What Boots2Roots does

Boots2Roots is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in May 2016 by Air Force veteran Dave Hickey and John Manganello to address the civilian-employment transition challenges facing active-duty military members, veterans, and military spouses relocating to Maine. The organization operates a unified Transition-to-Work Program that engages servicemembers 12-18 months before separation through Transition Assistance Program (TAP) briefs and referrals, then delivers personalized career coaching, resume and interview preparation, peer mentoring from recently transitioned veterans, employer networking, and community integration support including referrals to realtors, mortgage brokers, and veterans' resource organizations. All services are provided at no cost to participants.

The organization operates with a lean six-person staff composed entirely of veterans or military spouses (executive leadership includes a former Navy Command Master Chief and a Marine Corps Reservist) and is supported by a volunteer peer-mentor network and a six-tier corporate partnership program (Five Star through Mission tiers) covering over 200 Maine employers across defense manufacturing, insurance, energy, professional services, healthcare, and financial services. Boots2Roots reports having assisted over 400 military members and spouses since inception, with over 94% of active-duty transitioning servicemembers finding work within 60 days of arrival in Maine and 95% remaining in their first post-military job for more than 12 months.

The revenue model is donations- and foundation-grant-driven rather than fee-based; the program is explicitly free to participants and the organization is "not recruiters." Key foundation funders include the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Margaret E. Burnham Foundation, FGK Foundation, Heather Foundation, Gerrish Milliken Foundation, and Fisher Foundation, alongside major employer partners including General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Unum, MEMIC, TD Bank, Central Maine Power, Nichols Portland, Systems Engineering, Dead River Company, and IDEXX. The organization holds no patents, software products, or proprietary technology; service delivery is entirely human-coach and relationship-based. Headquarters are located at 5 Depot St, STE 12, Freeport, Maine.

Name

Boots2Roots

Legal name

Boots2Roots

Website

https://boots2roots.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Boots2Roots is a Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps active-duty military members, veterans, and military spouses transition to meaningful civilian employment in Maine through free career coaching, resume preparation, peer mentoring, and employer networking. Founded in 2016 and funded by foundations and corporate partners, it has placed over 400 transitioning servicemembers since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Workforce Development

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans & Military-to-Civilian Transition Programs (EDAAAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dislocated Worker & Rapid Response / Reemployment Programs (EDAAAOAF), Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)

Keywords

• Veteran career transition
• Military transition services
• Workforce development
• Career coaching
• Job placement assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Freeport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Boots2Roots operates as a Maine 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded through donations and foundation grants. The program is completely free to military members - there is never any cost for Boots2Roots services. Key funders include the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Margaret E. Burnham Foundation, FGK Foundation, Heather Foundation, Gerrish Milliken Foundation, and Fisher Foundation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Boots2Roots delivers a free, personalized Transition-to-Work Program for active-duty U.S. military members (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force), veterans relocating to Maine, and military spouses. The program begins 12–18 months before separation and includes self-assessment, resume and interview preparation, employer introductions, peer mentoring from recently transitioned Maine veterans, and community integration support. All services are provided at no cost to participants and are funded by foundation grants, charitable donations, and corporate employer partnerships.

