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Harness the Power of Your Donor Advised Fund This DAF Day

Harness the Power of Your Donor Advised Fund This DAF Day

Every October, nonprofits and donors celebrate DAF Day — a moment to recognize the impact of Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) in fueling philanthropy. At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services, we see this day as an opportunity to connect generosity with our purpose: to make the lives of veterans and their families better.  

The role of Donor Advised Funds in charitable giving has expanded dramatically. Between 2007 and 2021, DAF grantmaking increased by 630%. This explosive growth shows that more donors are discovering how effective and flexible DAFs can be as a tool for impact. 

For Dixon Center, your support can ensure veterans and their families have the resources they need to thrive in the communities where they live via: 

  • Work With Purpose: creating pathways to careers that allow veterans to set and meet their future goals.  
  • Heal With Honor: partnering and working with local and national organizations to integrate veterans and their families.  
  • Live With Hope: collaborating with organizations to equip them with the tools to provide affordable housing solutions for veterans.  

How you can take action this DAF Day: 

  1. Recommend a Grant: Direct your Donor Advised Fund to support Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (link). 
  1. Contact your fund manager: Call your fund manager and recommend supporting Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services via Fedcap Rehabilitation Services Inc. (EIN #13-5645879)  

At Dixon Center, our purpose is clear: to make the lives of veterans and their families better. And through your Donor Advised Fund, you can help us move towards lasting impact. Click here to access our DAF information page.  #DAFDay 

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Beyond Counseling: How Vet Centers Strengthen Community Networks Supporting Veterans

Beyond Counseling: How Vet Centers Strengthen Community Networks Supporting Veterans

At Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center), we believe that connecting our audience and partners with the right community resources serving veterans and their families is more important than creating new ones.

With thousands of organizations integrating veterans into their existing direct services nationwide, it can be difficult – even for experienced advocates – to know which services best meet the evolving needs of veterans and their families. As a result, valuable services may often be overlooked. One effective yet frequently misunderstood and perhaps underutilized resource is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Vet Center network.

What Are Vet Centers?

Approximately 300 Vet Centers and 85 affiliated mobile units operate within the VA system, but unlike VA medical centers, they are more frequently found in communities where veterans live and work. Services are free, confidential, and available to a growing number of veterans, active-duty servicemembers, family members, and caregivers. Vet Centers provide individual, group, and couples readjustment counseling and help clients connect with VA health care, education benefits, employment resources, and other community-based services.

What Vet Centers Are Not

One common misconception is that Vet Centers are hospitals or medical facilities focused solely on serious mental health concerns. In reality, their mission is much broader. They increasingly serve as trusted community hubs that connect veterans and their families with local resources that support successful transitions from military service and long-term well-being.

What’s New and Why It Matters

Recent changes are making Vet Centers more accessible, more collaborative, and more valuable to both veterans and the organizations that serve them. Expanded eligibility, increased outreach, additional mobile and satellite locations, and a growing emphasis on partnerships are strengthening the role Vet Centers play within a broader ecosystem of support. These developments create new opportunities for colleges, universities, nonprofits, and community organizations to connect veterans with specialized services through trusted referral partnerships.

1. Expanded Eligibility

Perhaps the most significant change to Vet Centers is that eligibility has expanded well beyond the traditional image of combat veterans receiving counseling. Today, additional military-connected populations can access Vet Center services, including:

  • Reservists requiring behavioral health care related to military service
  • Coast Guard members involved in drug interdiction operations
  • Student veterans using Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veteran Readiness & Employment (Chapter 31), or Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 32)
  • Anyone, from any service period, who experienced military sexual trauma (MST)
  • Eligible family members when receiving services in support of a veteran or servicemember
2. Vet Center Scholarship Program

The new Vet Center Scholarship Program, established under the Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP), is designed to strengthen the Vet Center workforce by supporting veterans pursuing careers in social work, psychology, licensed professional mental health counseling, and marriage and family therapy. Scholarship recipients commit to serving in Vet Centers experiencing critical staffing shortages after graduation, creating a stronger pipeline of clinicians dedicated to serving veterans and military families. 

