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Executive Summary
Homefront Veterans Support is a nonprofit that helps veterans and their families in our county and the two neighboring counties get the benefits they earned and the help they need to settle back into civilian life. We provide free help with VA claims, emergency help for veterans in a crisis, and connections to housing and job programs, with a service officer who knows the system and stays with each veteran until the work is done.
Many veterans leave the service with benefits they never use, because the paperwork is confusing and the process is slow. Others struggle with work, housing or health and do not know where to turn. A veteran who gets the right benefit, on time, can be the difference between stability and crisis. Our program focuses on helping veterans and families claim what they are owed and connecting them to people who understand military life.
In Year 1 we plan to serve about 150 veterans and family members over the year. Our Year 1 budget is about $125,000, growing to about $258,000 by Year 5 as we grow from one veteran service officer to four. Each year's budget is planned to balance, with a small amount set aside in savings.
We are asking the Carlisle Family Foundation for $45,000, as part of the $110,000 in grants and contracts we need for Year 1. The other $15,000 in Year 1 comes from donations, which we plan to grow to about $48,000 a year by Year 5. Grant money pays for service officer time, small emergency help paid directly to vendors, and the record-keeping funders require.
We will measure how many veterans and family members we serve, how many claims and applications we file, how many are approved, and how many report that they are better off. We will report results to our funders every six months.
Company Description
Homefront Veterans Support is a nonprofit organization in Alabama. A 501(c)(3) public charity
Our mission. To make sure every veteran and military family in our community gets the benefits and support they have earned.
How we started and what we have done. We began in 2022 when a group of veterans started helping their neighbors fill out VA forms at a church hall. Since then we have helped about 150 veterans, with 10 volunteers helping each month.
What we do:
- Help veterans, service members and their families file claims and applications for VA benefits, at no cost to them.
- Connect veterans to health care, mental health support, housing help, job programs and education benefits.
- Provide small emergency help for veterans in a crisis, paid directly to the landlord, utility or vendor.
- Share the Veterans Crisis Line (dial 988, then press 1) with every veteran who may need it.
- Connect veterans with each other, because people who have served often trust each other first.
Where we work. A donated office at a veterans post, Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus monthly visits to two rural libraries.
Our partners. Our county veterans service office, the local VA clinic, an American Legion post that donates space, and two employers who hire veterans.
Our approach. Veterans are not a single group. Every veteran has a different story, so we start by listening, then work out which benefits and services fit.
How we are run. A volunteer Board of Directors (a small group of community members who oversee the organization) meets regularly, approves the budget, reviews the finances and oversees the Executive Director.
Problem & Opportunity
Why this program is needed.
There are many veterans in and around our county and the two neighboring counties, and many are not getting the benefits they are entitled to. Claims are complicated, deadlines are strict, and one missing document can cause a long delay or a denial. Many veterans also face housing, health and work problems after service.
Facts about our community. According to VA data, a large number of veterans live in our county.
Gaps in the help that exists now:
1. Benefits help. Filing a VA claim correctly takes training. Free help exists, but there are not enough trained people, especially in smaller communities.
2. Information. Many veterans and families do not know what they qualify for, from health care to education to burial benefits.
3. Crisis support. Veterans in a sudden emergency, like an utility shutoff or lost job, may have nowhere to turn for fast help.
4. Trust. Many veterans are more comfortable talking to other veterans than to a government office.
5. Follow-up. A claim can take months, and veterans need someone to explain what is happening and what to do next.
What we have seen ourselves. Many of the veterans we meet have never filed a claim for conditions they have lived with for years, because they did not know where to start.
Who we serve first. Veterans who are homeless or at risk, older veterans, veterans with disabilities from service, and surviving spouses and family members, in veterans in our rural eastern county, older veterans on fixed incomes, and surviving spouses.
Products & Services
How the program works.
1. Free help with benefits claims. Our veteran service officer helps with VA claims and applications. We never charge a veteran for help with a claim.
2. Referrals and connections. We connect veterans to VA health care, the Veterans Crisis Line, housing programs, job help and education benefits.
3. Emergency help. About $12,000 in Year 1 pays for emergency help (like an utility bill or a deposit) and outreach, paid directly to the vendor, and every payment is recorded.
