The American Warrior Association
The American Warrior Association is a Fort Worth-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that heals moral injury among veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and families through faith-based retreats, department-embedded wellness programs, peer support circles, and research-driven care, delivered at no cost to participants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersFort Worth, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The American Warrior Association does
The American Warrior Association (AWA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, that addresses moral injury among veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families. Its core offerings are faith-based and research-informed: Warrior's Refuge (week-long retreats in Colorado, California, Georgia, and Texas covering travel, lodging, meals, and activities), the R3 Program (a department-embedded wellness framework delivered inside first-responder agencies), the Scholar Warriors Program (tiered scholarships up to $15,000 for SOF and combat veterans pursuing advanced degrees or trade pathways), the Virtus Project research engine that aggregates data across programs with clinical collaborators, and Peer Support Circles (132+ facilitated small groups). Supporting media assets include the Post-Op Reflections podcast (launched November 2024 with Dr. Ben Carson and Craig Morgan) and The Journey Unbound five-part documentary series (premiered May 14, 2026, hosted by former Navy SEAL Josh Jakub).
The underlying technology platform is a faith-based healing stack combining spiritual care, clinical expertise, and peer-led support delivered primarily through in-person retreats and department-embedded wellness programs; supporting digital infrastructure includes a JotForm-based application flow, YouTube/Spotify podcast distribution, and a multi-channel social presence. AWA maintains 35+ partner organizations spanning government, clinical, non-profit, research, and community sectors and reports 2,900+ heroes served cumulatively, with 93% of participants reporting greater resilience. The organization holds GuideStar 501(c)(3) Platinum Participant status and was recognized by the Texas House and Senate in May 2025 via a Moral Injury Awareness Day proclamation.
The business model is donation-funded and non-transactional: all programs are free to participants, with 100% of public donations directed to program delivery because administrative costs are reportedly covered separately. Revenue streams include individual donations, institutional and corporate sponsorship, and program sponsorship at $2,000 per warrior. The go-to-market is community-led (peer support circles, retreats, faith-based advocacy) supplemented by event-driven agency partnerships with municipal governments and federal entities; named partner agencies include the Cities of Fort Worth and Dallas, Fort Worth and Dallas police and fire departments, DFW Airport DPS, and the Texas Tactical Police Officer's Association. Leadership comprises Founding Director Will Spencer, Managing Director Anna Heil, Co-Founder Mark Fierer, Director of Men's Programs Josh Jakub (former SEAL Team 2), and Chief of Strategic Advancement Neil Noakes.
The American Warrior Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The American Warrior Association
- Legal name
- The American Warrior Association
- Website
- https://awa-usa.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The American Warrior Association is a Fort Worth-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that heals moral injury among veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and families through faith-based retreats, department-embedded wellness programs, peer support circles, and research-driven care, delivered at no cost to participants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The American Warrior Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran and First Responder Wellness Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (8131)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)
Keywords
Where The American Warrior Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fort Worth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The American Warrior Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Personal contributions from donors that fuel the mission and enable expansion of life-changing resources and critical care for those who serve. The organization states that 100% of public donations go directly to program delivery and warrior care, as all administrative costs are covered separately.
- Institutional & Corporate Sponsorship: Partnerships with organizations or corporate sponsors to empower initiatives and reach more heroes through community-backed support.
- Program Sponsorship: $2,000 sponsors a full program for one warrior, covering their journey to healing and renewal including travel, lodging, meals, and activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free programs for military members, veterans, and first responders |
| Other | One-time | $2,000 sponsors one warrior for full program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The American Warrior Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The American Warrior Association delivers faith-based healing and resilience programs for service members, veterans, first responders, and their families affected by moral injury. Core offerings include the Warrior's Refuge™ week-long retreats, the R3 Program™ department-embedded wellness framework for first responder agencies, the Virtus Project™ research initiative, and the Scholar Warriors Program™ scholarships for Special Operations Forces and combat veterans.