3. Greater Outreach and Community Partnerships

Today, Vet Centers are placing greater emphasis on partnerships with colleges, universities, veteran-serving nonprofits, and community organizations. In doing so, rather than duplicating services, these organizations can strengthen support for veterans by building relationships with their local centers. Whether assisting a student veteran navigating the transition to college, a family adjusting to military life, or a veteran seeking employment or VA benefits, these partnerships help ensure veterans reach specialized services more efficiently.

Conclusion

At the Center, we believe no single organization can meet every need of every veteran. Strong outcomes depend on strong partnerships. Vet Centers represent an important community partner that can enhance local support networks without requiring organizations to develop duplicative services. As awareness grows, so too does the opportunity to strengthen collaboration on behalf of those who have served.

Although Vet Centers have long been an important resource, the recent changes in eligibility, workforce development, outreach, and community partnerships make them more valuable than ever. For organizations committed to serving veterans, understanding what today’s Vet Centers offer is an opportunity to strengthen local support networks and ensure veterans and their families receive the coordinated support they have earned.

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Watching ‘The Odyssey’ Through the Eyes of Veterans Coming Home

Watching ‘The Odyssey’ Through the Eyes of Veterans Coming Home

Some stories last because they keep finding new ways to speak to us, generation after generation. 

The Odyssey – even after thousands of years – is one of those stories. On the surface, it is an ancient epic about Odysseus’s long journey home after the Trojan War. But viewed through the lens of service members and veterans returning from war, it becomes something even more immediate: a powerful story about survival, disorientation, longing, and the difficult work of becoming whole again. 

Takeaway 1: Coming home is not the same as being home

Odysseus’s journey reminds us that the return from war does not end when the fighting stops. The protagonist longs for home, yet the path back is filled with danger, delay, temptation, and loss. That tension mirrors what many veterans experience today: the desire to reconnect with family and familiar routines while carrying memories, grief, and habits shaped by service. 

Takeaway 2: The hardest battles may be internal

Many of Odysseus’s trials can be read as emotional as well as physical challenges. Odysseus eating the lotus suggests the pull of escape and numbness to ease his war trauma. The cannibal giants, the Laestrygonians, represent sudden trauma and result in deep human emotions (shame, guilt, bereavement and loss). The Cyclops episode shows how pride, anger, and impulsiveness can put others at risk. These scenes can open meaningful conversations about trauma, isolation, hopelessness, and the difficult search for purpose after war. 

Takeaway 3: Healing requires connection

Odysseus survives not only because he is strong, but because he continues to move toward connections – with his family, his home, and the life he hopes to reclaim. For veterans and their loved ones, that message matters. Healing is rarely solitary. It often depends on honest conversation, patient support, and communities willing to recognize that unseen wounds can be as real as visible ones.

Watching The Odyssey with family, fellow service members, or veteran groups can be more than an appreciation of a classic story. It can become a starting point for reflection: What does it mean to come home? What makes the journey difficult? And how can we better support those who are still finding their way back?

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Mid-Year Review-A look back at the Last 6 Months of The Bugler

Mid-Year Review-A look back at the Last 6 Months of The Bugler

As we approach Independence Day weekend, sharing this information is especially appropriate. The holiday invites reflection on service, sacrifice, and the responsibilities that come with freedom – principles that closely align with the Center’s goals and objectives. By highlighting our work through The Bugler, we help build relationships with our various communities and audiences by showing them how our mission is advancing in practical, measurable ways.

Every Tuesday afternoon, the Center publishes our e-newsletter, “The Bugler,” offering a concise snapshot of recent work across the full range of Center activities.
 
Often described as a cascading annual report, The Bugler reflects the dynamic nature of our mission. We’ve selected some of our most popular issues to highlight what we have accomplished so far in 2026.

Bugler subscribers stay connected to how the Center improves the lives of veterans and their families. Please share this subscription link with friends and family so they can follow “what we did” throughout the year.

