What Elizabeth Dole Foundation does

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Washington, D.C., founded in 2012 by former Senator Elizabeth Dole to support America's 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers. It operates a portfolio of programs including the Hidden Heroes public awareness campaign, a 300+ Dole Caregiver Fellows leadership network spanning all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and D.C., the Hope Fund for direct financial assistance, the Campaign for Inclusive Care (a joint initiative with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), the Hidden Helpers Coalition serving 5.5 million children in caregiver households, the National Blueprint for Action, and the Hidden Heroes Cities community program. The Foundation generates revenue through individual donations, corporate sponsorships (300+ partners across public, private, nonprofit, labor, and faith communities), an annual Heroes & History Makers Gala, and a planned giving program; all services are provided free to caregivers.

The Foundation's distribution model combines a digital platform (hiddenheroes.org), a federated peer-support network via Fellows, federal channels through the VA partnership, and enterprise amplification via corporate partners such as Optum Serve and Philip Morris International U.S. Its evidence base is anchored by a 14-year longitudinal research relationship with the RAND Corporation (studies in 2014, 2017, 2021, 2024), which has produced the only comprehensive national dataset on this population. The Foundation does not disclose any proprietary technology stack or AI/ML capabilities; its competitive advantage rests on regulatory access, the RAND research relationship, and ecosystem lock-in through the Fellows and National Cabinet networks. Key recent strategic outputs include passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 and a $4M+ 2025 gala, with leadership under CEO Steve Schwab and founder/President Senator Elizabeth Dole.

Name

Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Legal name

Elizabeth Dole Foundation

Website

https://elizabethdolefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that supports America's 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers through awareness campaigns, a 300+ state-level Fellows network, direct financial assistance, VA partnership programs, and federal policy advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military and Veteran Caregiver Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Caregiver Coaching, Education & Support (HSABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Military caregiver support
• Veteran caregiver services
• Caregiver fellowship programs
• Caregiver financial assistance
• Nonprofit caregiver advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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. Individual and Corporate Donations: Primary revenue stream from individual donors and corporate sponsors. The Foundation has 300 sponsors and partners across public, private, nonprofit, labor, and faith communities. PMI U.S. contributed $100,000 in 2026; Optum Serve has been a supporter since 2018 with tenfold growth in investment.
2. Gala and Event Fundraising: Annual Heroes & History Makers Gala raised more than $4 million in December 2025, serving as a major annual fundraising event and official America250 event.
3. Planned Giving: Planned giving program allowing donors to include the Foundation in estate planning, providing long-term sustainable revenue.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers a portfolio of programs serving America's 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers. Core offerings include the Dole Caregiver Fellows multi-year leadership program, the Hope Fund for critical financial assistance grants, the Hidden Helpers Initiative for caregiver children, and the Campaign for Inclusive Care in partnership with the VA. All programs are provided free of charge to caregivers and supported by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and event fundraising.

Product overview

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization offering a suite of programs and services to support America's 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers. The portfolio includes the Hidden Heroes Campaign (flagship public awareness initiative), the Dole Caregiver Fellows Program (multi-year leadership experience across all 50 states), The Hope Fund (emergency financial assistance grants), the Hidden Heroes Caregiver Community (secure peer support network), the Campaign for Inclusive Care (VA partnership for inclusive clinical care), Hidden Helpers Initiative (support for caregiver children), the National Blueprint for Action (strategic framework), and the Hidden Heroes Cities Program (community-level engagement). These programs work together to provide awareness, community building, financial support, peer connection, and policy advocacy for the military and veteran caregiver population.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hidden Heroes Campaign: The flagship public awareness campaign of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation bringing vital attention to the untold stories of military and veteran caregivers
• Hidden Helpers Coalition
• Dole Caregiver Fellows
• Hope Fund
• Campaign for Inclusive Care
• National Blueprint for Action

Products and services

• Dole Caregiver Fellows Program An immersive multi-year leadership experience focused on building community and support for military and veteran caregivers across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. The program has grown to 290+ Fellows who serve as local ambassadors, peer supporters, and advocates. Provided free of charge to selected caregiver participants.
• The Hope Fund for Critical Financial Assistance Provides direct financial assistance grants to military and veteran caregivers for natural disaster assistance, medical and dental bills, home repairs, emergency transportation, vehicle modifications, home appliances, and loss of income. Delivered nearly $1.5 million in direct support to 688 caregivers in 2025.
• Hidden Helpers Initiative Program focused on military and veteran caregiver children and adolescents, addressing the needs of the 5.5 million children in caregiving households through research, resources, and support. Includes the Hidden Helpers Coalition and partnerships with organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project.
• Campaign for Inclusive Care Joint initiative between the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to transform the culture of care at the VA to be fully inclusive of military and veteran caregivers from day one of the care journey. Trains VA clinicians to integrate caregivers into care teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 688 caregivers helped with direct support in 2025, avoiding eviction, accessing medical care, and escaping domestic violence
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