4. Peer connection. We organize regular gatherings and match veterans with veteran volunteers who have walked the same road.
5. Follow-through. We check in on pending claims and applications and help with appeals when needed.
How we will measure results. We count veterans served, claims and applications filed, and claims approved. Twice a year a short survey asks veterans whether the help made a difference. Our goals for Year 1: serve 150 veterans and family members; file 100 claims or applications; help at least 60% of those with decisions to receive benefits; and have 85% say the help made a difference.
Market Analysis
Where we work and who we serve.
We serve veterans and their families in our county and the two neighboring counties, especially veterans in our rural eastern county, older veterans on fixed incomes, and surviving spouses.
How we know people need this. Last year we helped 70 veterans with no budget, and the county office and two clinics now refer veterans to us every month.
How many we will reach. In Year 1, about 150 veterans and family members over the year. The number of veterans in our county and the share receiving VA benefits are common ways to size the need, and the guide for this plan shows where to find them. As we grow from one veteran service officer to four, we expect to serve more veterans each year.
How people reach us. The VA clinic, the county veterans office, two shelters, a community college and three veterans posts.
Competitive Landscape
Other help, and how we work with it.
- The VA itself provides benefits, health care and some claim help. We help veterans navigate it, and we do not replace it.
- County and state veterans service offices help many veterans. We coordinate with them and fill gaps. We work with the county veterans office on referrals and share cases we cannot handle.
- Large veterans service organizations (like the American Legion, VFW and others) have trained service officers. We work with them, and we may partner with one for training or recognition.
- Other nonprofits offer housing, job and health help for veterans. We share referrals so veterans do not have to tell their story many times.
What makes us different: a service officer who is a veteran, evening and weekend hours, and free help in rural areas
Marketing & Sales Strategy
How we reach people and build support.
Reaching people:
- Referrals from the VA, county veterans offices, hospitals, shelters, legal aid, churches and employers.
- Outreach at veteran events, military ceremonies, community colleges and VFW and American Legion posts.
- Word of mouth from veterans we have helped, who are our best messengers.
- Clear information about what we do, and that all of our claims help is free.
Staying accredited. To help with VA claims, a person must be accredited by the VA, and an organization generally needs to be recognized by the VA or work with an organization that is. We make sure our service officers meet the rules before we help with any claim.
Volunteers. Veterans groups, ROTC programs, local churches and employers.
Raising money beyond grants. Donations are planned at about $15,000 in Year 1, growing to about $48,000 by Year 5, through a yearly giving campaign, business and community partners, a community event and online giving. Raising more of our own money means we depend less on any one grant or contract.
Operations Plan
How the program runs.
How a veteran moves through the program:
1. A call or visit, and a first meeting to hear the veteran's story and needs.
2. Gathering documents, such as discharge papers (the DD-214) and medical records.
3. Filing the claim or application, with the service officer reviewing every detail.
4. Following up on the claim and helping with any request for more information or any appeal.
5. Connecting the veteran to other services at each step.
A first meeting. We start by listening. We ask what branch the veteran served in, what help they want, and what documents they have, and we agree on the first two steps.
Rules to follow. VA claims work has strict rules, including who is allowed to help and what they may charge. We provide claims help free of charge and follow the VA's rules for accredited representatives.
Privacy. Veteran information, including military and medical records, is kept private and locked. We share it only with the veteran's signed permission or when the law requires it, and funders get totals, never names.
Equipment. In Year 1 we buy about $4,000 in equipment (laptops, a scanner, a printer and office furniture), then about $1,500 to $2,000 a year to replace worn items.
Staff. One veteran service officer in Year 1, then two in Year 2, two in Year 3, three in Year 4 and four in Year 5. Service officers complete VA accreditation and ongoing training, and have a supervisor who reviews their claims.
Office work. Bookkeeping, insurance and reporting cost about $12,000 in Year 1.
Management & Organization
Who leads the organization.
Eric Okafor, Executive Director.
The Executive Director leads the organization, raises money and manages grants and contracts, builds partnerships, oversees the finances and reports to the Board. Planned salary: $56,000 a year.
Veteran service officers. Meet with veterans and families, file claims and applications, follow up and connect veterans to other help. One position in Year 1, growing to four by Year 5, at a planned salary of $42,000 each. VA-accredited, at least two years of experience with claims, and an ability to explain a complicated process clearly
Volunteers. Veteran volunteers help with outreach, rides, events and peer support. They are trained and screened before they work with other veterans.
