Operation Launch Veteran Small Business Expansion Fund

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Executive Summary

Operation Launch Veteran Small Business Expansion Fund is a nonprofit in Virginia that helps veteran-owned small businesses grow. A free 10-week course, one-on-one advising from a veteran business advisor, a mentor, help with certifications and contracting and expansion micro-grants paid to vendors help good businesses grow and create jobs.

Veterans start businesses at high rates, and many struggle to grow past the first few years because they lack capital, contracts and a network. Government and corporate contracting is complex and few owners have the relationships to compete.

With this grant we will serve about 40 veteran-owned businesses in Year 1 at 1 office. We do not give legal, tax or lending advice and we do not guarantee any contract, certification or loan. We promise honest advising, careful use of funds and respect for every veteran owner.

Our Year 1 budget is about $211,000, growing to about $313,000 by Year 5 as we add sites, coaches and participants. Each year's budget is planned to balance, with a small surplus each year. We have 4 staff in Year 1 (an Executive Director, a Program Director and a part-time advisor) and 7 by Year 5.

We are asking the Old Dominion Veterans Business Foundation for $65,000 for the Program Director and the expansion micro-grant pool. Our other income and startup support cover the rest. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this proposal, and we do not promise any result beyond what we describe.

Company Description

Operation Launch Veteran Small Business Expansion Fund is a nonprofit organization in Virginia. We are a registered charity with a volunteer board of directors, a written conflict-of-interest policy and a yearly budget the board reviews.

Our mission. Veterans who served our country should have every tool they need to build the businesses they have earned the right to dream about.

What we do.
- Run a free business growth course for veteran-owned small businesses.
- Provide one-on-one advising from a veteran business advisor.
- Award expansion micro-grants for approved business expenses, paid to vendors.
- Help owners with certifications and government and corporate contracting.
- Build a mentor network of experienced owners and executives.
- Connect veterans with lenders, buyers and each other.

Our values. Respect for every participant, honesty with families and partners, safety first and a place for everyone who wants to belong.

What we do not do. We do not give legal, tax or lending advice. We do not guarantee any contract, certification or loan. Grants are paid to vendors for approved expenses and never as cash. We do not promise any business a profit. We follow the rules of our partner sites and our insurer.

How we got here. A group of veteran business owners, a retired officer and a banker began meeting monthly to help veterans who wanted to grow their businesses. Attendance grew each month. We kept simple records of who came and what they asked. This proposal asks for support to move from monthly meetings to a steady program with paid, trained staff and the materials to match.

Problem & Opportunity

Veterans start businesses at high rates, and many struggle to grow past the first few years because they lack capital, contracts and a network.

Cost. Equipment, hires and certification fees cost money that a young business often does not have.

Access. Government and corporate contracting is complex, and few veteran owners have the relationships or training to compete.

Safety and trust. Veterans and funders want honest help, not high-pressure sales, and careful use of every dollar.

Missed benefits. Veteran-owned businesses that do not grow miss chances to create jobs, including jobs for other veterans.

What we hear.
- A veteran says he has a good business and does not know how to bid on a contract.
- A banker says he often sees veterans with a strong plan and thin cash.
- An advisor says one introduction changed a shop's year.
- A spouse says the business is the family's future.

We do not claim that a program can solve every challenge. We believe that advising, a small amount of capital and a network of veterans can help a good business grow.

Products & Services

Operation Launch Veteran Small Business Expansion Fund gives veteran-owned small businesses a safe, welcoming place to grow and create jobs.

How the program works.
1. Application. Veteran owners apply with a short form and verification of veteran status.
2. Course. A 10-week course covers financial management, marketing, hiring, contracting and growth planning.
3. Advising. A veteran business advisor works one-on-one with each participant on a growth plan.
4. Mentors. Each participant is matched with an experienced owner or executive.
5. Certifications and contracts. Advisors help with certifications and with finding and bidding on contracts.
6. Grants. Participants with a plan may apply for an expansion micro-grant paid to vendors.
7. Network. We hold quarterly gatherings of owners, lenders and buyers.