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Honoring Lou Lowenkron Through Live with Hope

Honoring Lou Lowenkron Through Live with Hope

Beginning June 26, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is proud to dedicate its Live with Hope pillar as the Lou Lowenkron Live with Hope Pillar.

Lou Lowenkron, a U.S. Army veteran, philanthropist, and business leader, has exemplified a purpose-driven life and served as a beacon of hope for countless veterans and their families. Alongside his wife, Marianne, Lou has been a vital supporter of the Center, helping us impact lives for 14 years.

As we celebrate Lou’s 95th birthday and our anniversary, we honor his legacy and his unwavering commitment to service, dignity, and hope.

The Center’s Three Pillars

The Center’s three pillars form the foundation of our mission:

  • Work with Purpose: Empowers veterans to find meaningful employment.
  • Heal with Honor: Provides access to healthcare and mental wellness initiatives.
  • Live with Hope: Encompasses family support services, housing assistance, peer mentoring, and resilience-building programs.

The Lou Lowenkron Live with Hope Pillar

Now named in Lou’s honor, Live with Hope addresses the daily challenges facing veterans and their loved ones. Through these programs, the Center helps communities, organizations, individuals, and movements assist veterans and military families with affordable housing, basic needs, building resilience, strengthening support networks, and moving toward a brighter, more hopeful future.

 

 

Photo: Lou Lowenkron Attending the Center’s Dedication, 13 July 2012

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A Sentiment from Our Chair, Honoring Fathers at Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

A Sentiment from Our Chair, Honoring Fathers at Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

This Father’s Day we proudly honor and recognize the fathers who serve, and have served, our nation in uniform. Military and veteran dads embody courage, resilience, and steadfast commitment to both country and family. Through their sacrifice and dedication, they serve as powerful role models, inspiring their children and communities to carry forward the values of service and leadership.

For many families, military service has become a shared legacy, with one generation inspiring the next to serve. This tradition reflects the pride and sense of belonging that military families cultivate. Children of service members often follow their parents’ example, driven by a legacy of honor and a desire to make a difference. At the Center, we recognize the lasting influence these fathers have in shaping future leaders and strengthening the value of service across generations.

We offer our deepest gratitude to all fathers – past, present, and future – whose lives have been shaped by military service. Whether standing watch far from home, supporting their families through deployments, or passing on the values of honor and duty, these men reflect the spirit of sacrifice and commitment. Their legacy strengthens our communities and reminds us of the enduring bonds of family and country.

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Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Fueling the Pipeline of Dreams Through Fundraising

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Fueling the Pipeline of Dreams Through Fundraising

How Strategic Fundraising and Stewardship Drive Our Mission Forward

We are committed to making a real difference in the lives of veterans and their families. As we move through FY26, our Development team shared in last month’s Bugler that we are on track to meet our budget goals, reflecting 12% growth over the previous fiscal year. That progress is about more than numbers – it reflects our commitment to growing our impact and honoring our donors who intend their donations to be used to make lives better.

At the heart of our fundraising work is what we call the “pipeline of dreams.” It’s our way of building a strong, steady flow of support and resources for the future. More than a fundraising plan, it’s a long-term vision that helps us grow our ability to build capacity by organizations, individuals, communities and movements who with our ongoing support serve veterans and their families locally, across the country.

That growth starts with relationships. We invest in long-term partnerships with people and organizations that believe in our mission. These connections are more than funding – they are built on trust, shared values, and a shared commitment to creating a better future for those who have served. Because of that support, we can plan with confidence and continue investing in our three pillars, six programs, and the operations & projects that truly make a difference.

Spring is always an important season for us. It’s when we focus on applying for and securing major grant renewals for the current fiscal year. That includes support from our three largest foundation funders – relationships we have built and cared for over many years. Their steady partnership has played a major role in sustaining our work and helping us move our vision forward.

For us, grant renewals are about more than funding. They show that we are earning and keeping the trust of our donors. Each renewal reflects years of stewardship, transparency, and collaboration. Our Development team puts a great deal of care into both the application process and showing the real impact of our programs. Through thoughtful reporting and regular communication, we help our funders see how their support is changing lives.

