Wounded Warrior Project Inc.
The greatest casualty is being forgotten
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) provides free programs and services to address the needs of wounded warriors and fill gaps in government care.
We serve, injured veterans, their families, and caregivers by providing free mental health and wellness, physical health and wellness, career and benefits counseling, and support for the most severely injured.
The demand for our programs and services has grown from serving a handful of injured veterans to now serving tens of thousands, and we continue to receive hundreds of new registrations from injured veterans, their families, and caregivers each month.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Outreach and Engagement
A listening ear. A helping hand. A community that champions success. That’s what veterans gain when they connect with WWP. We’re fully focused on their unique needs, and we want to help them reach their highest goals – whatever they may be. Outreach and Engagement programs include:
Alumni Connection Program - Connect, warrior to warrior. Go to a baseball game with someone who’s been where you are. Build your professional network. Attend family events. Meet other caregivers. Get outside. Volunteer in your community. Have fun. Feel what it feels like to start really living again.
Peer Support - Join a local group of fellow warriors to discuss personal challenges and help each other out.
Resource Center, Family Support services, and International Support - Get medical help at our center in Germany or participate in programs throughout Europe at our Warrior Transition Units.
Mental Health Services
Not only do 1 in 3 veterans live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but 1 in 3 veterans also feel they don’t get the mental health services they need. We’re here to change that.
Through interactive programs, rehabilitative retreats, and professional services, veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of service can build resilience to help overcome mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), military sexual trauma (MST), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and more.
WWP Mental Health Support Programs include:
Project Odyssey - Adventure-based learning to help warriors manage and overcome their invisible wounds, enhance their resiliency skills, and live productive and fulfilling lives, WWP Talk - Telephonic mental health support line, and Warrior Care Network - a partnership with four academic medical centers to offer a veteran specialized mental health treatment program led by healthcare professionals to help veterans with PTSD and TBI.
Physical Health & Wellness
WWP Physical Health and Wellness program is designed to reduce stress, combat depression, and promote an overall healthy and active lifestyle by encouraging participation in fun, educational activities including inclusive sports, fitness, nutrition and wellness.
WWP Physical Health and Wellness Programs include:
Soldier Ride - a unique four-day cycling opportunity for wounded service members and veterans to use cycling and the bonds of service to overcome physical, mental, or emotional wounds, Adaptive Sports, and goal-based wellness programs helping veterans make long-term changes toward a healthier life through movement, nutritional education, coaching, goal-setting, and skill-building.
Financial Assistance and Career Services
Career and VA Benefits Counseling services directly address the fact that no one likes to worry about money, let alone talk about it. But when veterans are transitioning to civilian life, it’s a conversation they need to have. We make that conversation an inspiring one, one that makes them realize that their goals are possible.
Whether it’s understanding the benefits they're entitled to and how to get them, pinpointing a career path that fits their needs, or landing the job that will launch their career, we’re here to help with services that include:
VA Benefits Counseling, Financial Education, and Warriors to Work - A veteran program to help with the transition into the civilian workforce by providing resources and support to help veterans reach their highest career ambitions.
Independence Program
Providing innovative, long-term support to the most catastrophically wounded veterans with a moderate to severe brain injury, spinal cord injury, or neurological condition that causes them to struggle with day-to-day living. We provide the kind of high-touch services that will help them live life to the fullest and as independently as possible. This one-of-a-kind program focuses on helping them set achievable goals, get more active in their community, and embrace the future on their terms. Whether they live with family, on their own, or in an assisted care facility, we’re dedicated to providing the support and resources that will empower them to lead a more fulfilling life.
Independence Program starts with a comprehensive service assessment, during which your team of specialists will work with you, your family, and your caregivers to develop a plan of action. From there, you will work with your dedicated team of
Continuous Care Services
The Independence Program Continuous Care Services (funded by Long-Term Support Trust) is designed to empower the most severely injured warriors* to plan for the long-term, and in the event of caregiver loss or separation, remain in a surrounding that allows for as much independence as possible with the highest-quality care. This is made possible through two distinct phases:
Phase one: planning of Continuous Care Services
Phase two: initiation of Continuous Care Services
During the planning phase, the warrior and caregiver are connected with experts to develop longstanding plans relating to caregiver planning, benefits assessment and optimization, legal planning, and financial planning. Phase two begins upon the separation or loss of the warrior’s caregiver, where resources and support will be initiated for warrior planning and caregiving services.
*Participating warriors must currently be enrolled in the WWP Independence Program for program eligibility.
