About
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, that describes itself as the nation's leading veterans service organization dedicated to improving the total well-being of post-9/11 wounded, ill, and injured veterans, service members, and their families. Every program and service is provided at no cost to warriors and their families; veterans who are on active duty, transitioning, or who served on or after September 11, 2001 may be eligible to register, and no disability rating is required.
Mission
WWP's mission is "to honor and empower wounded warriors," with a vision "to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history." Its programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts aim to help warriors thrive, provide lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicide.
What they do
WWP lists 18 major programs spanning mental health, physical wellness, career support, and long-term care, including:
- Mental Wellness and WWP Talk: interactive mental health programs, workshops, and professional services
- Warrior Care Network: a clinical treatment network for PTSD and traumatic brain injury, established in 2015
- Project Odyssey: adventure-based learning to build resilience, launched in 2007
- Warriors to Work: career transition support including resume preparation and job placement, begun in 2008
- Independence Program: long-term support for the most severely wounded veterans and their caregivers, created in 2013
- Benefits Services, Financial Readiness, Peer Support Groups, Adaptive Sports, Soldier Ride multi-day cycling events, Family Support, and Government Affairs advocacy for veteran policies and benefits
History
WWP traces its origins to a simple act of kindness: backpacks filled with comfort items delivered to wounded service members recovering in hospitals after injuries in Iraq. Army veteran Brian Neuman, who received one of those backpacks, recalled: "That backpack gave me clothes and my dignity back." The organization marked 20 years of service in 2023, and reports investing more than 2 billion dollars in programs and services from 2003 through 2022, evolving from immediate battlefield-injury care to addressing employment, mental health, and broader long-term needs.
Scale and impact
As of its 2023 twentieth-anniversary announcement, more than 240,000 wounded veterans and family members were using WWP services, with nearly 75 new warriors and family members registering each day. WWP's Annual Warrior Survey — which the organization calls the most comprehensive study of its kind on the challenges facing wounded veterans — represented over 185,000 warriors registered with WWP as of March 2023, and its findings inform policymakers, veterans service organizations, and healthcare providers.
Financials
According to Form 990 data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, for the fiscal year ending September 2023 Wounded Warrior Project reported total revenue of 348,665,254 dollars, total expenses of 369,496,451 dollars, and total assets of 448,172,517 dollars, including 332,632,463 dollars in contributions and grants.
Governance
Walt Piatt serves as Chief Executive Officer. The executive team includes Jennifer Silva (Chief Program Officer), Vilma Consuegra (Chief Marketing and Communications Officer), Chris Needles (Chief Development Officer), Craig Carroll (Chief Financial Officer), and Chris Stuart (Chief Information Officer). WWP is also governed by a board of directors.