GOLD2022

AFF Patriots Foundation

aka American Freedom Fund   |   Washington, DC   |  americanfreedomfund.org

Mission

The mission of American Freedom Fund is to empower Veterans through our athletic, educational, and advocacy programs in Washington, D.C. and across America.

Ruling year info

2019

Executive Director

Gabriel Stecker

Co Principal Officer

Donald Bramer

Main address

901 D Street Southwest Suite 920

Washington, DC 20024 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

83-2463545

NTEE code info

Other Recreation, Sports, or Leisure Activities N.E.C. (N99)

IRS filing requirement

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

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Suicide and disengagement among veterans and active duty personnel. A problem that we believe manifests itself due to a lack of community.

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?

Patriots Softball

The Patriots Softball Club brings together active duty and veteran Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen from various military installations throughout the greater Washington, D.C. area. Established in 2015, the Patriots compete in numerous softball tournaments–both civilian and military–in the Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware regions. The Patriots have even fielded a team at the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Military World Softball Tournament for the past two years.

The Patriots’ core mission is to bring service members and veterans together to participate in a community of competitive sports, fellowship, and comradery in an environment committed to team and family. We want to provide a safe healing place for veterans to be active within the community

Population(s) Served
Veterans
Military personnel

The Patriots Shooting Team provides an opportunity for active duty and veteran service members representing Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen from across the nation to come together and compete in national marksmanship and shooting competitions. In 2017 we sponsored 4 veteran shooters for a long range target competition in the northwest, the beginning of the AFF Patriots Shooting team. This year, we will expand to regional and national competitions with a 3 to 5 man team of veteran and active duty marksmen, including former Army Ranger snipers. Competitions are held nationwide and feature different terrains, moving targets and obstacle courses.

Population(s) Served
Veterans
Military personnel

Where we work

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.

1) Provide sports opportunities to Veterans that cannot afford to participate or do not have physical access already. Our goal is to have over 250 Veterans participate in our programs next year.
2) Identify and recognize other organizations with common missions. Provide support to further their growth.
3) Identify and engage Veterans who are not within a support network. Educate the community on local opportunities.

1) We maintain positive relationships with local communities and other organizations within the veteran space.
2) Post COVID-19, we are actively reengaging with program participants to understand and overcome lingering pandemic restrictions.
3) Diversifying our fundraising methods and platforms.

We have experience creating and sustaining sports teams at varying levels of competitiveness. Providing athletic opportunities encourages community engagement.

Organization leaders and board members have developed a diverse network within the veteran space.

AFF has placed over a thousand program participants on teams since 2017. These teams have competed around the country and aided in growing the broader military athletic community.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    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

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, 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

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    The people we serve tell us they find data collection burdensome, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time

Financials

AFF Patriots Foundation
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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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Build 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.

AFF Patriots Foundation

Board of directors
as of 10/27/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Don Bramer

Bramer Group

Term: 2020 - 2023

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 ? Not applicable
  • 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? Not applicable
  • 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? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 10/27/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

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
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

No data

 

No data

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 10/27/2022

GuideStar 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

Data
  • 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 disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • 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.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • 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 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.