Product overview

Boots2Roots is a service-based nonprofit organization offering a unified Transition-to-Work Program designed to help active-duty military members, veterans, and military spouses transition to meaningful civilian employment in Maine. The program consists of interconnected service modules including self-assessment, resume and interview coaching, employer networking, peer mentoring, and community integration support. The organization does not offer a technology product or software platform; all services are delivered through personalized staff assistance, volunteer networks, and direct employer partnerships. Services are provided at no cost to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transition-to-Work Program The flagship free program of Boots2Roots, providing personalized career coaching, resume and interview preparation, employer introductions and networking, peer mentoring from recently transitioned Maine veterans, and community integration support to help active-duty military members, veterans, and military spouses find meaningful employment in Maine. The program begins 12-18 months before the servicemember's separation date and is delivered at no cost to participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94%+ of active-duty transitioning servicemembers find work within 60 days of arriving in Maine
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• Maine Defense Industry AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoots2Roots and MDIA are helping connect transitioning servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses with meaningful careers across Maine's growing defense industry. Together, they're creating pathways for military families to confidently build their next chapter in Maine.
• General Dynamics – Bath Iron WorksflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor employer partner employing over 800 Veterans. Views Boots2Roots as a fantastic talent pipeline for hiring transitioning servicemembers to Maine companies.
• UnumflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerStrong partnership supporting Boots2Roots work helping veterans and military families transition into meaningful careers. Unum also encourages employee volunteering and community engagement.
• MEMICflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerExcited that Boots2Roots is helping bring veterans and their families to Maine. Values motivated, disciplined, and talented military members who bring culture of teamwork and safety.
• Nichols PortlandflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPartners with Boots2Roots for workforce attraction and hiring former military talent. Views it as makes sense for their business and the entire Maine business community.
• Central Maine PowerflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPartners with Boots2Roots to support its mission helping active-duty military members, veterans and spouses find meaningful work in Maine.
• Systems EngineeringflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner100% Employee-Owned company proud to provide career opportunities that enable veterans to grow and thrive. Values ex-military employees for professionalism, growth-mindsets, and grit.
• Dead River CompanyflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerValues Boots2Roots access to transitioning military members who bring integrity, learning agility, team focus, and willingness to serve customers.
• Five Star Partners (TD Bank, Unum, MEMIC, CMP, NPI Nichols, Systems Engineering, Dead River, IDEXX)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium tier employer/hiring partners who are eager to hire Boots2Roots Teammates.
• Four Star Partners (Welcome Home, LoanDepot)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer partners supporting Boots2Roots mission and hiring military talent.
• Victory Partners (MT Bank, BSB, Clark)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer partners supporting Boots2Roots mission and hiring military talent.
• Command Partners (Mascoma, NEA, Berrydunn, Irving Forest Products, Androscoggin Bank, Jackson Lab, Blingle, Enercon, Wipfli, Baird, Chase, Maine Community Bank, Martins Point, Norway Savings)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer partners supporting Boots2Roots mission and hiring military talent.
• Patriot Partners (KSB, MaineGeneral Health, Northern Light Health, BBH Harbor, KMA, MMG Insurance, Atlantic Sportswear)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployer partners supporting Boots2Roots mission and hiring military talent.
• Mission Partners (Townsquare Augusta, MAME, JB exp, Live Work Maine, MEDECD, Portland Radio Group)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMission-level partners supporting Boots2Roots workforce development efforts in Maine.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RecruitMilitary: Veteran-focused career services company running job fairs, employer matching, and career coaching for transitioning military. Directly comparable on the employer-introduction and job-matching functions, though RecruitMilitary monetizes employer relationships rather than operating as a free nonprofit.
• Hire Heroes USA: National nonprofit providing one-on-one career coaching, resume assistance, and employer introductions to transitioning servicemembers and veterans — directly comparable to Boots2Roots' core Transition-to-Work Program, though operating nationally rather than Maine-only.
• Hiring Our Heroes (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation): Large-scale veteran and military spouse employment initiative offering career coaching, fellowships, and employer networking events. A direct peer in the military-to-civilian career transition space, scaled nationally versus Boots2Roots' state-focused model.
• FourBlock: Nonprofit providing career readiness and professional networking programming to transitioning servicemembers, veterans, and military spouses. Directly comparable on the career-coaching-and-employer-introduction service model, with chapter-based national reach rather than single-state focus.

Broad incumbents

• Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University: National academic-backed institution offering veteran career training, entrepreneurship programs, and policy research. A broader incumbent in the military transition ecosystem with overlapping workforce development programming but operating at a much larger scale and from a university setting.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans with career transition, mental health, and financial support. Overlaps with Boots2Roots on the career-coaching-to-employment pathway but serves a narrower wounded-veteran population at much larger scale.
• American Job Centers (U.S. Department of Labor): Federally funded nationwide network of employment service centers providing career counseling, job search, and training referrals — including for veterans through American Job Centers' dedicated DVOP/LVR staff. Functions as the public-sector default alternative to Boots2Roots for transitioning servicemembers.

Regional players

• Maine Department of Labor CareerCenters: State-operated Maine employment service centers providing job search, career counseling, and training referrals. Operates in the same Maine geography as Boots2Roots and serves a comparable job-seeker base, though without Boots2Roots' military-specific early-engagement model.
• Live and Work in Maine: Maine state-aligned initiative to attract and retain workers in Maine, including a Talent Attraction Program that specifically markets Maine to remote workers, veterans, and skilled migrants. Overlaps with Boots2Roots on relocating newcomers into Maine employment, though with a much broader audience than military families.

Emerging players

• Team Red, White & Blue: Nonprofit veteran service organization focused on veteran community integration, wellness, and connection to civilian networks. Adjacent to Boots2Roots' community integration support pillar, though Team RWB emphasizes social connectedness over direct employment placement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Boots2RootsMaine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boots2roots

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Boots2Roots