Onward Ops
Onward Ops is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that provides free transition support to U.S. military service members leaving active duty, pairing them with volunteer sponsors and using AI-enabled tools to screen suicide risk and match employment across all 50 states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Onward Ops does
Onward Ops is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, founded in 2017/2018 under its parent ETS Sponsorship Program, that supports active-duty U.S. military service members as they transition to civilian life. The organization is free to service members, operates across all 50 states, and works through a network of 40+ national partners and 30+ Community Integration Coordinators. It addresses an annual addressable population of approximately 200,000 transitioning service members in the United States.
The core offering is a transition support platform built on Google Cloud with Workspace integration and Department of Defense Impact Level 4 (IL-4) certification. Each enrollee is paired with a volunteer sponsor — typically a veteran or civilian — for a 12-month mentorship and social support window. The platform includes two AI-enabled features: a Suicide Risk Calculator that screens participants using predictive analytics, and an AI-powered job-matching capability developed in partnership with RecruitMilitary. Reported outcomes include an 80% VA healthcare enrollment rate, a 50% reduction in suicide attempts among sponsored participants, and a 63% increase in VA healthcare engagement. More than 28,000 service members have been screened for suicide risk by the end of 2025.
The business model is philanthropic rather than commercial. Services are provided at no cost to service members, funded through grants and donations. In April 2024, Onward Ops established a separate 501(c)(3) foundation to enable tax-deductible giving. Funding sources include the Face the Fight coalition (part of a $16.5M grant pool distributed across 27 veteran-serving nonprofits in November 2025), the Humana Foundation ($5M expansion commitment), the PenFed Foundation, and corporate partners including Google. The organization reports a program cost efficiency of approximately $1 per service member per day and currently enrolls more than 1,200 service members per month.
Onward Ops firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Onward Ops
- Legal name
- The ETS Sponsorship Program
- Website
- https://onwardops.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Onward Ops is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that provides free transition support to U.S. military service members leaving active duty, pairing them with volunteer sponsors and using AI-enabled tools to screen suicide risk and match employment across all 50 states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Onward Ops industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Military Transition Support Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs (EDAAAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling (EDAAAOAE)
Keywords
Where Onward Ops is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Onward Ops business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Foundation Donations and Grants: The Onward Ops Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, raises funds from individuals and corporations to support service members in transition. Donations are tax-deductible and can be designated nationally or to a specific destination state. The foundation reported delivering impact at approximately $1 per day per service member.
- Corporate and Government Grants: Onward Ops receives grant funding from partners such as Face the Fight ($16.5M awarded to 27 nonprofits in 2025, with Onward Ops as a grant awardee) and the Humana Foundation ($5M expansion commitment). The parent organization ETS-SP operates as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free for eligible service members and veterans |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Onward Ops product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Onward Ops is a free military-to-civilian transition support program that matches active duty service members with trained volunteer peer sponsors from their destination community and provides a personalized cloud-based platform for planning across Employment, Education, Medical & Disability, Family & Legal, and Social domains during the 12-month transition window. The platform includes a personalized transition dashboard, AI-driven civilian job matching, a suicide risk calculator, free Google Workspace accounts, and curated career tracks.
Product overview
Onward Ops is a single, unified military transition support platform that connects active duty service members with trained volunteer sponsors from their destination community, providing personalized tools and guidance throughout the 12-month transition period. The platform is built on Google Cloud infrastructure and incorporates Google Workspace for collaboration. The core Onward Ops program includes sponsor matching, self-guided and sponsor-guided transition options, progress tracking dashboards, timeline tools, and career tracks spanning employment, education, medical, family, and legal domains. Additional capabilities include AI-powered job matching through RecruitMilitary integration, a suicide risk calculator using predictive analytics, and access to TBI/PTS care through Avalon Action Alliance. The parent organization ETS Sponsorship Program operates as a 501(c)(4) while the Onward Ops Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) public charity supporting the program. Enrolled service members receive free Google Workspace Enterprise accounts including Gmail, Sheets, Docs, Meet, and Drive. The program serves all military branches and maintains partnerships with over 40 national organizations including VA, Google, PenFed Foundation, and Face the Fight.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Onward Ops Military Transition Program Flagship program that proactively connects active duty service members with trained volunteer sponsors from their destination community, providing personalized tools, resources, and peer guidance throughout the 12-month military-to-civilian transition window; offered at no cost to eligible participants.
- National Partner Network Network of 40+ national partner organizations including AAFMAA, VA, USAA Face the Fight, Google, Humanna Military, PenFed Foundation, and RecruitMilitary that provide coordinated employment, health, education, and veteran service resources to Onward Ops participants.