What a typical session looks like. Participants arrive and check in with a staff member, settle in together, work on the day's activity in small groups and finish with a short talk about what went well. Staff praise effort, correct mistakes kindly and make sure no one is left out.

Staff. Our advisors and mentors are veteran business owners and executives who pass a background check, complete our orientation and are paid or supported for their time.

Access and fairness. Programs are free. The program is free. We welcome veterans of every era and branch and their spouses who own businesses.

Market Analysis

Who we serve. Veteran-owned small businesses in our service area that are at least a year old and want to grow. Eligibility is veteran ownership and a business at least a year old, and no owner is turned away for the type of business.

How we estimate need. We cannot count every young person who could benefit, so we plan from what we can see. In our monthly meetings we served full rooms and kept a waiting list. Lenders and veteran organizations told us that many more owners want to grow than we can serve. For Year 1 we plan to serve about 40 participants at 1 offices. By Year 5, with more staff and sites, we plan to serve about 120.

Where participants come from.
- Veteran service organizations and the VA.
- Banks, credit unions and chambers of commerce.
- Procurement technical assistance centers.
- Owners who tell a friend.

Who else benefits. Employees, including veterans, gain jobs. Communities gain stronger businesses. Buyers gain reliable suppliers.

What the numbers mean. Every number here is a veteran owner who hired her first employee. We keep our early counts modest and honest so we can do the work well.

Competitive Landscape

What young people can find today, and how we are different.

1. Small business development centers. Strong and general. We focus on veterans and growth.

2. Federal veteran business programs. Offer certifications and resources and have complex rules. We help owners navigate.

3. Banks. Lend to qualified businesses and may not see growth potential. We prepare owners.

4. Online courses. Convenient and not personal.

5. Peer groups. Valuable and informal. We add structure and capital.

What makes us different.
- Veteran advisors and mentors.
- Help with certifications and contracts.
- Expansion micro-grants paid to vendors.
- A quarterly network of owners, lenders and buyers.
- A growth plan for each business.

Why this gap matters. Existing programs do good work, and most serve people who can already pay or who live close to them. The people we serve are the ones left over: they live in the wrong neighborhood, have the wrong schedule or have no one to ask. We are built to reach them.

We have spoken with veteran organizations, procurement centers and small business centers to make sure we are filling a gap and not duplicating services. Their letters of support are in the attachments.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How young people and partners will find us.

Reaching young people.
- Veteran service organizations and the VA. We will share a one-page referral form.
- Banks and chambers. We will invite loan officers and members to events.
- Procurement centers. We will share information and referrals.
- Social media and local radio. We will share success stories with permission.
- Word of mouth. Veterans tell veterans.
- A simple website and a phone line with a text option.

Reaching staff and sponsors.
- Recruit advisors and mentors through veteran business groups, retired executives and banks.
- Offer an orientation, a background check and training in safety, privacy and respectful practice.
- Give partners a short report each quarter with counts of participants and what they said.

How we decide who joins. We use a simple sign-up form and enroll participants in the order received, with priority for those with the greatest need and for people new to the program. We keep a waiting list when the program is full.

What we watch. Sign-ups, attendance, businesses grown, contracts won and how many participants return for a second season.

Operations Plan

How the program will be carried out.

Timeline for Year 1:
- Months 1 and 2 (July and August): Hire the staff, buy equipment and materials, finalize the waiver, consent form and privacy policy with our attorney and sign site agreements.
- Month 3 (September): Open applications and start the first course.
- Months 4 to 10: Run courses with advising, mentors and grants.
- Months 11 and 12: Survey participants, report to funders and plan Year 2.

Space. Classes are held at a community college and a veterans' hall, provided at low or no cost.

Safety and privacy.
- Grants are paid to vendors and reviewed by two people.
- Advisors follow a written conflict-of-interest policy and do not take fees from participants.
- Every staff member and volunteer passes a background check and completes safety training.
- Staff work in pairs or in view of others whenever participants are minors or in a vulnerable situation.
- We keep an emergency plan at every site, and participants complete an emergency contact form.
- We keep records private, share them only with a participant's permission or as the law requires and follow a written policy.

