Veteran Advocacy Project

What Veteran Advocacy Project does

Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP), founded in 2010 by Coco Culhane and spun off as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2019, provides free civil legal services to low-income veterans and their families in the New York City metropolitan area. VAP operates three core program areas — a Civil Legal Practice (housing court, eviction prevention, public benefits), a Veterans Law Practice (VA character-of-discharge determinations, disability claim appeals, education benefits), and a nationally distinctive Discharge Upgrade Clinic (DUC) that represents veterans before Department of Defense Review Boards and trains pro bono attorneys nationwide — alongside Justice-Involved Veterans Services and Medical Legal Partnerships sited inside VA Vet Centers and Community Healthcare Network federally qualified health centers.

The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its "stack" is a WordPress website plus the Zeffy donation processor. Service delivery is human-attorney-driven and concentrated at four physical touchpoints in New York City (HQ at One Liberty Plaza plus walk-in hours at Bronx Vet Center, Jericho Project, and Services for the UnderServed), with phone, virtual, and home-visit intake options. Capacity is scaled via a pro bono network of roughly 20 major U.S. law firms, an adjunct Veterans' Rights Clinic at Brooklyn Law School, and partnerships inside the federal SSVF homelessness-prevention ecosystem.

VAP is funded by a mix of individual donations (100% tax-deductible via Zeffy), foundation and institutional grants, federal pass-through funding routed through SSVF grantees, and substantial in-kind pro bono attorney hours. All services are free to clients. There is no fee-for-service revenue stream, no venture or private equity investment, and no publicly disclosed financials.

Name

Veteran Advocacy Project

Legal name

Veteran Advocacy Project, Inc.

Website

https://veteranadvocacy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Veteran Advocacy Project is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free civil legal services — housing, VA benefits, and military discharge upgrades — to low-income veterans and their families in the New York City metro, supplemented by a national pro bono attorney network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterans Legal Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Veterans legal services
• Civil legal aid
• Discharge upgrade clinic
• Homelessness prevention legal
• VA disability claims

Headquarters

HQ city

West New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax-deductible donations: Individual and corporate donations are the primary funding mechanism. The organization states that all donations are 100% tax deductible and that Zeffy is used as the donation platform with no fees charged to nonprofits.
2. Foundation and institutional grants: VAP pursues foundation grants as part of its diversified fundraising strategy, managed by the Development Manager and Executive Director. The organization tracks foundation portfolio, prospect research, proposal development, and reporting.
3. Law firm pro bono partnerships: Law firms and corporations provide pro bono legal support through the Discharge Upgrade Clinic (DUC) and general civil legal services. Pro bono work is cultivated as a form of philanthropic partnership, including law firm attorney time and resources.
4. Government and SSVF contracts: VAP partners with Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) grantees (Jericho Project and Services for the UnderServed) and provides legal services under these partnerships, which likely involve federal/pass-through funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Veteran Advocacy Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free civil legal representation to low-income veterans and their families in the New York City area. Core service areas include a Civil Legal Practice (housing and income stability), a Veterans Law Practice (VA character-of-discharge, disability appeals, education benefits), a Discharge Upgrade Clinic, Justice-Involved Veterans Services, Medical-Legal Partnerships at VA Vet Centers and community health clinics, and SSVF Homelessness Prevention delivered through SSVF grantee partners.

Product overview

Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP) is a nonprofit legal services organization offering free legal representation to low-income veterans and their families in the New York metropolitan area. The organization operates three core program areas: a Civil Legal Practice providing housing and income stability services; a Veterans Law Practice handling VA character of discharge determinations and disability claim appeals; and a Discharge Upgrade Clinic (DUC) that fights to upgrade unjust military discharges before Department of Defense Review Boards. VAP also offers Justice-Involved Veterans Services, Medical Legal Partnerships with Vet Centers and Community Healthcare Network, and SSVF Homelessness Prevention services through partnerships with Jericho Project and Services for the UnderServed. All services are free and focus on veterans living with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, substance dependency, and other mental health conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Civil Legal Practice Provides housing and income stability services through homelessness prevention partnerships with social services agencies and medical-legal partnerships with Vet Centers and community health clinics, for low-income veterans and their families in the New York City area.
• Veterans Law Practice Focused legal practice on VA character-of-discharge determinations, disability claim appeals related to mental health, education benefits, over-payments, and setting up apportionments for veterans.
• Discharge Upgrade Clinic (DUC) Represents veterans with unjust less-than-honorable discharges in upgrade applications before Department of Defense Review Boards and trains/supervises a national pro bono attorney network to do the same.
• Justice-Involved Veterans Services Reduces justice-involved veterans' collateral consequences, assists families affected by incarceration, removes barriers to veterans benefits, and educates criminal justice stakeholders on veteran-specific trauma care resources.
• Medical Legal Partnerships Provides legal assistance onsite at VA Vet Centers and Community Healthcare Network federally qualified health centers, addressing social determinants of health to improve health outcomes for veterans.
• SSVF Homelessness Prevention Provides legal services to veterans through partnerships with SSVF grantees Jericho Project and Services for the UnderServed, focused on housing court representation, eviction prevention, and subsidy access.

