Civil Air Patrol HQ
Volunteers serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
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Programs and results
What we aim to solve
1) Airlines around the world will need to recruit 635,000 pilots over the next two decades to fly the record number of planes being built and to replace the thousands of aviators expected to retire. The U.S. military is expected to need an additional 2,000 pilots. 2) Current cyber assaults on U.S. networks will continue to increase. Concerns regarding the lack of nationwide systematic cybersecurity training for America’s young adults persist. 3) According to the Pentagon, 71 percent of Americans ages 17 to 24 are ineligible to join the military, primarily because they are too overweight or too poorly educated, or they have a record of serious crime or drug abuse. 4) The nature of search and rescue is moving to the use of cell phone forensics and small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). 5) 60% of new jobs in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and aerospace-related occupations in the 21st Century will require skills possessed by only 20% of the workforce.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Cadet Programs
With more than 29,000 cadets, ages 12-21, involved in more than 1,400 units, we build disciplined cadets through programs in character, leadership and aerospace. Our cadets are academically, morally and physically qualified for their future career choices.
Adult Senior Members of CAP provide the volunteer leadership at weekly meetings throughout the school year and for summer programming, including encampments.
Cadets have an opportunity to explore careers and job shadowing, and demonstrate interest in aerospace, cyber, small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), STEM, aviation and military service.
Aerospace Education
Reaching more than 500,000 students nationwide, CAP develops, publishes and distributes national academic standards-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and aerospace education curricula for kindergarten through college-age classrooms.
In addition, CAP offers free educational programs, teacher orientation flights and 22 different “STEM Kits” associated with astronomy, flight simulation, model and remote control aircraft, rocketry, weather, hydraulic engineering, robotics, computer engineering, computer programming, coding, circuitry, renewable energy and mathematics.
Emergency Services = Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief/Aerial Reconnaissance
Volunteers maintain and fly one of the largest single-engine piston aircraft fleets in the world, operating 560 powered planes, 47 gliders and 2 hot air balloons that fly about 100,000 hours annually to fulfill Search and Rescue (SAR)/Disaster Response, Homeland Security, Counterdrug, Humanitarian Services and Orientation Flights.
In Fiscal Year 2022, 151 lives were saved.
Some of our most notable missions include 9/11, Deepwater Horizon, Hurricanes Maria and Irma and more than 90% of the inland search and rescue missions tasked by the U.S. Air Force.
Where we work
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of youth who demonstrate that they have developed skills and attitudes to make physical activity a habit
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
Cadet Programs
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
100% of cadets participate in a healthy lifestyle curriculum modeled on the Presidential Youth Fitness Program. Following the pandemic, we experienced an increase in this metric.
Number of search and rescue missions conducted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Emergency Services = Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief/Aerial Reconnaissance
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Due to the pandemic, fewer SAR missions were conducted. However, a new mission emerged with Operation Pulse Lift, collecting blood donations. More than 17,298 lives were saved in FY21.
Total dollar value of service hours to America
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Emergency Services = Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief/Aerial Reconnaissance
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Dollar value of Civil Air Patrol members' service to America based on citizens serving communities
Number of lives saved
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Emergency Services = Search & Rescue/Disaster Relief/Aerial Reconnaissance
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Lives saved annually through search and rescue missions, CAP's National Radar Analysis Team, Cell Phone Forensics Team. and Geospatial Teams.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
1) Civil Air Patrol will grow current Flight Academies to serve 500 youth annually. To maintain statistics that 70% of cadets have participated in at least one orientation flight and 65% of cadets express an interest in aviation. We also have the Youth Aviation Initiative to continue to grow opportunities for youth to participate.
2) 300 cadet teams learn and compete in Cyber defense as part of the CyberPatriot annual competition. Cyber programs are offered to reach the next generation need for Cyber expertise.
3) Fitness is one of the core goals for the Cadet programs and that all cadets participate in the Presidential Fitness program.
4) Civil Air Patrol's goal is to have sUAS operational capability in every wing by 2020.
5) To expand the reach of the Aerospace Education program in offering free curricula, education programs, teacher orientation flights and STEM kits to local school children across the United States.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Civil Air Patrol offers three main programs with the capacity to meet the need.