Where we work
Awards
Charity of the Year 2012
Classy Awards
Top Rated Nonprofit 2015
Great Nonprofits
Best NonProfit to Work For #3 2014
NonProfit Times
Best NonProfit to Work For #1 2013
Non Profit Times
Best NonProfit to Work For #1 2012
Non Profit Times
Best NonProfit to Work For #1 2011
Non Profit Times
Best NonProfit to Work 2018
Non Profit Times
Top 50 Best Non Profit to Work For 2023
Non Profit Times
Top 50 Best Non Profit to Work For 2024
Non Profit Times
Affiliations & memberships
Combined Federal Campaign 2016
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsEconomic Impact in dollars through VA Benefits assistance and placement of warriors and family members into jobs through employment services.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Caregivers, Families, Veterans
Related Program
Financial Assistance and Career Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
WWP Benefits Services ensures warriors and their families have information and access to government benefits, as well as our full range of programs and the community resources necessary for success.
Percentage of overall program satisfaction rating
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Caregivers, Veterans, Families
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Warriors, their family, and caregivers satisfaction with WWP programs and services.
Number of warriors and family members placed in part- or full-time employment through Warriors to Work
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Veterans, Caregivers, Families
Related Program
Financial Assistance and Career Services
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Warriors to Work provides career guidance and support services to warriors who want to transition to the civilian workforce.
Hours of case management and community support provided to the most severely wounded warriors and their families through the Independence Program.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Women and girls, Men and boys, Veterans
Related Program
Mental Health Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The Independence Program is designed for warriors who rely on their families and/or caregivers because of moderate-to-severe brain injury, spinal-cord injury, or other neurological conditions.
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?
The long-term strategic goal of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history. We will accomplish this vision by raising awareness and enlisting the public's aid for the needs of injured service members; helping injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other; and providing unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) positively impacts the lives of injured service members through a high-touch, holistic approach, reaching out to warriors at a personal level by engaging them at numerous points throughout their recovery continuum. By emphasizing our core programs - focused on Outreach and Engagement, Mental Health Support, Physical Health & Wellness, Financial Assistance, VA Benefits Counseling, and Career Counseling – WWP works to confront the spectrum of barriers to successful reintegration that many veterans face. As one of the fastest-growing national charities, WWP provides the largest scope of programs and services to veterans at every phase and stage of their recovery and transition.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Delivering backpacks at hospital bedsides, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) founders learned about the complex and ever-changing needs of injured service members. As the voice for this generation's wounded veterans and their caregivers and families, Wounded Warrior Project has grown in capability to serve more than 187,000 Wounded Warriors and nearly 50,000 families through its unique programs and services.
Thanks to sustaining support from the American public, WWP is able to maintain and evolve these innovative programs to address emerging care issues wounded servicemen and women will face over their lifetime, and it continues to push the envelope on the care options available to veterans.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) has fought hard in our first 20 years to ensure the promises made to our veterans were kept, and we are committed to fighting for them for a lifetime. In 2012, WWP won enactment of legislation to expand the scope of required rehabilitative care for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI), helped lay the groundwork for enactment of strong mental health provisions, and successfully pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to add peer-support services for wounded veterans to its mental health workforce. WWP advocated diligently for years to get the groundbreaking legislation of the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act passed. In 2022 the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act was signed, which guarantees care and benefits for veterans who suffer ill effects of exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances while serving our nation.
Today, Wounded Warrior Project is leading change in the veterans service arena. We're proud of the support and lasting impact WWP has had within the injured service member community during the last two decades, but our work is not done. Our commitment to veterans and their families is not for a day, week, month or year – it's a promise of a lifetime of support. As the nation embraces a new generation of veterans, WWP will be there – as long as they need us.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, 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 look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Increasing our engagement with those we serve
Financials
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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.
Wounded Warrior Project Inc.
Board of directorsas of 04/23/2024
Ken Hunzeker
Lt. Gen. (Ret.)
Michael T. Hall
Scotts Miracle Gro Company
Lisa Disbrow
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Kathy Hildreth
M1 Support Services
Bill Selman
Graham Company
Tiffany Daugherty
Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc.
Joseph Caravalho
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
Kristen Robinson
Fidelity Investments
Jeff Dolven
Skookum Contract Services
Scott Stalker
Executive Advisor
Florent Groberg
Microsoft
Lindsey Streeter
Bank of America
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:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 03/11/2022GuideStar 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 review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- 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 measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- 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.