Swords to Plowshares

What Swords to Plowshares does

Swords to Plowshares is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 in San Francisco by six Vietnam veterans concerned with unmet veteran needs. Operating under a "vets helping vets" wraparound service model, it delivers housing, healthcare, employment, legal, and community-support services to Bay Area veterans from three primary service sites — the San Francisco Veterans Center (1060 Howard St), the Oakland Veterans Center (330 Franklin St), and the 2023-opened Veterans Community Center — plus six permanent supportive housing sites holding 500+ units across the region. It serves roughly 3,000+ veterans annually, has permanently housed 1,000+ veterans and families to date, and reports strong program outcomes including 98% housing retention, a 60% reduction in ER/911 calls, and a 63% reduction in missed medical appointments among housed veterans. Its product surface includes the SSVF rapid-rehousing program, the Veterans Pro Bono Legal Program (training 2,500+ attorneys annually), the Combat to Community® training program, and the Toolbox.vet online veteran resource.

The organization's technical and operational backbone is a multi-stakeholder service-delivery platform layered onto long-tenured physical infrastructure rather than a software product. Its competitive edge is built on 50+ years of community relationships, a veteran-staffed culture, real-estate assets that are difficult to replicate, and influence on federal veteran policy (Congress modeled VA Veteran Centers on Swords in 1979). It is recognized externally with Charity Navigator Three-Star (2025), GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency (2025), the SSG Fox Suicide Prevention Grant (2024), and board representation including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and craigslist founder Craig Newmark on its advisory board.

Revenue/funding is a multi-stream nonprofit model: federal, state, and local government contracts (VA SSVF, CalVet VSSR pilot, city grants); foundation grants (Koret Foundation 3-year Veterans Initiative, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Tipping Point Community, Home Depot Foundation $155K award); corporate philanthropy (Google, Meta, Salesforce, Wells Fargo, Chevron, Kaiser Permanente, PG&E PowerPathway); individual donations including the 2,500+-member monthly Front Line program; pro bono legal services from major law firms; and special events (Veterans Day Celebration, Summer Solstice Symphony). The reported annual operating budget is $35+ million, with 86% of donated dollars routed directly to veteran client services. The customer base is uniformly Bay Area veterans served at no charge, while the payer base is diversified across federal, state, foundation, corporate, and individual sources.

Name

Swords to Plowshares

Legal name

Swords to Plowshares

Website

https://swords-to-plowshares.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bay Area-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that delivers wraparound housing, legal, mental-health, and employment services to veterans across San Francisco and Oakland through 500+ permanent supportive housing units and multiple service centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Social Services

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

Keywords

• Veteran services
• Supportive housing
• Mental health counseling
• Veteran legal aid
• Homeless veterans

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts: Federal, state, and local government contracts constitute a major portion of funding, including VA partnerships, CalVet collaborations, and SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) grants.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Grants from foundations including Koret Foundation, Bob Woodruff Foundation, and corporate giving programs from Google, Meta, Salesforce, Chevron, Wells Fargo, and others.
3. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters, with the Front Line monthly giving program as a key initiative. 86% of every dollar goes directly to veteran services.
4. Pro Bono Legal Services: Partnership with law firms for pro bono legal representation, training attorneys in VA law annually.
5. Special Events: Annual fundraising events including Veterans Day Celebration and Summer Solstice Symphony Concert.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Swords to Plowshares provides free, in-person wraparound services to Bay Area veterans, including permanent supportive housing (500+ units across six sites), emergency housing and stabilization, mental health counseling, support groups and community meals, free legal representation for VA benefits and discharge upgrades, and employment training and placement. Services are delivered through two veterans centers in San Francisco and Oakland, six housing sites, street outreach, and partnerships with VA, healthcare providers, and pro bono law firms, all under a "vets helping vets" model.

Product overview

Swords to Plowshares is a Bay Area-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit veteran services organization founded in 1974, operating a multi-component service ecosystem rather than a single software product. Its core programs include Permanent Supportive Housing (500+ units across six sites), Emergency Housing and Stabilization Programs, Health and Community Services (mental health, support groups, animal therapy, meals), Legal Services (VA benefits, discharge upgrades, Pro Bono Program), Employment and Training through Jobs for Vets, a Veterans Community Center/Drop-in Center, and the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. Adjacent offerings include Combat to Community® (a professional training program), Toolbox.vet (an online veteran resource), Policy Advocacy (local/state/national), and annual Veterans Day Celebrations. All programs collectively deliver wraparound care—housing, health, income, and community—under a 'vets helping vets' model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Combat to Community®: Training program developed to educate service professionals and advocates on how to better interact with veterans needing assistance, enhancing awareness of the unique lived experiences of veterans navigating their return to civilian life.