- Community Integration Coordinator Program Program engaging best-in-class regional veteran service organizations to lead Onward Ops efforts in specific communities, recruiting and managing local sponsors and connecting arriving veterans to local resources, benefits, and peer support.
- Veteran Sponsorship and VSI Sponsor Training Sponsor matching service that connects transitioning service members with trained volunteer peer sponsors from their destination community, including VA-certified training in multiple formats (Cohort, Daylong, Accelerated) and a Step 2 Virtual Session orientation completed with the Operations team.
- Solo (Self-Guided Transition) Self-guided military transition route within the Onward Ops platform that gives service members personalized resources, transition planning tools, and access to community events and resources to complete the 12-month transition on their own terms.
- Co-Op (Sponsor-Guided Transition) Sponsor-guided military transition route within the Onward Ops platform that pairs the service member with an experienced sponsor who co-creates a transition plan, provides practical advice and emotional support, and helps navigate obstacles across all five transition domains.
- Onward Ops Foundation Affiliated 501(c)(3) public charity that raises tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations to fund Onward Ops transition programs, with 100% of contributions directed to service members and the option for donors to designate giving nationally or to a specific destination state.
- ETS Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP) Parent 501(c)(4) social welfare organization behind Onward Ops, federally registered with the IRS, that supports communities across the country in the successful reception and transition of service members out of the military and into civilian life.
Quantifiable outcome
- 28,000+ service members screened for suicide risk by end of 2025
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Onward Ops
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Onward Ops technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability4 records
Feature6 records
Onward Ops partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- RecruitMilitarycoreStrategic partnership announced May 6, 2026 to modernize the military-to-civilian transition experience by combining structured career guidance with national-scale employer access. Integrates RecruitMilitary's AI-powered tools with Onward Ops' transition support programs to deliver employment outcomes at scale through hiring events, virtual career fairs, and AI-driven civilian profile tools.
- III Armored CorpsmajorPartnership with III Armored Corps, VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI), and Fort Hood Transition Assistance Program (TAP) to connect Soldiers with peer sponsors, housing, employment, and education resources, and VA health care and mental health support. Shifted approach from reactive care to preventative intervention.
- Face the FightcoreNational veteran suicide prevention initiative founded in 2023 by USAA, the Humana Foundation, and Reach Resilience. Onward Ops awarded a Face the Fight grant as part of $16.5M in grants to 27 nonprofits. Onward Ops and Team Red, White & Blue are joining forces to support recently separated veterans during their first and most vulnerable year after leaving the military.
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation / Hiring Our HeroesmajorMike Eastman participated in the Business Solves Conference panel 'The Next Mission: Building Stronger Communities Through Collective Impact' alongside Hiring Our Heroes President Eric Eversole. Explored how collaboration across public, private, and nonprofit sectors strengthens local communities and supports transitioning service members.
- KABC Los Angeles / ABC7minorOnward Ops was featured on KABC Los Angeles (ABC7) in a story covering how the nonprofit unifies veteran organizations nationwide. Featured testimonials from veterans describing the program as 'refreshing' and unlike anything that has existed before.
- Onward Ops FoundationcoreA 501(c)(3) public charity established to support military members in their transition out of uniform and into civilian life. 100% of donations go directly to supporting service members. Donors can designate contributions nationally or to a specific destination state. Operates at approximately $1 per day per service member.
- PenFed FoundationcorePartnership announced April 23, 2024 to empower veterans making the challenging transition from military service to civilian life. The program is offered at no cost to service members up to a year before departure. The PenFed Foundation President stated the partnership empowers transitioning veterans as community leaders.
- Avalon Action AlliancemajorPartnership announced January 23, 2024 to connect transitioning service members with world-class TBI (traumatic brain injury) and PTSD care through Avalon's growing network of TBI Centers. Avalon combines traditional rehabilitation with complementary non-clinical interventions to create personalized programs with no out-of-pocket expenses to the veteran.
- VA National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP)coreHAP facilitates the Veteran Sponsor Partnership Network (VSPN), a VA initiative fostering non-monetary partnerships that offer Veterans access to local, regional, and national resources essential for successful reintegration. ETS-SP is a community partner within VSPN.
- University of Texas at Austin Institute for Military and Veteran Family WellnessmajorJointly conducts peer sponsor training with VSI and Onward Ops. The training is available in multiple formats (Cohort, Daylong, and Accelerated) and ensures sponsors meet national standards consistent across communities.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreNon-monetary public-private partnership through VA's National Center for Healthcare Advancement and Partnerships (HAP) and the Veteran Sponsor Partnership Network (VSPN). Addresses social determinants of health associated with mental health resiliency and improved health outcomes. VA facilitates seamless enrollment into VA healthcare, achieving 80% success rate for Onward Ops participants. Includes development of a suicide risk calculator with DoD and academic researchers.