Product overview
The American Warrior Association is a faith-driven nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families. The core offerings include Warrior's Refuge™ (five-day faith-based retreats), the R3 Program™ (department-embedded wellness framework for first responders), and Scholar Warriors Program™ (education scholarships). These are complemented by advocacy initiatives like Moral Injury Awareness Day and media programs including The Journey Unbound documentary series and Post-Op Reflections Podcast™. The Virtus Project™ serves as the research backbone, merging faith and science to drive evidence-based care. All programs share a common foundation of peer-led support, faith-based principles, and community-centered healing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- R3 Program: Respond. Restore. Resolve. - A department-embedded wellness and resilience framework designed to proactively address moral injury among first responders.
- Warrior's Refuge
- Virtus Project
- Scholar Warriors Program
- Post-Op Reflections Podcast
- The Journey Unbound
Products and services
- Warrior's Refuge™ A week-long faith-based retreat held in serene mountain settings across Colorado, California, Georgia, and Texas, designed for men and women to confront moral injuries, repair emotional and spiritual health, and rediscover community through group discussions, outdoor activities, and spiritual guidance. All costs including travel, lodging, meals, and activities are covered at no charge to participants.
- R3 Program™ (Respond, Restore, Resolve) A department-embedded wellness and resilience framework designed to proactively address moral injury among first responders before it becomes a crisis. Integrates directly into daily operations of law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies, providing peer-led, non-clinical resources using dedicated training time with confidentiality prioritized.
- Scholar Warriors Program™ Full and partial scholarships for Special Operations Forces and Combat Veterans pursuing advanced degrees, professional certifications, or trade programs. Includes three tiers: Bill Mulder Scholarship (up to $15,000), Advanced Degree scholarships (up to $10,000), and Transition & Trade Pathway scholarships (up to $2,500). Recipients receive mentorship and access to a national network.
- Post-Op Reflections Podcast™ A faith-driven video podcast amplifying the resilient stories of service members, veterans, first responders, and their families as they heal from moral injury. Available on YouTube and Spotify, featuring transformative conversations drawing from research-driven programs.
- The Journey Unbound Documentary Series A five-part documentary series hosted by former Navy SEAL Josh Jakub that follows a cross-country journey into the realities of moral injury and the experiences of those who serve and protect communities. Shines light on the vital role faith plays in mental and emotional well-being.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,900+ heroes served across all programs
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use The American Warrior Association
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The American Warrior Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The American Warrior Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- DFW Airport DPScoreDFW Airport's Department of Public Safety partnered with R3 to provide officers, firefighters, and security personnel with confidential, non-clinical support. Partnership addresses proactive, ongoing resilience-building for those who keep the airport secure, with leadership tracking wellness metrics including negative traveler interactions, sick days, and engagement with resilience training.
- City of Fort WorthcoreAs the launch partner for R3, the City of Fort Worth demonstrated forward-thinking commitment to wellness and resilience of first responders. Their collaboration laid the groundwork for bringing R3 to agencies nationwide, setting a standard for effective public safety partnerships. Mayor Mattie Parker and Fort Worth City Council issued a city proclamation recognizing Moral Injury Awareness Day.
- City of DallascoreThe City of Dallas partnered with AWA to bring the R3 Program to its police and fire departments, demonstrating commitment to wellness and resilience of first responders. Dallas Fire-Rescue prioritized mental wellness and resilience of firefighters through this partnership.
- Fort Worth Police DepartmentcoreAs a partner in R3's launch, the Fort Worth Police Department led the way in adopting innovative wellness and resilience strategies. Their collaboration has set a powerful example for public safety agencies nationwide.
- Fort Worth Fire DepartmentcoreThe Fort Worth Fire Department partnered with R3 to prioritize firefighter resilience and wellness. Their dedication to supporting their teams has become a model for agencies across the country.
