Abstract
Many of today’s nonprofits, with their wide range of capacities and talents, contribute to their communities, states, and nation by serving those who currently serve and have served in the military, as well as their families. This is a remarkable example of how Americans step up to need. While federal and state governments along with local communities strive to provide needed programs and services for those who serve or have served our nation, nonprofits play a vital role in filling the gaps by meeting otherwise unmet needs. Historically, the focus of nonprofits has been on the individual military member or veteran. However, we now recognize that with more than half of our volunteer force being married, the entire family serves and experiences a shared sacrifice. Nonprofits must respond accordingly.
Based on need, tremendous growth has occurred in organizations focused on providing support in wellness, healthcare, employment, housing, and education. No single organization, whether public or private sector, can provide for all these unmet needs. As a result, the public and private sector as well as nonprofits must make a collaborative effort to mutually support military members, veterans, and their families. In today’s changing environment, nonprofit organizations face challenges in providing first-class services and programs while not overextending their limited resources. To continue being successful, nonprofit organizations must be innovative in thinking, strategic in planning, and efficient and relevant in their operations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Armstrong, N., McDonough, J., & Savage, D. (2015). Driving Community impact: The case for local, evidence-based coordination in veteran and military family services and the America-Serves initiative. Syracuse University- Institute for Veterans and Military Families.
Astor, R. (2015). L.A.’s challenge to all large U.S. Metropolitan cities: Support Veterans’ and Service Members’ children in civilian public schools. Huffington Post, Blog post: November 30, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ron-avi-astor/las-challenge-to-all-larg_b_8486408.html
Benbenishty, R., & Astor, R. (2014). Expanding the scope of research on military children: Studying adversity, resilience and promotion in normative social settings. Commentary for Military and Veteran Families and Children: Policies and programs for Health Maintenance and Positive Development. Society for Research in Child Development, 28(3), 17.
Blue Star Families. (2012). Blue Star Families blog: Roundtable with secretary of Defense Hagel. Retrieved from http://www.bluestarfam.org/blog/roundtable-secretary-defense-hagel
Blue Star Families. (2014). America joins forces with military families: White Oak III summary report. Retrieved from http://www.bluestarfam.org/resources/research-and-policy-1/white-oak
Blue Star Families. (2015). America joins forces with military families: White Oak IV summary report. Retrieved from http://www.bluestarfam.org/resources/research-and-policy-1/white-oak
Clevenger, M. (2015). We’re having the wrong conversation about Military Brats. Task & Purpose, Blog post: August 24, 2015. Retrieved from http://taskandpurpose.com/author/margaret-clevenger/
Collins, J. (2005). Good to great and the social sectors. A monograph to accompany good to great. Retrieved from http://www.jimcollins.com/books/g2g-ss.html
Got Your 6. http://www.gotyour6.org
Kania, J., & Kramer, M.., Collective Impact. (2011). Stanford Social Innovation Review, 38–40. Retrieved from http://www.nist.gov/ineap/upload/2011-Stanford-Article.pdf
Kudler, H., & Porter, R. I. (2013). Building communities of care for military children and families. The Future of Children, Military Children and Families, 23(2), 163–182.
Lerner, R. M., Zaff, J. F., & Lerner, J. V. (2009). America’s military youth: Towards a study of positive development in the face of challenge, 2–3. Retrieved from http://www.militarychild.org/parents-and-students/resources
MacDermid Wadsworth, S. (2016). Civilian organizations that support military families. In K. R. Blaisure, T. Saath-Wells, A. Pereira, S. MacDermid Wadsworth, & A. L. Dombro (Eds.), Serving military families (pp. 287–306). New York, NY: Routledge.
Military Child Education Coalition. (2012). Education of the military child in the 21st century: Current dimensions of the educational experiences for army children, 8–9. Harker Heights, TX: Author. Retrieved from http://www.militarychild.org/emc21-report
Military Child Education Coalition. (2015). College, career, and life readiness for military and veteran children, 2. Harker Heights, TX: Author. Retrieved from http://www.militarychild.org/public/upload/files/GE_Leaders_Guide-complete.pdf
Military Child Education Coalition. https://www.militarychild.org/professional/programs/living-in-the-new-normal-public-engagement-linn-pe
National Council on Nonprofits. (2015). Myths about nonprofits. Retrieved from https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/myths-about-nonprofits
Points of Light | Community Blueprint. Retrieved from http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/military-initiatives/community-blueprint
Sherman, M. (2014). Children of military veterans: An overlooked population. Commentary for Military and Veteran Families and Children: Policies and Programs for Health Maintenance and Positive Development Society for Research in Child Development, 28(3), 15.
Springle, C., & Wilmer, C. M. (2014). Painting a moving train: Preparing civilian community providers to serve returning warriors and their families. In R. B. Everson & C. R. Figley (Eds.), Families under fire (pp. 239–240). New York, NY: Routledge.
The George W. Bush Institute & Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), Syracuse University. (2014). Serving our post—9/11 Veterans, leading practices among non-profit organizations, i–iii, 2–5, 16–18, 24–28, 66, 73–77. Retrieved from http://www.bushcenter.org/sites/default.files/gwbi-msi-serving-our-vets-pdf
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/hiring-our-heroes
United States Congress. (2015). Elementary and Secondary Education Act Reauthorization. Every Student Succeeds Act. “(ii) For all students and disaggregated by each subgroup of students described in subsection (b)(2)(B)(xi), homeless status, status as a child in foster care, and status as a student with a parent who is a member of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code) on active duty (as defined in section 101(d)(5) of such title), information on student achievement on the academic assessments described in subsection (b)(2) at each level of achievement, as determined by the State under subsection (b)(1)”. Retrieved from http://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/every_student_succeeds_act_-_conference_report.pdf
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/vetdata/Veteran_Population.asp
United States Government, Department of Defense. (2014). Demographics report: Profile of the military community, 42, 128.
United States Government, Department of Defense, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of Reintegration: Veterans/Families/Communities. (2014). After the sea of goodwill: A collective approach to veteran reintegration. Retrieved from http://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/CORe/After_the_Sea_of_Goodwill.pdf
United States Government, Department of Defense, Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Warrior and Family Support. (2010). Sea of goodwill: Matching the donor to the need. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/recruitdc/sea-of-goodwill
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our thanks and appreciation to the following people for generously sharing their perspectives and insights:
Geoffrey J. Deutsch, President & CEO, Armed Forces Services Corporation & Military Child Education Coalition National Advisory Committee
Leanne Knobloch, PhD, Department of Communication, University of Illinois & Military Child Education Coalition Science Advisory Board
Chris Marvin, Principal, Marvin Strategies Consulting Services
Michelle D. Sherman, PhD, University of Minnesota & Military Child Education Coalition Science Advisory Board
Patricia “Patty” Shinseki, Military Child Education Coalition, Board of Directors, Emeritus
David W. Sutherland, COL (USA, Ret.), Chairman, Easter Seals Dixon Center
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gravens, M.L., Keller, M.M. (2018). Nonprofit Contributions: Reflections and Looking Forward. In: Hughes-Kirchubel, L., Wadsworth, S., Riggs, D. (eds) A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families. Risk and Resilience in Military and Veteran Families. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68984-5_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68984-5_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-68983-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-68984-5
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)