Equipment. We buy about $5,500 of equipment once at the start: laptops and projector for classes ($3,000), classroom furnishings and supplies ($1,500), locking storage and printer ($1,000). Later years replace or add a few items.

Staffing. In Year 1 I serve as Executive Director. The Program Director, paid $46,000 a year, manages courses, advisors and grants. A Business Advisor, paid $40,000, works with participants. We add an advisor in Year 3 and another in Year 5.

Management & Organization

Colonel (Ret.) Michael Banks, Executive Director. I lead the organization, report to the board and am responsible for budgets, partnerships and reporting. I came to this work as a retired officer who started a company and learned the hard way. I will take the course so I understand the program from the inside. (Replace this paragraph with your own background.)

Staff. The Program Director manages courses, advisors and grants, and veteran business advisors work with participants. Each passes a background check. These positions are part of our grant request.

Board of directors. Our volunteer board includes a veteran business owner, a retired officer, a banker who serves as treasurer, an attorney, an accountant and a spouse who owns a business. The board meets every other month, approves our budget and reviews our safety plan. No board member is paid, and members with a conflict of interest step out of related decisions.

Advisory partners. A procurement center advisor, a community lender and a veteran service officer give guidance twice a year.

Staffing and pay in this plan: Executive Director, paid $52,000 a year; program Director, paid $46,000 a year; business Advisor, paid $40,000 a year.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals, how we will measure them and when we plan to reach them.

Year 1 outcomes (July 2027 through June 2028):
- Serve about 40 participants at 1 offices.
- Run at least two full seasons and a summer session.
- Have at least 85 percent of participants attend most sessions.
- Have at least 80 percent of participants return for a second season.
- Receive positive feedback from at least 90 percent of families who answer our short survey.

What we count and how.
- Participants enrolled, sessions and games attended, from our records.
- Skills learned and goals met, from the coach's checklist.
- Equipment issued and returned, from our log.
- Participant and family feedback, from a short, confidential form.
We report what we find, including what did not work, and use it to improve.

Growth over five years.
- Year 2: About 60 participants at 1 offices.
- Year 3: About 80 participants at 1 offices.
- Year 4: About 100 participants at 1 offices.
- Year 5: About 120 participants at 2 offices.

Learning along the way. At the end of each quarter, the director and the board review the numbers and decide whether we are on track. If we are behind, we will adjust our outreach, our sites or our schedule before asking for more money.

After the grant. By Year 5, grants make up about 57 percent of our budget, down from about 66 percent in Year 1, as partners and donors give more. We will keep building those relationships every year.

Funding Request

What we are asking for, and how the money will be used. Our request: $65,000 from the Old Dominion Veterans Business Foundation for the Program Director and the expansion micro-grant pool, for July 2027 through June 2028.

The request is spread across these budget lines:
- Personnel: Program Director salary, $46,000.
- Other: Expansion micro-grant pool paid to vendors, $19,000.

Other money in the program. This request is about 47% of our Year 1 grant income. Other grants and the income lines below pay for everything it does not cover.

Year 1 budget: about $211,000, planned to balance with a small surplus (about $8,900 after the yearly wear on equipment). Year 1 money coming in: Grant Revenue $139,000; state Veterans Services Funding $40,000; corporate and Defense Industry Partners $24,000; individual Donors $8,000. Year 1 costs: executive Director $52,000; program Director $46,000; business Advisor $40,000; expansion Micro-Grant Pool about $36,000; procurement and Certification Assistance about $6,000; workshops about $4,000; mentor Network about $4,000; travel about $4,000; administration and Insurance about $9,000; about $2,700 a year for the wear on equipment.

One-time startup costs. Startup costs of $13,000 are paid once from startup money, not from the yearly budget: $3,000 for laptops and projector for classes; $1,500 for classroom furnishings and supplies; $1,000 for locking storage and printer; $2,500 for attorney review of the participant agreement, grant policy and privacy policy; $1,500 for flyers, banners and a simple website; $1,500 for advisor training and background checks; $2,000 for first insurance payment.

