PLATINUM2022

OPERATION GRATITUDE INC

Saying "Thank You" to All Who Serve

aka Operation Gratitude   |   Encino, CA   |  www.operationgratitude.com

Mission

To honor the service of our military and first responders by creating opportunities to express gratitude

Ruling year info

2003

Chief Executive Officer

James C. Johnson

Main address

PO Box 260257

Encino, CA 91426-0257 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

20-0103575

NTEE code info

Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C. (P99)

Alliance/Advocacy Organizations (W01)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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.

Population(s) Served
Military personnel

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.

Population(s) Served

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.

Population(s) Served

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.

Population(s) Served
Military personnel
Military personnel
Family relationships
Military personnel
Family relationships

Where we work

Awards

Citizenship Award 2011

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Minerva Award 2010

California Women's Conference

Jefferson Award 2012

ABC7 Los Angeles

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

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.

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.

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.


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

OPERATION GRATITUDE INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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OPERATION GRATITUDE INC

Board of directors
as of 04/02/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

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

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

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

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 4/2/2022

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
Black/African American
Gender identity
Male
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data