- VA Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI)coreVSI facilitates educational programming and peer sponsor training centered around suicide prevention. Onward Ops enrolls active duty service members and matches them with VA-certified peer sponsors. Training is conducted in conjunction with the University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Military and Veteran Family Wellness.
- Google / Google Public SectorcoreCollaboration to incorporate Google Workspace (Gmail, Sheets, Docs, Meet, Drive), Looker business intelligence, and AI capabilities into the Onward Ops platform. Google Cloud provides DOD IL-4 certified data security. Enrolled service members and sponsors receive free Google Workspace Enterprise accounts. Partnership supports AI-driven job matching and predictive analytics including a suicide risk calculator.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Onward Ops competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- RecruitMilitary: Veteran-focused employment platform hosting career fairs and connecting transitioning service members with employers. Onward Ops announced a strategic partnership with RecruitMilitary in May 2026 integrating AI job-matching tools — directly comparable in the military-to-civilian employment category.
- Hire Heroes USA: Nonprofit providing one-on-one career coaching and job placement assistance to transitioning service members and veterans. Comparable in employment-services focus and direct transition support, with similar reliance on individualized coaching rather than mass-program delivery.
- Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB): Veteran community organization providing social and wellness support to veterans, with explicit focus on the recently separated. Recently partnered with Onward Ops through the Face the Fight grant to support recently separated veterans — comparable mission, community-driven model, and similar population.
- Hiring Our Heroes (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation): U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation program focused on veteran employment and military-to-civilian transition. Directly comparable to Onward Ops in target population (transitioning service members) and employment-outcome focus; recently a co-panelist at the Business Solves Conference, signaling close ecosystem overlap.
- American Corporate Partners (ACP): National nonprofit pairing transitioning veterans with corporate mentors for career guidance. Directly comparable to Onward Ops' peer sponsorship model and 12-month transition support structure.
Emerging players
- PenFed Foundation: Veteran-focused nonprofit (affiliated with PenFed Credit Union) providing emergency financial assistance and transition support. Currently a partner of Onward Ops, but operates adjacent transition-support programs with overlapping populations and a complementary donor base.
- Avalon Action Alliance: Post-trauma wellness nonprofit specializing in TBI and PTS care for service members and veterans. Currently a partner of Onward Ops for clinical care referrals; complementary service offering addressing the medical/disability domain of transition.
Broad incumbents
- DAV (Disabled American Veterans): Major congressionally chartered veteran service organization advocating for and supporting disabled veterans with benefits claims, employment, and transition services. Comparable in serving transitioning service members but with national-scale, century-old institutional footprint versus Onward Ops' targeted transition platform.
- Wounded Warrior Project: Large, well-established veteran service organization providing a broad portfolio of physical, mental, and economic programs for wounded veterans. Comparable in the broader veteran transition and rehabilitation space, but with vastly larger scale and donor base than Onward Ops' focused transition niche.
- DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP): Mandatory government-run pre-separation program for all transitioning service members. Onward Ops explicitly positions as complementary (not competitive) to TAP, with current partnerships at Fort Hood TAP — directly comparable in target population and transition-focus but with government-mandated scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Onward Ops social profiles
Digital presenceOnward Ops compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Onward Ops financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Onward Ops leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Onward Ops subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Onward Ops funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Onward Ops 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 Onward Ops
What does Onward Ops do?
Onward Ops is a free military-to-civilian transition support program that matches active duty service members with trained volunteer peer sponsors from their destination community and provides a personalized cloud-based platform for planning across Employment, Education, Medical & Disability, Family & Legal, and Social domains during the 12-month transition window. The platform includes a personalized transition dashboard, AI-driven civilian job matching, a suicide risk calculator, free Google Workspace accounts, and curated career tracks.
Is Onward Ops a public or private company?
Onward Ops is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Onward Ops founded?
Onward Ops was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Onward Ops based?
Onward Ops is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Onward Ops make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Foundation Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Government Grants.
Who are Onward Ops's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are RecruitMilitary, Hire Heroes USA, Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), Hiring Our Heroes (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation) and American Corporate Partners (ACP). Emerging players are PenFed Foundation and Avalon Action Alliance. Broad incumbents are DAV (Disabled American Veterans), Wounded Warrior Project and DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP).
Does Onward Ops have an API?
No public API is recorded for Onward Ops.
What industry is Onward Ops in?
Onward Ops's product category is Military Transition Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAOAH, Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAE, Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling. Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.