Alongside foundation grants, we also work closely with individual donors, corporate partners, and community organizations. Our fundraising includes everything from annual campaigns to special events and targeted outreach. Each effort is meant to build genuine connections, inspire generosity, and strengthen relationships over time. We know that every gift – large or small – helps move our mission forward.

Stewardship is one of the guiding principles behind everything we do. We see it as an ongoing relationship, not a one-time interaction. By thanking our supporters, sharing stories of impact, and keeping people updated on our progress, we build trust and encourage lasting support. That approach has helped us grow a loyal community of partners who believe in our long-term success.

As we look ahead to the rest of FY26, we remain focused on meeting our budget goals and strengthening the pipeline of dreams. With a 12% growth target, we have a real opportunity to expand our reach and deepen our impact. Our long-term funders and donors will continue to be essential partners, giving us the stability we need to pursue new opportunities and meet new challenges.

At the end of the day, it is the steady support of our partners that makes this work possible. Because of them, we can continue pursuing our vision of building capacity nationally and locally and improving the lives of veterans and their families. Through thoughtful fundraising, strong stewardship, and meaningful relationships, we keep moving that vision forward – one dream at a time.

We invite you to be part of this journey. Whether you have supported us for years or are just getting to know our work, your involvement matters. Together, we can build a future where veterans and their families thrive – and where hope and opportunity continue to grow for those who have served.

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Team of Teams: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services Internal and External Depth Creating National Reach and Local Impact

Team of Teams: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services Internal and External Depth Creating National Reach and Local Impact

Part Five of a Five-Part Series: Empowering Organizations and Communities to Support Veterans and Their Families


Background and Series Overview: Enhancing Capacity for Veteran Support

The Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) acts as a national resource hub, building capacity of organizations, communities, individuals and movements who with our ongoing assistance are providing veterans and their families with coordinated support and resources. A part of our mission is to bridge gaps in care, empower organizations and communities, and enable veterans to thrive through meaningful action and healing.

This article wraps up our series outlining essential strategies for supporting veterans. We highlight the expertise and dedication of our staff, whose teamwork and commitment drive innovative solutions and foster a supportive environment.
Our strength comes from both our skilled team and The Fedcap Group’s back-office support.

Our Mission: Making a Lasting Difference Through Service

We aim to ensure every veteran and their family receives comprehensive support and opportunities. By focusing on measurable outcomes and collaborative partnerships across government, healthcare, faith communities, and volunteers, we create coordinated approaches that effectively serve veterans and their families.

Systems of Strength: Excellence Within and Beyond

Rooted in systems theory, our approach acknowledges veterans’ wellbeing as shaped by interconnected networks: family, community, healthcare, employment, and support organizations. By viewing these elements as a dynamic system, we promote collaboration and information flow among stakeholders to address complex needs efficiently. This holistic perspective builds organizational capacity through direct services and strong partnerships, aligned resources, and adaptive solutions for veterans and their families.

Our impact relies on robust internal and external systems that ensure each initiative is thoughtfully planned, communicated, and executed. Aligning our resources and expertise extends our mission to more communities.

Internally, our team excels across essential functions: development secures funding and partnerships; communications raise awareness; project managers oversee quality and seamless delivery. Strategic planning drives significant outcomes.

Staff expertise sets us apart. We assess grassroots solutions, refining best practices and learning from less effective approaches. Community initiatives thrive on genuine engagement, adaptive problem-solving, and peer collaboration.

Our organizational culture – marked by mutual respect, collaboration, and shared purpose – guides operations and shapes external relationships. Low staff turnover reflects commitment and stability, allowing ongoing improvement and retention of institutional knowledge.

Staff Testimonials: Commitment and Growth

  • “I value our leadership’s dedication to the mission, inspiring meaningful work for veterans and families.”
  • “This team fosters purpose and impactful projects that truly benefit those who have served.”
  • “My growth here is substantial, with ongoing learning and recognition for my contributions.”

Externally, The Fedcap Group provides the Center with 501(c)(3) status and comprehensive services – finance, HR, IT, logistics, and administration. Their support allows us to focus on our mission, maintaining efficiency and compliance. Fedcap’s leadership promotes accountability and innovation.