How we got our startup number. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan adds the startup costs ($13,000), the cash the program uses before it balances (about $0) and a cash cushion of about $50,300, which is about three months of Year 1 costs. In all, that comes to $63,500. We start with $6,000 from our founding board and $60,000 in startup support from a community foundation and a defense contractor, $66,000 in all, which covers that amount with room to spare.

The next five years. Our budget grows from about $211,000 in Year 1 to about $313,000 in Year 5. Grants are planned at $139,000, $127,000, $157,500, $146,000 and $177,000 in Years 1 to 5. Other income grows: state Veterans Services Funding from $40,000 to $64,000; corporate and Defense Industry Partners from $24,000 to $48,000; individual Donors from $8,000 to $24,000. Our surplus is planned at about $8,900 in Year 1, about $9,300 in Year 2, about $12,000 in Year 3, about $12,400 in Year 4 and about $15,100 in Year 5. We grow from 1 offices to 2 by Year 5, adding a part-time coach for each new site.

Savings. We plan to keep several months of costs in savings. The lowest year-end balance in the plan is about $62,100, at the end of Year 1. Some grant payments and partner payments arrive after we bill, so we plan for about $8,440 owed to us at the end of Year 1.

Cost per business owner. In Year 1, our total costs are about $5,053 per business owner served, which includes setting up the program. By Year 5, with more business owner served and a trained team in place, that falls to about $2,483 per business owner.

After the grant. State veterans services funding, corporate sponsors and individual donors grow every year, so grants become a smaller share of our budget. Participants and families share their stories, and businesses can sponsor a team or a season by name. We will look for partnerships with schools and the city that want a safe, free veteran entrepreneurship option for every child.

Risks and how we will handle them:
- An injury. Certified coaches, proper equipment, groups matched by age and skill, a written emergency plan and insurance.
- A site is no longer available. We keep agreements with more than one site and a plan for bad weather.
- A coach leaves. We keep a list of trained backup coaches and share lesson plans.
- Low attendance. We adjust sites, times and rides based on family feedback.
- A privacy problem. We follow a written policy, use secure systems and train every staff member and volunteer.
- A grant ends. We keep savings and grow partner and donor support each year.

If you are just starting. A new organization can begin before it has its own 501(c)(3) status through a fiscal sponsor: an established nonprofit that receives grants for you and passes them to your program, usually for a fee (commonly around 5% to 10% of the grant, sometimes more; ask before you agree). Another way is to start smaller: one neighborhood, a handful of business owners and a small team, tracked carefully. Strong results from a small start make larger grants easier to win.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach with this proposal:

- Your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, or your fiscal sponsor agreement.
- Your most recent financial statements and your current year budget.
- A list of your board members and what each one does.
- Signed letters of support from partner schools, agencies and sites.
- Your site agreements and your insurance certificate.
- Your consent, waiver and privacy policy.
- Your safety plan and background check policy.
- Your program outline and schedule.
- Quotes for equipment and materials.
- Resumes for your Executive Director and key staff.
If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.

The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Grant Revenue: $139,000 in Year 1, growing to $177,000 in Year 5.
- State Veterans Services Funding: $40,000 in Year 1, growing to $64,000 in Year 5.
- Corporate and Defense Industry Partners: $24,000 in Year 1, growing to $48,000 in Year 5.
- Individual Donors: $8,000 in Year 1, growing to $24,000 in Year 5.
- Pay (a full year, per person, including payroll taxes and workers' compensation): executive Director $52,000; program Director $46,000; business Advisor $40,000.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: expansion Micro-Grant Pool $36,000; procurement and Certification Assistance $6,000; workshops $4,000; mentor Network $4,000; travel $4,000; administration and Insurance $9,000. These grow between 4% and 6% a year.
- Equipment: $5,500 at the start, then $1,500 to $2,500 a year.
- Startup costs: $13,000, paid once from $66,000 in startup money.
- Participants served: about 40 in Year 1, growing to about 120 in Year 5. Sites: 1 in Year 1, growing to 2 by Year 5. Courses run ten weeks, with cohorts starting twice a year.
- About 4% of each year's income is still owed to us at year end.
- Tax: none, as a nonprofit.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and real budget.

Startup Costs