OPERATION GRATITUDE INC
Saying "Thank You" to All Who Serve
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Deployed Troops - A Connection to Home
Every year thousands of service members are deployed around the world - separated from family, friends, and the comforts of home. At the main facility in Chatsworth, CA, and at organized large-scale assembly events across the nation, volunteers assemble thousands of signature Operation Gratitude Care Packages. Care packages are delivered to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and National Guardsmen serving overseas and here at home. Each care package is carefully assembled with premium comfort items, handwritten letters of appreciation, and items from the Operation Gratitude Handmade with Love volunteers. These loyal supporters from across the country commit hours of service to knitting scarves, sewing fleece hats, and making paracord survival bracelets to be included in the care packages.
Veterans
Regardless of how or when veterans served, Operation Gratitude and its team of volunteers are committed to honoring their service in a very personal way. The guiding principle of the Veterans program is: It is never too late to say “Thank You.” Operation Gratitude coordinates with Veterans Service Organizations, VA hospitals, veteran and nursing homes, as well as other nonprofits to provide care packages to veterans of all generations.
Children of Military Families
Of the approximately 1.6 million children of active duty service members, at any given time 225,000 are experiencing the challenge of having a parent or guardian deployed for an extended period of time. To support and celebrate these amazing and resilient children, each year Operation Gratitude distributes 10,000 of our trademarked “Battalion Buddies” (hand-stuffed teddy bears) to the children of deployed troops. More than just cuddly toys, Battalion Buddies provide emotional comfort to children.
Wounded Heroes and Caregivers
Operation Gratitude understands that the sacrifices made by wounded heroes and, in turn, their caregivers, are monumental and unique. These complex challenges can be isolating and Operation Gratitude wishes to support the needs of this community as they battle the invisible and physical wounds of war by providing them with special care packages.
Where we work
Awards
Citizenship Award 2011
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Minerva Award 2010
California Women's Conference
Jefferson Award 2012
ABC7 Los Angeles
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Military personnel, Emergency responders, Veterans
Related Program
Deployed Troops - A Connection to Home
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This number represents all those who donate their time, talent, and treasure as a tangible demonstration of their gratitude to their military and first responder heroes.
Number of Care Packages Delivered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Military personnel, Emergency responders, Veterans
Related Program
Deployed Troops - A Connection to Home
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
2020 metric includes support for COVID-19 Frontline Responders Higher number of Care Packages sent in 2017 is due to Operation Gratitude's involvement in national disaster relief in 2017.
Number of "Handmade With Love" items created for and donated to Operation Gratitude
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Deployed Troops - A Connection to Home
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Individuals take the time to create items such as hand-knit scarves and hats and paracord bracelets to be included in every Care Package. The recipients treasure the handmade items.
Number of Battalion Buddies delivered to military children
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Families, Military personnel
Related Program
Children of Military Families
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number decreased due to challenges associated with COVID-19 This number is part of the overall Care Package count
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
In March of 2003, Operation Gratitude sent its first four care packages to deployed service members in Iraq. Since its inception, the organization has given millions of Americans the opportunity to express appreciation through hands-on volunteerism and lifted the spirits of more than 1.8 million Deployed Troops, and another 1.2 million recruit graduates, veterans, military families, first responders and healthcare heroes. It is our goal to ensure that all who serve believe that the American people care about nation’s first responder, military, and veteran community and their wellbeing. We will accomplish this goal by creating a national volunteer network by 2027 in communities across each state. Volunteers will work together to assemble and distribute care packages to be presented at defining moments in the careers of those who are protecting our communities and citizens at home and abroad. It is our belief that through repeated engagements and involvement during every step of a service member’s journey, we will demonstrate that the American people care about our nation’s military and veteran community and their wellbeing.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Through repeat engagements in cities and communities across the nation, Operation Gratitude will demonstrate our volunteers' commitment to supporting members of the military and first responders.
By distributing care packages at each pivotal stage of those protecting our communities at home and abroad, we will show that the American people care about our nation’s military and veteran community and their wellbeing.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Operation Gratitude has a large volunteer base comprised of diverse groups from scout troops to religious congregations to corporations and civic groups. Our volunteers are integral to the success of the organization.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2021, Operation Gratitude assembled distributed over 350,000 care packages to veterans, first responders, and healthcare heroes. Since our founding, Operation Gratitude has assembled and distributed over 3 million care packages to those serving the nation at home and abroad. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, we will increase our distribution to over 1 million care packages by 2027. We will distribute care packages at each step of a service member’s journey to demonstrate that the American people care about our nation’s military and veteran community and their wellbeing.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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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.
OPERATION GRATITUDE INC
Board of directorsas of 04/02/2022
Martha "Marty" Martin
Liddy, Martin
Term: 2013 - 2022
Jordan Blashek
Schmidt Futures
Martha "Marty" Martin
Insurance Executive
Sharman Borncamp
TransTechnology Corporation
Joe Kristol
Elliott Investment Management L.P.
Terry Blankenship
KBR, Inc.
Scott Wuesthoff
Angela Brightman Struebing
Capital One
Mark A. Brown
Dr. Shirley M. Ross
The RAND Corporation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data