The Fedcap Group: Stewardship and Integrity

As part of Fedcap, we uphold fiscal transparency and integrity. Our finances are included in consolidated audited statements reviewed annually. In FY2024, 88% of expenditures were directed to programming. We’ve earned the 2023 Candid Gold Seal of Transparency.

Fedcap’s stewardship reinforces donor confidence, ensuring funds benefit veterans’ programs and fostering ethical governance and public trust.

Donor support is vital, enabling essential services and demonstrating our commitment to accountability and transparency. Their contributions drive lasting impact in the communities we serve.

Donor Testimonials: Trust and Satisfaction

  • “I’m impressed by the Center’s financial stewardship and transparent reporting.”
  • “Our foundation trusts their accountability and innovation, making gifts impactful.”
  • “The Center’s ethical governance and streamlined donation process motivate continued support.”

Our combined internal and external strengths sustain our impact. By leveraging expertise and resources, we deliver holistic, flexible support for veterans and families – a model of excellence nationwide.

Conclusion: Creating Coordinated, Lasting Impact

As a trusted national clearinghouse, we empower our partner organizations to navigate challenges, respond to the changing needs of veterans, and deliver meaningful, impactful support. Guided by purpose, honor, and hope, our collective efforts strive to ensure veterans and their families are recognized, uplifted, and prepared for lifelong success. The outcomes speak for themselves – lasting improvements and heartfelt testimonials from veterans demonstrate the positive difference our work continues to make. Together, we are building a coordinated legacy of support that transforms lives and strengthens communities.

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Strengthening Nationwide Support: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services Pillars

Strengthening Nationwide Support: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services Pillars

Part Four of a Five-Part Series: Empowering Organizations and Communities to Serve Veterans and Their Families

Background and Series Overview: Building Capacity for Veteran Support


The Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center) serves as a central resource across the nation, building capacity with organizations, individuals, communities, and movements dedicated to providing comprehensive care, respect, and opportunities for veterans and their families.[1]  At the core of our mission is the goal of closing service gaps and driving meaningful outcomes that empower both communities and organizations to coordinate support for those who have served. We emphasize deliberate actions, respectful healing, and fostering hope, all of which cultivate environments that strengthen veteran resilience and success.

This fourth installment in our five-part series details the primary strategies for creating lasting change for veterans and their families. Each section addresses vital aspects of our work, offering practical guidance and insights for advocates, organizational leaders, and community partners. Our clearinghouse model demonstrates our commitment to building capacity, equipping organizations nationwide with tools and expert advice. By disseminating best practices and encouraging collaboration, we reinforce the durability and reach of support systems at the local and national levels.

Our work is anchored in three essential pillars: Work with Purpose, Heal with Honor, and Live with Hope. These pillars guide how we equip organizations and communities to meet veterans and their families where they are — with the right resources, the right expertise, and a shared commitment to meaningful outcomes. By building the capacity of those on the front lines of service, we help create pathways through challenge and toward lasting opportunity. The result is a coordinated, community-driven approach that addresses both the immediate and long-term needs of those who have served.


Our Mission: Lasting Impact Through Service

Since our inception, our mission has been clear: to ensure that every veteran and their family receive meaningful support, respect, and opportunities from informed, innovative and integrated communities. This guiding principle informs all our programs and partnerships, shaping a vision in which veterans can flourish. We emphasize positive, measurable outcomes and work diligently to bridge gaps in services, resources, and community engagement.


The Three Pillars: Foundations for Lasting Impact

Our core philosophy – “Work with Purpose, Heal with Honor, Live with Hope” – shapes every initiative, partnership, and service for veterans and their families. These foundational principles guide our efforts to create enduring, positive changes for individuals and communities alike.