Board of Directors. A five-member board including Jamal Coleman, who brings nonprofit finance experience.
Money management. Grant and contract money is tracked separately so we can show each funder exactly how their money was spent. An outside accountant reviews our books every year.
Milestones Narrative
Our goals and how we will measure them.
Year 1:
- Confirm VA accreditation for our service officer and our organization's recognition.
- Build referral partnerships with the VA, the county veterans office and local veterans groups.
- Serve about 150 veterans and family members over the year.
- Reach our Year 1 goals for claims filed and benefits received.
- Stay within a balanced budget of about $125,000.
Year 2: two veteran service officers; budget of about $169,000.
Year 3: two veteran service officers; budget of about $170,000.
Year 4: three veteran service officers; budget of about $214,000.
Year 5: four veteran service officers; budget of about $258,000.
Over the five years: grow to four veteran service officers, add outreach in neighboring communities, and add a housing or job partner. Program costs grow about 5% a year.
How we will check our results. For each veteran we record the services provided, claims or applications filed and the result. Twice a year a short survey asks veterans what helped. Staff and the Board review results and share them with funders. We will not claim a number of approved claims we cannot show.
Funding Request
What we are asking for, and how the money will be used. Our request: $45,000 from the Carlisle Family Foundation for our first veteran service officer's salary, emergency help paid directly to vendors, and outreach, for January through December 2027. Year 1 budget: about $125,000, planned to balance. Year 1 money coming in: - Grants and government contracts: $110,000 (this request plus other grants we are applying for). - Donations: $15,000. Year 1 costs: - Executive Director: $56,000. - Veteran service officers: $42,000. - Program costs (emergency help, outreach, events, transportation): $12,000. - Office costs (bookkeeping, insurance, reporting): $12,000. - That is about $122,000 in costs. The remaining $3,000 or so goes into savings. Equipment we buy once at the start (about $4,000) is paid from startup money, not from the yearly budget. The next five years. Our budget grows from about $125,000 in Year 1 to about $258,000 in Year 5 as we grow to four veteran service officers. Grants and contracts are planned at $110,000 in Year 1, $147,000 in Year 2, $140,000 in Year 3, $175,000 in Year 4 and $210,000 in Year 5. Donations grow from $15,000 to $48,000, so grants become a smaller part of our budget over time. Savings. We start with about $16,000 of our own plus $50,000 in startup support, and we add to savings each year. Important for federal and state funds. Many programs pay you back after you spend the money, and they require careful reporting. Some veteran-focused grants (like VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families) have strict rules about who can be served and how. We keep careful records and plan for the wait. Help we receive that is not cash. Donated space, volunteer hours and donated supplies are a real part of what we do and are not counted in the budget above. Free use of a post hall (about $4,800 a year in rent value), about 800 volunteer hours a year, and donated supplies If we are just starting. A new organization can begin before it has its own 501(c)(3) status. One way is a fiscal sponsor: an established nonprofit that agrees to receive grants for you and pass them to your program, usually for a fee (commonly around 5% to 10% of the grant, sometimes more; ask before you agree). Many funders accept this. Another way is to start smaller: partner with a local veterans post or county veterans office, start with one accredited service officer, and track results carefully. Strong results from a small start build trust with veterans and funders. Strong results from a small start make larger grants and contracts easier to win.
Appendix Notes
Documents to attach with this proposal:
- Your IRS 501(c)(3) letter, or your fiscal sponsor agreement.
- Your most recent financial statements and your current budget.
- A list of your Board members and what they do.
- Letters of support from the VA, your county veterans office or veterans groups.
- Your service officer's VA accreditation and your organization's recognition, if you have them.
- Your privacy, confidentiality and emergency-payment policies.
- Your numbers from the past year, if you have them (veterans served, claims filed).
- 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):
- Staff pay: Executive Director $56,000; each veteran service officer $42,000, growing from 1 to 4.
- Program costs about $12,000 in Year 1, rising about 5% a year
- Office costs about $12,000 in Year 1, rising about 4% a year.
- Grants and contracts set so each year's budget balances with a small amount saved.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your organization's real budget.