Emergency Services & Operations - Encompassing one of the largest single-engine piston aircraft fleets in the world, operating 560 powered planes, 47 gliders and 2 hot air balloons that fly about 100,000 hours annually to fulfill Search and Rescue (SAR)/Disaster Response, Homeland Security, Counterdrug, Humanitarian Services and Orientation Flights.
Some of our most notable missions include 9/11, Deepwater Horizon, Hurricanes Maria and Irma and more than 90% of the inland search and rescue missions tasked by the U.S. Air Force. This program includes the deployment of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) and accompanying training.
This program also offers specific pilot training and orientation flights for youth and teachers.
Cadet Programs - With more than 24,000 cadets, ages 12-21, involved in 1,442 units, we build disciplined cadets through programs in character, leadership and aerospace. Our cadets are academically, morally and physically qualified for their future career choices.
Adult Senior Members of CAP provide the volunteer leadership at weekly meetings throughout the school year and for summer programming, including encampments focused on flying.
Cadets have an opportunity to explore careers and job shadowing, and demonstrate interest in aerospace, cyber, small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), STEM, aviation and military service.
Aerospace Education - Reaching more than 350,000 students nationwide, CAP develops, publishes and distributes national academic standards-based science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and aerospace education curricula for kindergarten through college-age classrooms.
In addition, CAP offers free educational programs, teacher orientation flights and 15 different “STEM Kits” associated with astronomy, flight simulation, model and remote control aircraft, rocketry, weather, hydraulic engineering, robotics, computer engineering, computer programming, coding, circuitry, renewable energy and mathematics.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Comprised of more than 56,000 volunteers and cadets, from ages 12 to over 100, in career fields as diverse as mechanics, doctors, plumbers, executives, teachers and retirees, our members embody our core values of integrity, volunteerism, excellence and respect.
Our programs are positioned to answer the call. We are the only non-profit in the United States that combines search and rescue, youth character and leadership development and aerospace and cyber education, while advancing the preservation and extension of universal, American values.
While we are known for our search and rescue missions, the fact is we also save the lives of our youth. Our character and leadership program is developed by our corps of chaplains and delivered by trained volunteers. 95% of our cadets feel it’s important for them to help our Country.
Shaping lives happens through dedicated and specific training at all levels, providing an internal moral and decision-making compass that is exhibited not only within the programs and mission at hand, but also in everyday living and decision-making outside of service to Civil Air Patrol.
We also shape our future through our Aerospace Education program, introducing schoolchildren and educators with Aerospace and STEM programs.
Civil Air Patrol is in a unique position of being both a 501(c)(3) charity and the Air Force Auxiliary. We are considered a Total Force Partner with the Air Force, the Air Force Reserve and the Air National Guard.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
1) Civil Air Patrol will grow current Flight Academies to serve 500 youth annually. 70% of cadets have participated in at least one orientation flight. 65% of cadets express an interest in aviation.
2) 300 cadet teams learn and compete in Cyber defense as part of the CyberPatriot annual competition.
3) All 25,000+ cadets participate in the Presidential Youth Fitness Program.
4) 60% of cadets have a General Emergency Services certification and participate, with supervision, on ground teams for SAR and disaster relief operations.
5) 80% of CAP “STEM Kit” users have a greater interest in pursuing STEM-based careers.
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, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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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 share the feedback we received with the people we serve, 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?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
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
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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.
Civil Air Patrol
Board of directorsas of 02/09/2024
Col John Longley
Col Don Kang
USAF (Ret)
Term: 2021 - 2024
Curtis Boehmer
CJ Boehmer Mediation
John Longley, Jr.
TJ Longley Realty LEA
Brian Ready
Specialty Roofing Inc
Don Kang
BAE Systems
Sharon DeVivo
Vaughn College
Bernie Skoch
USAF (Ret)
Amy Hudnall
Robert Dandridge
Kirk Pierce
USAF (Ret)
Richard Dickens
USAF
Christopher Walker
USAF (Ret)
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
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/13/2023GuideStar 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 analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- 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 have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- 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 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.