Work with Purpose: Aligning Actions to Meaningful Outcomes

“Work with Purpose” reflects our commitment to developing strategic, mission-aligned activities for veterans. Creating pathways to careers where veterans earn a family wage and have affordable healthcare and benefits. Careers that allow veterans to set and meet their future goals. Programs: Workforce Development and Career Placement, and Veteran Entrepreneurship

  • Assist organizations in developing programs that put veterans on the road to productive, meaningful careers—careers that provide wages that allow veterans to invest in their families’ future, provide access to healthcare and benefits, and opportunities for advancement.
  • Access to apprenticeships, credentials (licenses, certificates, and certifications).
  • Increasing the impact of programs that support and encourage veteran entrepreneurs.

Heal with Honor: Promoting Dignity, Respect, and Empowerment

“Heal with Honor” stands for our unwavering dedication to veterans’ well-being. Recognizing the complex challenges they may encounter, we create healing environments rooted in dignity and respect. Through our Programs: Clearinghouse, and Wellness we partner and work with local and national organizations, empowering them by enhancing their ability to integrate veterans and their families and creating networks that foster connection, recovery, and a renewed sense of purpose for veterans. Through our work as a resource hub for organizations and individuals, those touched by military service will lead fulfilling, meaningful lives as productive members of their communities.

  • We provide data and tools that help individuals and organizations drive positive outcomes for veterans and their families and help them achieve their goals.
  • Connecting with direct-service wellness providers and programs supporting veterans.
  • We advocate for veterans who have underlying issues that put them at greater risk of loneliness and isolation.
  • Leveraging technology to increase access to wellness for veterans and their families.

Live with Hope: Inspiring a Brighter Future for Veterans and Their Families

“Live with Hope” highlights the importance of optimism and perseverance among veterans and their families. Through our Programs: Housing, and Basic Needs – we collaborate with organizations and service providers, equipping them with the tools and strategies needed to provide affordable housing solutions and to prevent veterans from becoming homeless. What’s more, our network of partners strives to address the housing crisis by creating a community of support. These include support for food security, safe housing, transportation, public health, and crisis relief.

  • Creating solutions that provide opportunities for affordable housing—living in a safe, secure, and comfortable setting in harmony with a local community where a veteran can function independently and contribute to society as a private citizen.
  • Resource sharing to assist with basic needs.
  • Increasing the impact of organizations that combat homelessness and help veterans navigate their evolving needs.

Integrating the Pillars for Holistic Support

When united, these three pillars amplify our organizational impact. Purposeful work, honorable healing, and hopeful living together foster a culture of empowerment that extends beyond our organization. Sharing best practices and resources supports broader adoption of these values, benefiting veterans everywhere.

The Enduring Importance of Our Pillars

These pillars provide a systematic framework for meeting the ongoing needs of veterans and their families. They guide our efforts to deliver focused support, compassionate care, and actionable hope, ensuring that veterans remain valued members of society. As we look ahead, these pillars continue to anchor our values-driven approach to support.

Collaborative Partnerships and Facilitation: Uniting for the Greater Good

We recognize that true progress results from teamwork. By forging partnerships among government agencies, healthcare professionals, faith-based organizations, and volunteers, we create coordinated strategies that tap into each partner’s strengths. This collaborative method improves resource allocation and guarantees veterans receive seamless, comprehensive support.

Conclusion: Coordinated, Lasting Impact for Veterans and Their Families

In summary, our dedication to veterans and their families is built on the integration of honor, hope, and collaboration. By upholding these pillars, we create an inclusive and supportive environment where every veteran can prosper. Together, we ensure that their contributions are honored, their needs are addressed, and their futures are brightened – achieving lasting, positive change for generations to come.

