Navy SEAL Foundation
A Nation of Support for Our Most Elite Team.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, there has been an unprecedented demand for our Special Operations Forces. Never before has so much been asked of so few, from so many, for so long. Established in 2000 to serve U.S. Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, Naval Special Warfare support personnel and their families, the Navy SEAL Foundation's programs are focused on the preservation of the Naval Special Warfare force and their families. We provide a comprehensive set of programs specifically designed to improve health and welfare, build and enhance resiliency, empower and educate families and provide critical support during times of illness, injury, loss and transition.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Strength - Building Capabilities and Reducing Stressors
The members of the SEAL community and their families are incredibly strong. But even our most elite team benefits from a support structure that reduces the various stressors in their lives and builds their capabilities. Programs under our Strength Pillar provide assistance to active duty service members in the form of respite care, morale-building events, command all-calls, and much more.
NSF has also partnered with world-class institutes and other non-profits, as well as experts in networking, resume building, and mentorship opportunities to assist NSW members and their families when they transition out of the military. We additionally provide emergency funding for veterans in support of any financial hardship. The Navy SEAL Foundation is committed to keeping our warriors, families, and veterans strong.
Resilience - Addressing Tragedy and Aiding Recovery
The members of the SEAL community and their families are incredibly strong. But even our most elite team benefits from a support structure that reduces the various stressors in their lives, and builds their capabilities. Programs under our Strength Pillar provide assistance to active duty service members in the form of respite care, morale-building events, command all-calls, and much more.
NSF has also partnered with world-class institutes and other non-profits, as well as experts in networking, resume building, and mentorship opportunities to assist NSW members and their families when they transition out of the military. We additionally provide emergency funding for veterans in support of any financial hardship. The Navy SEAL Foundation is committed to keeping our warriors, families, and veterans strong.
Health - Enhancing Physical and Mental Wellness
Life in NSW can take its toll on our warriors and their families, both physically and mentally. When an active-duty SEAL or SWCC is injured or becomes critically ill, programs under our Health Pillar provide financial and logistical support so their focus can be on healing. We also provide assistance when family members become critically ill. In addition, many of our service members and veterans deal with the chronic effects of sustained combat.
NSF provides a specialized program aimed at addressing their unique physical and mental concerns while optimizing their quality of life. We also maintain connections to clinical psychologists skilled in addressing their specific mental health issues and access to cutting-edge treatment modalities. The Navy SEAL Foundation is committed to keeping our warriors, families, and veterans healthy.
Education - Providing Scholarships and Development Opportunities
Inside the Navy SEAL community, school and development opportunities can be a challenge. This is true for both warriors and families. Programs under our Education Pillar empower active-duty NSW personnel, their spouses and children, as well as our SEAL and SWCC post-9/11 veterans and their children, by awarding scholarships for higher education. We also support quality education options for dependent children in geographically separated duty locations where choices matter to the overall success of the student.
Additionally, NSF provides funding for standardized college entrance exams for qualified transitioning NSW service members. All this support augments funding accessible through Navy programs and provides additional financial resources not otherwise available. The Navy SEAL Foundation is committed to the education of our warriors, families, and veterans.
Community - Empowering Connections and Preserving Legacy
The SEAL community is built on a proud tradition that goes back to the UDTs of WWII. Our history and heritage are defined by extraordinary achievements and exceptional courage. The deeds of NSW warriors deserve to be remembered and recognized. And for the community itself, we must do all we can to keep them connected through our unique support.
Programs under our Community Pillar empower the continuation of this brotherhood and their families through things like summer camps, veteran events, and legacy preservation. We also provide financial support for national memorials and monuments and other tradition-enriching activities. NSF is committed to preserving the rich history and community of these extraordinary warriors, families, and veterans.
The warriors of the NSW community deserve to be remembered and recognized for their contributions in defense of America’s freedom. We are proud to take an active role in preserving the rich history of these extraordinary men.
