SMART Heroes Foundation
SMART Heroes Foundation operates a free 7-week sheet metal apprenticeship program for active-duty U.S. military members transitioning to civilian life and recent veterans, delivered at two base-adjacent training sites near JBLM and Fort Carson.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersFalls Church, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What SMART Heroes Foundation does
SMART Heroes Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that administers the SMART Heroes program, a free 7-week, 224-hour accelerated sheet metal apprenticeship training pathway for active-duty U.S. military members approaching civilian transition (priority within 180 days of ETS) and recent veterans. The curriculum, developed and maintained by the International Training Institute (ITI), covers general sheet metal work, welding, HVAC service, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Testing/Adjusting/Balancing (TAB), OSHA 30, and CAD/detailing; graduates are awarded second-year apprentice status and can continue at any of 148 SMART union training centers nationwide. Training is delivered at two base-adjacent sites — DuPont, WA (near Joint Base Lewis-McChord, launched August 2017) and Colorado Springs, CO (near Fort Carson, launched August 2019) — with recruitment routed through DoD SkillBridge, Career Skills Program briefings, and Helmets to Hardhats.
SMART Heroes Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SMART Heroes Foundation
- Legal name
- SMART Heroes Foundation
- Website
- https://smart-heroes.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SMART Heroes Foundation operates a free 7-week sheet metal apprenticeship program for active-duty U.S. military members transitioning to civilian life and recent veterans, delivered at two base-adjacent training sites near JBLM and Fort Carson.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SMART Heroes Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Training Services
- NAICS
- Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sheet Metal Fabrication & Light-Gauge Metalwork Training (EDAOADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)
Keywords
Where SMART Heroes Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Falls Church
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
SMART Heroes Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorships: The nonprofit is funded entirely through donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations. Corporate sponsorship levels range from Supporter ($0-$4,999) to Program Partner ($100,000). All training is provided free of charge to participants.
- Foundation Grants: Receives grants from foundations such as the PenFed Foundation Military Heroes Program ($50,000 grant awarded). Grants support program expansion and operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Training Program for Military Members and Veterans |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
SMART Heroes Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SMART Heroes Foundation runs a free, seven-week, 224-hour accelerated sheet metal training program that mirrors the first year of a union apprenticeship, delivered to active-duty U.S. military members within 180 days of ETS and to recent veterans at two training centers near Joint Base Lewis-McChord (DuPont, WA) and Fort Carson (Colorado Springs, CO). Graduates earn second-year apprentice standing and can continue training at any of 148 SMART apprenticeship centers nationwide. The program is funded entirely through corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and foundation grants.
Product overview
SMART Heroes Foundation operates the SMART Heroes program, a single unified training program that provides free 7-week accelerated sheet metal industry training to active-duty U.S. military members and recent veterans. The curriculum covers general sheet metal, welding, HVAC service, building information modeling, and system testing. Upon graduation, participants can enter any of 148 SMART apprenticeship training centers across the United States as second-year apprentices. The foundation is funded through corporate sponsorships and grants. The program is offered at two locations: Joint Base Lewis-McChord in DuPont, Washington and Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SMART Heroes Program A free, seven-week, 224-hour accelerated sheet metal industry training program for active-duty U.S. military members and recent veterans, equivalent to the first year of a registered apprenticeship. Graduates qualify as second-year apprentices at any of 148 SMART apprenticeship training centers across the United States.
- SMART Heroes Curriculum Seven-week structured training curriculum covering six broad categories: general sheet metal, welding, HVAC service, building information modeling (BIM), CAD/detailing, and system testing, adjusting and balancing (TAB). Developed by the International Training Institute (ITI) and delivered at the DuPont, WA and Colorado Springs, CO training centers.
- Career Ladder Program Six-level career progression pathway for SMART Heroes graduates, advancing from apprentice to journeyperson to foreperson to business owner, with specialty tracks in commercial HVAC, detailing, service and refrigeration, TAB, residential HVAC, sign industry, industrial/welding, and roofing.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 600 graduates have completed the program with approximately 60% currently working in the trade
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SMART Heroes Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SMART Heroes Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
SMART Heroes Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- International Training Institute (ITI)coreITI is the education arm of the unionized sheet metal industry and developed the SMART Heroes curriculum. Provides ongoing program administration support and curriculum updates. Headquarters in Falls Church, VA.
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART)coreThe union representing sheet metal workers. Co-created the SMART Heroes program and provides apprenticeship pathway through 148 local unions and training centers nationwide.
- Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA)coreNational trade association for sheet metal contractors. Co-created the program and supports through contractor network and funding.
- Helmets to HardhatscoreNational program connecting military veterans with careers in the construction trades. Serves as entry point for veterans interested in SMART Heroes program.