Quantifiable outcome

• Veterans with misconduct discharges take their lives at two to three times the rate of other veterans
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jericho ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAP partners with Jericho Project, an SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) grantee, providing weekly onsite legal intake at Jericho's Manhattan location (39 Broadway, 5th Floor, every Tuesday 1-4PM). Jericho provides case management, benefits assistance, and employment programs while VAP handles legal matters including housing court and benefits.
• Services for the UnderServed (S:US)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAP partners with Services for the UnderServed (S:US), an SSVF grantee, providing legal services to veterans facing eviction and homelessness. VAP is onsite by appointment to work on housing stability, subsidies, and barrier removal while S:US provides case management and social services.
• VA Vet CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAP provides legal assistance onsite at VA Vet Centers in New York. These centers serve combat veterans and their families, providing counseling and transition assistance. VAP attorneys work alongside clinical staff in medical-legal partnership.
• Community Healthcare NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAP launched a partnership with Community Healthcare Network, a system of federally qualified health centers across New York City. For veterans who cannot access the VA, VAP attorneys work on character of discharge and discharge upgrade applications, eviction prevention, and income access at CHN sites.
• Bronx Vet CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAP holds walk-in office hours at the Bronx Vet Center (2471 Morris Ave, Bronx) on first and third Thursdays of the month, providing onsite legal intake and services for Bronx-area veterans.
• Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAkin Gump is a pro bono partner in VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic, providing attorney time to represent veterans in Department of Defense discharge upgrade applications.
• Arnold & Porter LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArnold & Porter is a pro bono partner providing attorney representation for veterans in the Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Bressler Amery & RosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBressler Amery & Ross provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleary Gottlieb is a pro bono partner in VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic, representing veterans in discharge upgrade applications.
• DLA PipercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLA Piper provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Duane Morris LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuane Morris provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Fannie MaeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFannie Mae is listed as a pro bono partner supporting VAP's legal services for veterans.
• Greenberg Traurig LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenberg Traurig is a pro bono partner in VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic, representing veterans in Department of Defense discharge upgrade applications.
• Holland & Knight LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHolland & Knight provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• JPMorgan Chase & Co.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPMorgan Chase is a pro bono partner providing attorney and potentially corporate support for VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Kasowitz Benson Torres LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKasowitz Benson Torres provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Katten Muchin Rosenman LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKatten provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Latham & Watkins LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatham & Watkins is a pro bono partner in VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic, representing veterans in discharge upgrade applications.
• McDermott Will & Emery LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcDermott Will & Emery is a pro bono partner and its partner John Nowak serves as Secretary & Treasurer on VAP's Board of Directors.
• O'Melveny & Myers LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerO'Melveny & Myers provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrrick Herrington & Sutcliffe is a pro bono partner in VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic, representing veterans in Department of Defense discharge upgrade applications.
• Paramount Group Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParamount Group is listed as a pro bono partner supporting VAP's legal services for veterans.
• PayPalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPayPal is listed as a pro bono partner supporting VAP's legal services for veterans.
• Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatterson Belknap provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Seward & Kissel LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeward & Kissel provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Sidley Austin LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSidley Austin is a pro bono partner in VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic, representing veterans in Department of Defense discharge upgrade applications.
• Societe GeneraleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSociete Generale is listed as a pro bono partner supporting VAP's legal services for veterans.
• Sullivan & Cromwell LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSullivan & Cromwell provides pro bono legal support for veterans through VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic.
• Brooklyn Law SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAP's founder Coco Culhane is an adjunct professor of clinical law at Brooklyn Law School, where she teaches the Veterans' Rights Clinic and Seminar. VAP accepts law student interns and participates in the PILC Fair for summer internships.
• Con EdisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCon Edison is listed as a pro bono partner supporting VAP's Discharge Upgrade Clinic and veteran services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Urban Justice Center: Where VAP was incubated (Mental Health Project) before spinning off in 2019; UJC is a NYC-based legal services nonprofit serving low-income populations across multiple practice areas including veterans, housing, and mental health.
• Swords to Plowshares: San Francisco-based veterans services organization providing free legal services (including discharge upgrades and VA claims), housing, and employment support. Closest direct peer given similar legal services scope for veterans.
• Veterans Legal Services (Boston): Greater Boston-based legal services nonprofit serving low-income veterans with discharge upgrades, VA benefits, housing, and family law matters. Comparable practice model and population.
• Connecticut Veterans Legal Center: Provides free legal services to veterans in CT focused on VA discharge upgrades, criminal record erasure, and benefits advocacy. Comparable state-level veterans legal services model.
• National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP): National nonprofit dedicated to veterans' legal rights, including major VA benefits litigation and discharge upgrade work. Operates a Veterans Benefits Improvement Program and trains pro bono attorneys nationwide.

Emerging players

• Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS): NYC nonprofit that mobilizes pro bono lawyers for civil legal services to low-income populations, including veterans. Comparable pro bono mobilization model though smaller and broader in scope.

Others

• Innocence Project: Adjacent nonprofit legal organization using pro bono attorneys for systemic legal advocacy. VAP board member John Nowak previously volunteered at the Innocence Project at Duke Law; comparable NYC nonprofit legal advocacy ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA): National veterans service organization. VAP's senior counsel previously led VVA's Veterans Benefits program. VVA provides broader advocacy, benefits support, and discharge upgrade resources at national scale.
• Legal Aid Society (NYC): Largest NYC civil legal services provider, with practice areas overlapping VAP's housing court and public benefits work. VAP's senior housing attorney brings NYC Civil Court Housing Part experience directly relevant to this peer.

Regional players

• Brooklyn Defenders: Brooklyn-based public defender and civil legal services nonprofit. Operates a veterans-focused practice and serves overlapping NYC low-income populations with interdisciplinary legal and social work support.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/VeteranAdvocacy
• Facebookfacebook.com/VeteranAdvocacy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veteran-advocacy-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Veteran Advocacy Project