs: We have championed innovative programs like Veteran Reality (a VR game for mental health and wellness) and established Academy X (a Veteran-led STEM program connecting students in underserved schools to tier 1 institutions). These programs underscore our commitment to building resources, community, and opportunities for the public good.
Engaging the Community: Throughout the year, Veterans Collaborative has been dynamically involved with Partners, community resources, Veterans, spouses, service members, and those in need. By leveraging our tools Radar and VETCheck, participating in conferences and workshops, and engaging with Partners and donors, we have fostered discussions on collaborative solutions to overcome challenges and enhanced community resilience. Every interaction has been cherished, contributing significantly to the development of a strong network that provides support, encouragement, and opportunities. We are living our mission to Advise. Connect. and Serve each day.
Acknowledging Our Partners:
We extend our deepest gratitude to our Partners and donors who have played a pivotal role in propelling our mission forward, giving a generous $325K (YTD) in our first year of operations to our Funds and Veteran Fiscal Projects. In return, we’ve proudly awarded nearly $300K (YTD)— 92% of our gross revenue to Veteran serving organizations and charitable projects. Together, we have reached significant milestones, aligning with our dedication to unlock doors to charitable opportunities and leverage philanthropic investments for impactful initiatives in areas such as Veteran Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention, Family Services, Transition, Employment and Financial Wellness, and Veteran Charitable Projects. This collective effort is creating enduring positive change for our Veteran and military communities!
Looking Ahead:
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, Veterans Collaborative is poised for continued growth, collaboration, and impact. We are growing our team, expanding our reach, forging new Partnerships- donors that are aligned with our mission, learning from our network, telling important stories through our guest contributors on SITREP, and exploring innovative ways to empower and uplift our Veteran and military communities.
In closing, we express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has played a vital role in the success of Veterans Collaborative and our meaningful mission. Your support has been instrumental in our journey, and we invite you to join us in the exciting chapters that lie ahead!
Written by: Natalie Worthan, Founder