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

• Optum ServecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Optum Serve (federal health services division of Optum and UnitedHealth Group) is a tenfold expanded partner since 2018. Support strengthens Foundation's efforts to connect caregivers to health and wellness resources, peer communities, economic supports, and wraparound services. Optum Serve CEO Ed Weinberg noted caregiver health directly affects health of those they care for.
• Claritev CarescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Claritev Cares (charitable foundation of Claritev, NYSE: CTEV) collaborated with the Foundation to launch free online mental health insurance guides and resources covering Commercial and ACA Marketplace plans, Medicaid, CHIP, and Medicare. Resources developed with Claritev's healthcare expertise and hosted through Foundation's platform.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)minorOthers · 7 May 2026PMI U.S. contributed $100,000 to TAPS as part of the same Military Appreciation Month donation cycle. Foundation and TAPS are both recipients of PMI U.S. military family support.
• Veteran Spouse NetworkminorOthers · 7 May 2026PMI U.S. contributed $60,000 to Veteran Spouse Network as part of the same Military Appreciation Month donation cycle. Foundation and Veteran Spouse Network are both recipients of PMI U.S. military family support.
• SHRM FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Co-hosted Supporting Caregivers in the Workforce Summit in October 2025 to advance solutions at intersection of caregiving, business strategy, and public policy.
• Act on RAISE Campaign / National Alliance for CaregivingmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2025Foundation participates in the Act on RAISE Campaign, hosted by National Alliance for Caregiving, bringing together 120+ stakeholder organizations to implement the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.
• Wounded Warrior ProjectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Wounded Warrior Project partnered with Foundation on the Hidden Helpers initiative, responding to needs of children in military and veteran caregiving households. Findings from 2021 Hidden Helpers study unveiled at White House with First Lady Jill Biden's Joining Forces Initiative.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Campaign for Inclusive Care is a joint initiative between Foundation and VA to transform culture of care at VA to be fully inclusive of military and veteran caregivers from day one of care journey. Partnership also includes collaboration on PCAFC program, VA caregiver support, and Hidden Helpers Coalition.
• RAND CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Since 2012, Foundation has commissioned RAND to conduct landmark research on military and veteran caregivers. Studies in 2014 (first national study), 2017 (research blueprint), 2021 (Hidden Helpers - children of caregivers), and 2024 (updated national study) form the evidence base for all Foundation programs and advocacy.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• AARP Foundation: Large 501(c)(3) affiliated with AARP running broad caregiver, income, and isolation programs for older adults and their families. Broad incumbent because it operates overlapping caregiver-support initiatives but at a much larger scale and across all caregiver populations rather than EDF's military/veteran niche.

Direct peers

• Paralyzed Veterans of America: Veterans service organization focused on paralyzed veterans and their families, including caregiver-related benefits advocacy. Direct peer because it overlaps on VA benefits advocacy, caregiver policy, and federal-level engagement on behalf of seriously injured veterans and their caregivers.
• Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN): Nonprofit that researches and advocates on issues affecting military families, including caregiver-related quality-of-life concerns. Direct peer because it sits in the same military-family advocacy space, partners with DoD/VA stakeholders, and competes for similar philanthropic funding.
• Hope For The Warriors: National nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans, service members, and military families with clinical, financial, and community programs. Direct peer because it overlaps on caregiver and family support, VA-facing advocacy, and corporate fundraising channels.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans and their families. Direct peer because it overlaps materially with EDF on military caregiver support, family programs, and VA partnership work, and is a co-partner on the Hidden Helpers Initiative.
• Blue Star Families: National nonprofit supporting active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and veteran families. Direct peer because its military-family programming, caregiver research, and policy advocacy address overlapping populations and compete for the same corporate and foundation funders.
• Semper Fi & America's Fund: Nonprofit providing immediate financial support and holistic care to wounded, critically ill, and injured service members and their families. Direct peer due to overlapping caregiver financial-assistance programming and shared VA-aligned beneficiary base.
• Bob Woodruff Foundation: Foundation focused on post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families, including caregivers. Direct peer because its grantmaking and programs target the same caregiver population and operate with a similar high-profile-anchored brand model.
• National Alliance for Caregiving: Coalition and advocacy organization focused on family caregivers across all conditions and ages. Direct peer because it co-leads the Act on RAISE Campaign with EDF and shares caregiver-research and policy-advocacy functions at the national level.
• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): National nonprofit providing bereavement support to military and veteran survivors. Direct peer because it serves overlapping military family/caregiver populations, shares corporate sponsors (PMI U.S.), and operates in the same VA-aligned funding and advocacy ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dolefoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/ElizabethDoleFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elizabeth-dole-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth Dole Foundation