 
[1] What is a community? In our work, we use the definition of Community (or community-based) organizations from the Well After Service: Veteran Reintegration and American Communities published by the Center for a New American Security written by Nancy Berglass and Margaret C. Harrell in April 2012.
https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/141852/CNAS_WellAfterService_BerglassHarrell.pdf Community (or community-based) organizations are nonprofit entities that exist to serve the specific needs of a given community—whether defined by geography, field of interest, affiliation, or affinity—and whose leadership, mission, and programs authentically reflect that community. Some community organizations officially incorporate as nonprofits with the Internal Revenue Service, while others are less formal, less sophisticated, or otherwise formed ad hoc by people working together voluntarily to effect change or create new opportunities regarding a specific issue or population. Community organizations are generally understood to be a subset of the larger field of nonprofits, including but not limited to institutional entities (like some hospitals and universities), chapters or affiliates of national organizations, faith-based organizations (such as churches and synagogues), and fraternal and civic organizations. In this report, we refer to community “organizations” and community “models.” Organizations are singular entities, usually self-governed by an appointed board of directors, operated by a paid or volunteer staff that is accountable to that board, and driven by adherence to a clear and concise mission statement. Examples vary widely, from youth sports clubs to local chapters of prominent national organizations. Community models for veteran reintegration, by contrast, are coalitions or groups of organizations—including nonprofit, civic, philanthropic, and business entities—that come together strategically and in partnership to combine and leverage resources toward a common community goal. Some community veteran reintegration models, including a few represented in the working group assembled to inform this report, have incorporated to become stand-alone organizations; others are run cooperatively—most often on a volunteer basis—by leaders from the various organizations that are members of the larger group.
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Building Nationwide Capacity – Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services as a Clearinghouse for Veteran Support

Building Nationwide Capacity – Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services as a Clearinghouse for Veteran Support

Empowering Organizations and Communities to Serve Veterans and Their Families

Background

This five-part series examines the essential steps our organization, the Center for Military and Veterans Services (the Center), takes to create lasting impact for veterans and their families. In this third article, we shift our focus to capacity building, exploring how the Center serves as a clearinghouse, guiding organizations and communities nationwide to effectively support military veterans and their loved ones.

This article highlights how the Center strengthens nationwide support for veterans by acting as a central clearinghouse. The Center empowers diverse organizations and communities through capacity building, collaborative partnerships, and hands-on facilitation – helping them overcome barriers such as limited resources and knowledge. By prioritizing mission-driven impact over profit, and adapting strategies to fit the unique needs of each partner, the Center ensures coordinated and effective assistance for veterans and their families across the country.

Introduction

With thousands of nonprofits, agencies, employers, educators, faith-based groups, healthcare providers, philanthropists, and individuals striving to assist veterans, the challenge is not a lack of goodwill but a need for coordination and capacity. As the landscape of support grows more complex, we stand out as a vital clearinghouse – helping communities and movements build the infrastructure necessary to serve those who have served our country.

Understanding Our Mission

Our core mission is to ensure that veterans and their families are not just honored in words but are provided with ongoing, practical support. We are a Center and not a consultant. The Center is a resource hub of influence, ideas, and actions building capacity Unlike a consulting company, we serve as a collaborative facilitator rather than an external adviser. We connect organizations directly to resources, expertise, and partnerships, acting as a clearinghouse to guide our partners through the complex world of the veterans space and focus their efforts where they can make the greatest impact.

  • Mission-Driven vs. Fee-for-Service: We operate with a nonprofit mission focused on empowering organizations and communities to serve veterans and their families, prioritizing impact over profit. In contrast, consulting companies generally provide advice or services for a fee, with their primary goal being business growth and client satisfaction rather than a broader social mission.
  • Collaborative Facilitation vs. External Advising: We act as hands-on facilitators, building long-term partnerships and integrating ourselves into the support networks of our partners. Consulting firms typically engage as external experts, offering recommendations or solutions that organizations implement on their own, rather than becoming an ongoing part of the community’s support structure.

The Center leads a discussion on reducing veteran suicide at Columbia University.

The Need for Capacity Building

Many organizations want to assist veterans but lack the structure, funding, or knowledge to make a sustained impact. Departments and agencies face staff shortages and budget constraints. Nonprofits compete for limited funding. Employers, educators, and wellness providers need guidance to integrate veterans and their families successfully. Faith-based groups and philanthropists often desire to contribute but struggle to identify effective channels. Our capacity-building approach addresses these barriers, enabling our partners to grow, adapt, and deliver stronger support.

One of the Center’s partnered programs, Utility Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP) has graduated over 1,000 veterans into guaranteed positions with Peoples’ Gas in Chicago.