Products and services

• Permanent Supportive Housing Operates over 500 units of permanent supportive housing across six sites in San Francisco and Oakland for unhoused and disabled veterans, including senior-specific housing, providing long-term stable residence with on-site supportive services.
• Emergency Housing & Stabilization Programs Provides emergency housing nights and stabilization programs with intensive mental health support for veterans working toward long-term housing stability and recovery.
• Health and Community Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% housing retention rate for veterans in permanent supportive housing programs
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Kaiser PermanentecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership providing or supporting mental health services and healthcare access for veteran clients. Kaiser has been a consistent supporter through their foundation giving programs.
• Project Open HandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNutrition services partnership providing meals to veteran residents in supportive housing programs. Contracted to serve over 100,000 meals annually.
• Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal partnership providing free legal representation to veterans. Firm partners John Keker and Jamie Slaughter serve on board. Bill Brockett Award named after co-founder.
• Cooley LLPmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono legal services partner providing attorneys for veterans through the Veterans Pro Bono Program.
• Latham & Watkins LLPmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPro bono partner involved in 'Bad Paper' discharge advocacy and VA rulemaking petition.
• California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partnership for Veterans Support to Self-Reliance (VSSR) pilot program. $25 million state allocation for enhanced services to aging veterans.
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member organization. Michael Blecker co-founded NCHV in 1990 to improve veteran homeless services nationally.
• California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1995 with four California organizations to improve services for veterans and educate communities.
• Veterans and Equines TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquine therapy partnership providing therapeutic horse interactions for veteran residents.
• Warrior Canine ConnectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService dog therapy program connecting veterans with trained service dogs for mental health support.
• PG&EmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowerPathway career training program guaranteeing veterans employment upon completion. Veterans trained as gas pipeline inspectors.
• Satellite Affordable Housing AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide wellness workshops, memory activities, and social bonding for senior veteran clients in West Oakland.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• U.S. Vets (United States Veterans Initiative): Largest veteran services nonprofit offering transitional housing, permanent housing, and career services. Directly comparable to Swords to Plowshares in mission, veteran-only service model, and wraparound support approach, though operating at national scope across multiple cities.
• Soldier On: Northeast-based nonprofit serving homeless and at-risk veterans through transitional and permanent housing, case management, and employment services. Directly comparable service model with strong SSVF funding overlap and veteran-only mission.

Broad incumbents

• Volunteers of America: Large national nonprofit with significant veteran services programs including SSVF funding administration and permanent supportive housing. Operates as a broad human services incumbent with a veteran services division that competes for the same grant pools as Swords to Plowshares.
• Wounded Warrior Project: National veteran services nonprofit focused on injured post-9/11 veterans, providing mental health, career, and advocacy programs. Larger fundraising scale and national brand create competitive donor attention and policy voice pressure for Swords to Plowshares.
• Vietnam Veterans of America: National veterans membership and advocacy organization founded during the Vietnam era. Similar founding-era ethos to Swords to Plowshares with broad advocacy and benefits claims services, though operating more as membership/policy body than direct service provider.

Regional players

• New England Center for Homeless Veterans (NECHV): Boston-based nonprofit providing housing, workforce development, and support services specifically for veterans. Operates a comparable wraparound model in a single regional market similar to Swords' Bay Area focus, though on the East Coast.
• The Stewpot: Dallas-based community nonprofit providing shelter, meals, and support services to people experiencing homelessness, including dedicated veteran programming. Comparable direct-service wraparound model but with broader (non-veteran-only) mission.

Others

• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV): Swords to Plowshares' co-founded national advocacy organization supporting the network of veteran service providers. Comparable not as a direct service peer but as an ecosystem partner and policy collaborator for the broader veteran housing sector.
• Midwest Veterans Homelessness Council Member Agencies: Represents the broader network of regional veteran service organizations (e.g., Columbus VA, Easter Seals Veteran Services, local SSVF grantees) that compete for the same federal VA funding pools and operate comparable supportive housing plus employment models in different geographies.

Emerging players

• Peninsula Palms/PACE for Veterans: Refers to the broader class of emerging PACE-style (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) programs targeting aging veterans in community settings. Conceptually comparable to Swords' senior veteran housing model and aging-in-place services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vetshelpingvets
• Facebookfacebook.com/vetshelpingvets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swords-to-plowshares

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles46 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swords to Plowshares