- Dallas Fire RescuecoreThrough their partnership with R3, Dallas Fire-Rescue prioritized the mental wellness and resilience of their firefighters, setting an example for departments nationwide.
- Texas Tactical Police Officer's Association (TTPOA)majorTTPOA partnered with AWA to bring the R3 Program to its members, advancing wellness and resilience for tactical officers across Texas. This collaboration supports first responders who operate in high-stakes environments by providing confidential, career-safe tools to address moral injury and operational stress.
- Virtus Project Partner OrganizationsmajorThrough the Virtus Project, AWA collaborates with 35+ government, clinical, non-profit, research, and community organizations to drive innovative, evidence-based care for moral injury.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The American Warrior Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Honor Foundation: Provides transition programs specifically for U.S. Special Operations Forces, closely aligned with AWA's Scholar Warriors Program and Special Operations Forces segment. Direct overlap on elite-veteran transition support.
- Travis Manion Foundation: Character-development and veteran-mentoring nonprofit serving veterans, families of fallen, and first responders. Comparable veteran leadership development and character-focused programming to AWA's Urban Explorers and Scholar Warriors tracks.
- Team Rubicon: Veteran-led disaster response and community service organization engaging post-9/11 veterans. Comparable peer-led, mission-driven model serving the same veteran population with community-impact programming.
- Headstrong Project: Provides free, confidential mental health treatment to post-9/11 veterans. Directly comparable on veteran mental health/wellness with confidential care model, though Headstrong is clinical and secular.
- Code of Support Foundation: National nonprofit providing coordinated support services to veterans, service members, and their families. Comparable veteran/family service coordination model with peer-mentoring components.
- Boot Campaign: Texas-based nonprofit supporting veterans and military families through wellness, employment, and family programs. Closely comparable in geography, faith-influenced framing, and veteran/family support scope.
Broad incumbents
- Gary Sinise Foundation: Serves veterans, first responders, and their families through wellness, entertainment, and family programs. Comparable target population and multi-channel programming, but with a celebrity-driven brand and broader entertainment/financial support portfolio.
- Wounded Warrior Project: Largest U.S. nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans with physical/mental wellness programs. Overlaps with AWA on veteran moral injury and mental health, but operates at vastly larger scale with full clinical and financial support offerings.
- Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Major nonprofit serving first responders, veterans, and their families with housing, education, and financial support. Overlaps AWA's first-responder segment and broader family-support mission.
- Semper Fi & America's Fund: Provides comprehensive support (financial, wellness, career) to wounded, ill, and injured service members and families. Comparable veteran/family support scope with broader case-management model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The American Warrior Association social profiles
Digital presenceThe American Warrior Association compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The American Warrior Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The American Warrior Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
The American Warrior Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The American Warrior Association 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 The American Warrior Association
What does The American Warrior Association do?
The American Warrior Association delivers faith-based healing and resilience programs for service members, veterans, first responders, and their families affected by moral injury. Core offerings include the Warrior's Refuge™ week-long retreats, the R3 Program™ department-embedded wellness framework for first responder agencies, the Virtus Project™ research initiative, and the Scholar Warriors Program™ scholarships for Special Operations Forces and combat veterans.
Is The American Warrior Association a public or private company?
The American Warrior Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The American Warrior Association founded?
The American Warrior Association was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The American Warrior Association based?
The American Warrior Association is headquartered in Fort Worth, United States, in the North America region.
How does The American Warrior Association make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are institutional & Corporate Sponsorship and program Sponsorship.
Who are The American Warrior Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Honor Foundation, Travis Manion Foundation, Team Rubicon, Headstrong Project, Code of Support Foundation and Boot Campaign. Broad incumbents are Gary Sinise Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnel to Towers Foundation and Semper Fi & America's Fund.
Does The American Warrior Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for The American Warrior Association.
What industry is The American Warrior Association in?
The American Warrior Association's product category is Veteran and First Responder Wellness Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAHAL, Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAJAG, Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling). Its NAICS code is 813 and its SIC code is 8300.