Where we work
Awards
4-star rating 2011
Charity Navigator
4-star rating 2012
Charity Navigator
4-star rating 2013
Charity Navigator
4-star rating 2014
Charity Navigator
4-star rating 2015
Charity Navigator
4-star rating 2016
Charity Navigator
Perfect 100 Rating 2016
Charity Naviigator
Perfect 100 Rating 2017
Charity Navigator
Affiliations & memberships
Combined Federal Campaign
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of students who receive scholarship funds and/or tuition assistance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Families, Military personnel, Veterans, Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Education - Providing Scholarships and Development Opportunities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
524 individual scholarships were awarded in 2020 (does not include grants for remote duty stations or homeschooling)
Average number of days taken to respond to customers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Caregivers, Families, Widows and widowers, Military personnel
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
We are committed to being the 'go-to' organization for Naval Special Warfare and most responses occur in less than 24 hours.
Total number of grants awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Caregivers, Military personnel, Veterans, Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Education - Providing Scholarships and Development Opportunities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
The Navy SEAL Foundation has awarded grants to other certified nonprofit organizations which serve the NSW community with evidence-based non-duplicative programs.
Total dollar amount of scholarship awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Caregivers, Military personnel, Veterans, Adults, Children and youth
Related Program
Education - Providing Scholarships and Development Opportunities
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
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 Navy SEAL Foundation provides a comprehensive set of programs specifically designed to reduce the stressors associated with the tremendous amount of uncertainty and pressure that comes with life in NSW. Since the inception of the SEAL Teams in 1962, these warriors have answered this country's call to defeat the enemy wherever they might be. Today the SEALs are deployed in over 30 countries around the globe and can spend up to 270 days away from home each year in the most unforgiving environments. They train at an unrelenting pace in order to maintain their ability to execute our nation's toughest military missions. Their commitment to our country and the mission is only possible because of the significant personal sacrifices made by their families. The Navy SEAL Foundation works to honor this commitment by this unique community by supporting them and their families via our five areas of support: Warrior and Family Support, Educational Opportunities, Tragedy Assistance and Survivor Support, Warrior Transition and Legacy Preservation.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
At the Navy SEAL Foundation, we strive to make each year better than the last and meet new challenges head-on. In 2022, we will continue to analyze and refine our existing programs in order to provide the most efficient and impactful assistance and support for our warriors and their families.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Since inception, the Navy SEAL Foundation has invested more than $118 million in program support activities. We are proud to share that we rank among the top 1% of national benevolent organizations due to our sound fiscal management. Since 2009, the Foundation has sustained a four-out-of-four star rating from Charity Navigator, a leading watchdog organization accountability of nonprofit organizations. We have also earned a perfect score of 100 from Charity Navigator each year since 2014.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
The Foundation's program usage grows each year and we expand our programs as needed. In 2016, we began offering services to post-9/11 SEAL and SWCC veterans in the areas of tragedy assistance and transition. In 2020, we also opened our scholarships to SEAL and SWCC veterans and their dependents. We listen to the community we serve and will continue to evaluate and update our programs to best meet the needs of the Naval Special Warfare community. We also engage with key stakeholders to accomplish our goals as evidenced by our Impact Forum and the community surveys we send out to community members.
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
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
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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.
Navy SEAL Foundation
Board of directorsas of 01/10/2022
Robert Harward
U.S. Navy
Term: 2022 -
Robert Smith
Henry Cornell
Cornell Capital, LLC
Sean Freitag
The Blackstone Group
Sean Pybus
Matt Hickey
William Hodge
Raymond James
Gene Mak
Ravn
Joel Marcus
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
Michael Martin
Walleye Capital, LLC
Dino Mavrookas
Vista Equity Partners
Ted Muhlner
Redpoint Resolutions, LLC
Stephanie Osler
Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters
Tom Prescott
Align Technology, Inc.
William Strong
Anzu Partners, LLC
Timothy Phillips
American Cancer Society
Jack Daly
TPG
Jelani Hale
National Resilience, Inc.
Muneer Satter
Satter Investment Management, LLC
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? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data