Travis Manion Foundation

In an increasingly divisive cultural climate, TMF is redefining America's national character and strengthening communities. We empower veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. Our programs enable veterans and survivors to thrive in their post-military lives by providing a renewed sense of purpose, connecting them with their communities, and leveraging their strengths and passions to make an impact. By channeling the profound value that our military community brings to young adults, TMF establishes a strong and unified national identity built on character, leadership, and service. TMF's programming addresses issues related to veteran and survivor empowerment that increase overall well-being by improving engagement, relationships, and meaning in veterans' lives.

Engagement : Through our personal and professional development program, Leading with Your Strengths, and service-based Expeditions, TMF provides development opportunities to transitioning veterans and survivors to identify and leverage their personal strengths and passions to make an impact.

Meaning through Service: Through our Character Does Matter program and Operation Legacy service project initiative, veterans continue to serve their communities out of uniform by leading and mentoring youth while uniting communities and carrying on the character and legacy of our nation's fallen heroes.

Relationships: TMF's 24 different chapters host networking and community-based events throughout the year, including 9/11 Heroes Runs and Operation Legacy service projects. These provide an avenue to build camaraderie and build a support network for our members.

In fiscal year 2021-2022, TMF's over 130,000 members will continue to engage each other and serve their communities. TMF will train over 300 additional veterans to deliver our character development program to over 31,000 young adults across the country. Through CDM, TMF provides in-depth training and follow-on support to empower Veterans to serve as role models and mentors to youth. In addition to establishing a renewed sense of purpose, this ensures that veterans reconnect with their community. This includes sharing stories of personal service and character as well as leading mentorship programs for young adults to develop character through discussion and experiential learning challenges. TMF will support an additional 3,295 veterans through our transition program that provides education and resources to empower them to thrive personally and professionally in civilian life. As a continued engagement piece, TMF will bring together all constituents through Operation Legacy service projects and 9/11 Heroes Run, to build camaraderie and serve the local community.

TMF is consistently building a national infrastructure to support our members throughout the country. TMF has headquarters and staff in 7 regions within the US: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Central, West, Northwest, and Midwest. TMF strategy includes establishing additional chapter locations in addition to our 24 existing chapters in 2022 and 2023. TMF has the organizational structure, supporting staff and IT infrastructure to support our breadth of programs. Additionally, TMF offers online platforms and remote training and support for members no matter their geography. Our goal is to have our programming and events available to all members--veterans, military family members and inspired civilians. TMF is actively recruiting additional members to start or join their local chapters.

TMF is able to deliver, continuously improve, and grow high-quality programs. Over the last several years TMF has systematically diversified its revenue streams to mitigate risk and ensure long term stability. TMF is conservative and deliberate with its staffing to ensure a balance is maintained between the fiduciary responsibility to the donors and successful outcomes for its members. TMF is also regularly securing multi-year agreements with its fiduciary stakeholders to ensure year-over-year stability. Additionally, TMF regularly relies on approximately 17,000 highly engaged volunteer members annually to help carry out the mission.

Travis Manion Foundation is committed to a very high standard of ethics and integrity and has earned Charity Navigator’s Platinum Seal of Transparency as well as The NonProfit Times’ Best NonProfits To Work For for multiple years. TMF has also been accredited with the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Seal. TMF is proud that 90% of all revenue is poured directly into our programming, empowering veterans, families of the fallen, and youth to lead with character. Led by our value “Out of Many, One,” TMF is committed to providing a diverse, equitable and inclusive community for all.

The TMF Board of Directors is active and spends considerable time providing strategic and fiduciary oversight. The Board has opted to operate in a committee structure to facilitate agile decision making and timely oversight. Between the staff, Board of Directors, and the legions of committed volunteers, TMF is well positioned to execute its vision and meet the goals of its three year plan.

Our programming is strong but there is not enough longitudinal data supporting positive outcomes over time when it comes to veterans and their families. For all intents and purposes, the movement we've seen over the last thirteen years, that has sparked a 10X increase in veteran focused nonprofits, is a new phenomena. The veteran space, as a social issue, does not have the data or clearly identified outcomes that other spaces, like cancer or education, have. In many ways we are charting new waters. Our veterans need to be empowered, not disenfranchised. They need to feel inspired and inspire others. They want to activate people to support not only veterans but the country they fought for. Finally they want to genuinely connect with the community where they live so people understand their service as a value-added proposition and not an infirmity. TMF is helping veterans and their families achieve those worthwhile ambitions. It all comes down to a simple tenant, “If Not Me, Then Who…"