- SMART Local 66 (Western Washington)coreLocal union providing training center facilities at 2725 Williamson Place, DuPont, WA. Manages apprenticeship placement for Washington-area graduates.
- SMART Local 9 (Colorado Springs)coreLocal union providing training center facilities at 4003 N. Weber St., Colorado Springs, CO. Manages apprenticeship placement for Colorado-area graduates.
- Joint Base Lewis-McChordcoreU.S. Army installation adjacent to Western Washington training center. Provides access to transitioning service members through Career Skills Program.
- Fort CarsoncoreU.S. Army installation in Colorado near Colorado Springs training center. Provides access to transitioning soldiers through Career Skills Program.
- Veterans Administration (VA)coreProgram registered with VR&E (Chapter 31). Veterans can utilize VA benefits including G.I. Bill (Chapter 33) while enrolled in SMART registered apprenticeship.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SMART Heroes Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hire Heroes USA: Nonprofit providing free job-search and career transition assistance to transitioning service members and veterans. Direct competitor in the veteran-career-services space, though SMART Heroes is more trade-skilled and structured than generalist Hire Heroes.
- Veterans in Piping: Trade-specific veteran training program providing free welding/pipeline training to active-duty and veteran military members. Highly comparable in operating model (donor-funded, accelerated curriculum, union pathway) but in welding/piping rather than sheet metal.
- Helmets to Hardhats: National nonprofit connecting transitioning military members to construction-trade apprenticeships, including sheet metal. Directly partners with SMART Heroes as a referral source, making it the closest peer in mission, model, and target population.
- Troops to Teachers: Federal program that helps transitioning service members and veterans become K-12 teachers. Operates on the same veteran-career-transition model (funded, accelerated training, credentialing pathway) and shares the same federal/military referral channels.
Emerging players
- Code Platoon: Nonprofit bootcamp-style coding school exclusively for veterans and military spouses. Shares the donor-funded, intensive cohort model and the post-military career-rebuild mission, but in software rather than trades.
Broad incumbents
- RecruitMilitary: Established veteran-focused career services and job-fair company serving a broad base of transitioning military and veteran job-seekers across many industries. Overlaps with SMART Heroes on the recruitment side but does not deliver technical training.
- Lincoln Tech: For-profit multi-campus technical/trade school offering HVAC, welding, and other skilled-trade programs including veteran-benefits-accepting programs. A broader incumbent with overlapping curriculum topics but operating under a paid-tuition, for-profit model.
Others
- Swords to Plowshares: Veteran-services nonprofit offering employment training and transition support. Overlaps thematically with SMART Heroes in veteran workforce development but does not specialize in the skilled trades.
- International Training Institute (ITI): The educational arm of the unionized sheet metal industry that developed SMART Heroes' curriculum and administers the program. Acts as an enabling partner rather than a peer competitor.
- DoD SkillBridge Program: Department of Defense program that allows service members to participate in civilian training during their last 180 days of service. SMART Heroes is an authorized SkillBridge location, so SkillBridge is both enabler and ecosystem peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SMART Heroes Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceSMART Heroes Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SMART Heroes Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
SMART Heroes Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SMART Heroes Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SMART Heroes Foundation
What does SMART Heroes Foundation do?
SMART Heroes Foundation runs a free, seven-week, 224-hour accelerated sheet metal training program that mirrors the first year of a union apprenticeship, delivered to active-duty U.S. military members within 180 days of ETS and to recent veterans at two training centers near Joint Base Lewis-McChord (DuPont, WA) and Fort Carson (Colorado Springs, CO). Graduates earn second-year apprentice standing and can continue training at any of 148 SMART apprenticeship centers nationwide. The program is funded entirely through corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and foundation grants.
Is SMART Heroes Foundation a public or private company?
SMART Heroes Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SMART Heroes Foundation founded?
SMART Heroes Foundation was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SMART Heroes Foundation based?
SMART Heroes Foundation is headquartered in Falls Church, United States, in the North America region.
How does SMART Heroes Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants.
Who are SMART Heroes Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hire Heroes USA, Veterans in Piping, Helmets to Hardhats and Troops to Teachers. Code Platoon is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are RecruitMilitary and Lincoln Tech. Others are Swords to Plowshares, International Training Institute (ITI) and DoD SkillBridge Program.
Does SMART Heroes Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for SMART Heroes Foundation.
What industry is SMART Heroes Foundation in?
SMART Heroes Foundation's product category is Vocational Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAOADAD, Sheet Metal Fabrication & Light-Gauge Metalwork Training, with a secondary code of BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs. Its NAICS code is 611513 and its SIC code is 8200.