Returning Veterans Project
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Post-9/11 war zone veterans, service members, and their families face many challenges when accessing the mental and physical health services they need. Our program is designed to ensure that access to care, stigma of receiving support, and cost of services are never barriers for members of the veterans and military communities. Access: Half of post-9/11 veterans aren’t enrolled in Veterans Administration health care and are not getting the mental health care and other critical services they need. Stigma: Over one-third of military personnel say seeking mental health treatment would damage their military career. Cost: Over half of military families don’t have enough savings to cover three months of living expenses; paying for mental health care is a major barrier for families in need.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community Supported Health Services for Veterans
The Returning Veterans Project is constantly working to provide expanded services to Veterans, Service Members, and their immediate Family Members across Oregon and Southwest Washington. We must continuously expand our volunteer provider network to ensure that Veterans, Service Members, and their fFamilies have access to critical services when they need support.
Where we work
Awards
Board Chair, Carol Levine was awarded a 2009 Local Hero Award from the Bank of America Foundation 2009
2007 Light A Fire Award from The Oregon Community Foundation and Portland Monthly
Family Purple Award 2015
National Guard
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Veterans
Related Program
Community Supported Health Services for Veterans
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The Returning Veterans Project supports Veterans, Service Members, and their Families with free, confidential mental and physical health services in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Number of people who received clinical mental health care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of hours of training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Supported Health Services for Veterans
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We bridge the gaps in the existing healthcare system to make it easy for RVP clients to access the quality, timely care they deserve through our network of private volunteer mental health therapists and somatic providers. Services provided to RVP clients are completely confidential, which helps reduce fear of stigma or reprisal. Our free services are without hidden fees or strings attached so that RVP clients get the care they need.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Currently, the Returning Veterans Project mission strategies include:
1. Partnering with other community non-profits, the Veterans Healthcare Administration and universities that support community-based healthcare clinics in an effort to grow and promote our FREE & Confidential services.
2. Regularly partnering with local universities and community colleges to keep our pulse on post 9/11 veterans and their reintegration challenges and successes in higher education and to educate them on our services.
3. Partnering with the Oregon National Guard Family Program in order to get our message out to units covering Oregon and SW Washington.
4. Partnering with the Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs to saturate social media, public events and outreach opportunities.
5. Active Provider Retention Program: We regularly recognize our generous volunteer providers and acknowledging their dedication by writing notes of thanks and providing small gifts donated by local businesses.
6. Provider Trainings Free of Charge: Returning Veterans Project believes in giving back to our providers by coordinating top trainings with FREE CEU's directly teaching about veterans and veteran cultures. To date, we have put on trainings by top experts in Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury and Suicide Prevention. We also provide trainings to our somatic providers in their fields of massage and acupuncture.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Returning Veterans Project's capabilities include:
- Diverse board of directors who are invested in providing the best care possible to veterans and their families. They work through their organizations and companies to ensure support is there financially for our outreach and education efforts.
-We have a strong outreach program with a calculated outreach strategy, spanning the four corners of the state, as well as a robust social media presence.
-Our provider recruitment is an ongoing program enhanced by participating in media outlets such as radio, TV and podcasts.
-We have a strong, independent donor base with more than 60% of our funds coming from private donors.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Returning Veterans Project's pro bono provider network in 2018 delivered more than 3,600 hours to 458 veterans and family members.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Returning Veterans Project
Board of directorsas of 12/07/2023
Mr. Nicholas Jones
Term: 2020 - 2023
Monte Akers
A-G Management Company, Military Father
Catherine Gaffigan
Nicholas Jones
National Defense Industrial Association
Brian Simmons
Partner, Westy Properties
Chaz Carr
EY-Parthenon
Jennifer Vigil
Advanced Autoparts
James Fishback
Mountain View Law
Rupert Dallas
Troy Boonstra
T2B Enterprises, LLC
Nick Hardigg
Nonprofit Leader & Consultant
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/02/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.