Stories of Impact: Capacity-Building Initiatives

Consider a rural town where local leaders, with our guidance, establish telehealth services so veterans can access care without traveling long distances. In an urban setting, we help an agency facing budget shortfalls forge new partnerships and secure funding, keeping doors open for those in need. Faith-based organizations receive education and support from us, enabling them to offer safe spaces and counseling for veterans grappling with moral injury. Community groups overwhelmed by complexity are coached step by step, launching family support networks and job fairs that provide hope and stability. Each story illustrates how our capacity building transforms communities and movements into lasting sources of support.

The Center leading a convening sharing best practices and lessons learned with veteran mental health professionals in Houston, TX

Collaborative Approach: Engaging Diverse Partners

We partner with organizations of varying sizes, customizing strategies according to each partner’s specific strengths and challenges. Instead of applying uniform solutions, we carefully listen, assess needs, and offer practical guidance. By linking groups to best practices, funding opportunities, and professional networks, we support our partners in broadening their impact and effectiveness. This approach encourages a culture of inclusion and collective purpose, ensuring coordinated support for veterans and their families.

· Our Commitment: Our guiding principles inform all our capacity-building initiatives.

  • We Listen because veterans’ needs are continually evolving and require consistent attention rather than singular intervention.
  • We Collaborate with both organizations and individuals, holding that every community group can integrate veterans and their families meaningfully into programming. This collaborative ethos prompts us to create tailored solutions that respect the unique experiences of those we serve.
  • We Adapt by acknowledging and valuing the individuality of every veteran, service member, and family member, maintaining flexibility to address their distinct requirements. We Respond proactively, partnering to design and deliver solutions before issues develop into crises.
  • We Persevere because supporting veterans and their families is critically important; we are committed to helping them achieve their full potential.
  • We are Transparent in all operations, practicing disciplined fiscal management and routinely sharing financial, operational, and impact reports.

· Our Value Proposition: Our commitment is underscored by a distinctive value proposition.

  • We maintain reduced overhead by utilizing established systems, processes, and infrastructure provided by our parent organization, The Fedcap Group.
  • This operational efficiency accelerates program launch times, facilitating a focused and responsive approach to veterans’ changing needs.
  • Rigorous due diligence safeguards reputational integrity for both us and our partners.
  • Through increased impact across The Fedcap Group’s agencies and an extensive network of community, regional, and national partners, we ensure our efforts reach those most in need.

Volunteers from one of the Center’s partnered organizations, Black Veterans for Social Justice, prepare meals for veterans encountering food insecurity in Brooklyn, NY. 

Calls to Action: Engaging Organizations and Individuals

To build capacity for veteran support, organizations and individuals can take meaningful steps to get involved and make a difference. The following actions provide clear pathways for engagement with us and our mission.

· Stay Connected and Informed Connect with us through our website, social media channels, and newsletter. By staying informed, you will learn about the latest opportunities, resources, and initiatives designed to support veterans and their families.

· Participate in Learning and Networking Attend webinars, workshops, and community meetings hosted by us. These events offer valuable opportunities to learn best practices, gain new insights, and network with peers who share a commitment to supporting veterans.

· Volunteer Skills and Expertise Offer your talents or professional expertise by volunteering with us to help organize events, mentor veterans, or provide specialized guidance. Your contributions can strengthen programs and directly benefit veterans in need.

· Promote Awareness and Collaboration Share information about our work within your networks. Raising awareness encourages broader collaboration and helps expand the collective impact on veterans and their families.

· Support Capacity-Building Initiatives Consider making a donation or pursuing an organizational partnership with us. These contributions extend the reach of our capacity-building efforts nationwide, ensuring more veterans and families receive the support they deserve.

Conclusion: The Ongoing Importance of Capacity Building

As veterans and their families continue to face evolving challenges, the need for coordinated, empowered support grows more urgent. We at the Center for Military and Veterans Services remain steadfast in our mission, acting as a clearinghouse and facilitator to build capacity nationwide. By fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and guiding our partners, we ensure that communities and movements are equipped to serve those who have served us all.