What Overwatch Project does

Overwatch Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit initiative of FORGE (EIN: 46-3738235) that operates the "Just Fucking Ask" (JFA) peer intervention training program, targeting veteran and active-duty suicide through lethal means reduction. The program's core methodology is a six-step framework (Assess, Approach, JFA, Make a Plan/Render Safe, Call for Backup, The Big Q) modeled on the public-health "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" campaign and designed to enable veteran-to-veteran conversations about firearms and suicide. Supporting products include a how-to guide, proactive conversation guide and pledge, downloadable brochures, social media toolkits, and The Watch peer leadership community, all developed with input from over 300 veterans.

The organization generates revenue through individual and recurring donations (processed via Classy), corporate partnerships (matching gifts, percentage-of-sale, product donations), peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, and merchandise sales through a Squarespace storefront offering branded apparel ($29 T-shirts) and wristband/sticker packs ($8.99 and up). Training is delivered in-person across at least four states (Texas, Florida, North Carolina, California) by Peer Intervention Trainers who are required to have prior military experience, supplemented by webinars and downloadable resources for veteran service organizations and peer leaders.

Operationally, Overwatch Project is a small hybrid organization (1-10 employees) currently scaling through new full-time hires including Peer Intervention Trainers and an Operations Director, pursuing a goal of training 30,000+ veterans and service members over the next year. Strategic partnerships include Warriors & Quiet Waters (co-produced documentary) and active alignment with the Face the Fight coalition. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no proprietary software platform beyond a Squarespace-based web presence, and no venture or equity funding.

Name

Overwatch Project

Legal name

FORGE

Website

https://overwatchproject.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Overwatch Project, an initiative of FORGE, runs the Just Fucking Ask peer intervention program that trains U.S. veterans and active-duty service members to prevent firearm suicide through structured peer conversations about firearms safety and lethal means reduction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Suicide Prevention Services

NAICS

Administration of Veterans' Affairs (92314)

akta.pro primary industry

Gun Violence Prevention & Public Safety Policy Advocacy (BPAGAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Active Shooter Preparedness & Safety Training/Drills (EDAEACAI)

Keywords

• Veteran suicide prevention
• Peer intervention training
• Lethal means reduction
• Military mental health
• Firearms safety counseling

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations & Fundraising: The organization accepts monetary donations from individuals and corporate donors to fund operations, training programs, and outreach efforts. Monthly recurring donations are encouraged.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded apparel and merchandise (T-shirts, wristbands, sticker packs) with proceeds funding operating costs.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate giving through donations, matching programs, percentage of sale, and product/in-kind gifts from partner companies.
4. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaigns: Supporters can create individual fundraising campaign pages to raise money on behalf of the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Overwatch Project delivers the Just Fucking Ask (JFA) program — an evidence-based peer-intervention suicide prevention training and education initiative that teaches veterans and active-duty service members how to have direct conversations about firearms safety and create protective time and distance between a person in crisis and lethal means. The core offering is supported by downloadable conversation guides, brochures, a peer leadership community called The Watch, corporate partnership opportunities, and a merchandise storefront that funds operations.

Product overview

The Overwatch Project is a nonprofit initiative of FORGE that operates a single unified program called Just Fucking Ask (JFA) — an evidence-based peer-intervention suicide prevention training focused on creating time and distance between veterans in crisis and firearms. The core JFA program is supported by multiple supplementary resources including the JFA How-To Guide, Proactive Conversation Guide & Pledge, Conversation Guide, Brochure, and The Watch peer leadership community. The organization also provides VSO & Peer Resources and Build Awareness Materials for partner organizations, and operates a merchandise store selling JFA-branded apparel and accessories (T-shirts, wristbands, stickers) where profits fund operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Just Fucking Ask (JFA) Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Training 30,000+ veterans and service members in the next year with tens of thousands more reached through outreach and communications
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Warriors & Quiet WaterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA partnership with Warriors & Quiet Waters, an organization that provides wounded combat veterans with respite and healing experiences in Montana. Together they produced a short film documenting their collaborative efforts to save lives through the JFA approach. The collaboration is described as being 'in our DNA' and exemplifies the organization's commitment to working with other veteran-serving organizations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stop Soldier Suicide: Stop Soldier Suicide is a veteran suicide prevention nonprofit that provides clinical care coordination and peer support. It directly competes with Overwatch Project for veteran suicide prevention donor dollars but uses a clinical and case-management approach rather than firearms-community peer intervention.
• Headstrong Project: Headstrong Project provides confidential, stigma-free mental health care to veterans at no cost. It competes with Overwatch Project for veteran mental health funding but uses a clinical care model rather than peer-led firearms intervention.
• Mission 22: Mission 22 is a veteran-focused nonprofit addressing veteran suicide through treatment programs, memorials, and awareness. It serves the same veteran suicide prevention donor audience but emphasizes clinical treatment and symbolic memorials rather than firearms-community peer intervention.
• Save A Warrior: Save A Warrior is a nonprofit offering transformative retreat-based programs for veterans in crisis. It overlaps with Overwatch Project in addressing veteran suicide but focuses on intensive short-term intervention rather than population-scale peer training.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): AFSP is the largest nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention research, education, and advocacy in the U.S. Overwatch Project addresses a subset of AFSP's mission (veteran firearm suicide) using a peer-led, firearms-community approach, whereas AFSP uses a broader clinical, research, and policy-focused strategy.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): TAPS is a nonprofit providing peer support and resources to those grieving the death of a military loved one, including suicide survivors. It overlaps with Overwatch Project in serving military families affected by suicide but focuses on bereavement rather than upstream prevention.
• Warriors & Quiet Waters: Warriors & Quiet Waters is a nonprofit providing wounded combat veterans with respite and healing experiences; Overwatch Project has a documented partnership with them to document and amplify the JFA approach. They share the veteran-support mission but focus on experiential healing rather than peer intervention training.
• 22 Until None: 22 Until None is a nonprofit focused on veteran suicide prevention through awareness campaigns and community-based support. It competes with Overwatch Project in the veteran suicide prevention space but emphasizes public awareness and community events rather than peer intervention training on firearms.

Broad incumbents

• FORGE: FORGE is the parent 501(c)(3) of Overwatch Project and the only national nonprofit focused on gun suicide prevention from within the firearms community. As Overwatch Project is an initiative of FORGE, they share mission, donor base, and operational infrastructure, but FORGE operates broader firearm safety initiatives beyond the veteran-focused JFA program.

Others

• Veterans Crisis Line (VA): The Veterans Crisis Line is a government-funded 24/7 crisis hotline for veterans, run by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It is referenced as a resource on Overwatch Project's materials and serves a complementary role in the veteran mental health ecosystem, but operates as a public-sector crisis intervention service rather than a peer-led nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OverwatchProj
• Facebookfacebook.com/overwatchproj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Overwatch Project