Villagers For Veterans

What Villagers For Veterans does

Villagers for Veterans is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Marie Bogdonoff in The Villages, Florida, after she met 15 injured warriors at Walter Reed Medical Center's December 2014 Christmas Party. Its mission is to ensure severely injured veterans receive the tools and assistance needed for healing, a return to normalcy, and an independent lifestyle. The organization targets wounded U.S. military veterans — with a dedicated focus on women veterans — through a portfolio of direct service programs: transitional and adapted housing (including Ashley's Cottage and the in-progress Ashley House, a 4,000-square-foot group home in Eustis, Florida), a free Service Dogs program covering training and veterinary costs, medical and mental health support, job placement and career counseling, and a Mobility and Independence program that has awarded 29+ custom vehicles and 36 all-terrain vehicles.

The underlying 'technology' is intentionally non-technological: a community-driven, event-led service delivery model operating out of Leesburg, Florida with a 1–10 person volunteer staff and no proprietary software. Core operations are supported by GoHighLevel for online donations, Ticketor and Villages Box Offices for event ticketing, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube). Recurring signature events — monthly Jukebox Bingo, monthly Dueling Pianos, quarterly Lake Miona Bingo, weekly Sunday Funday with Dunning Shaw, and annual tributes — function simultaneously as fundraising vehicles, awareness touchpoints, and volunteer recruitment pipelines. Fund allocation is disclosed at 70% to Veteran Support Services, 15% to Mental Health, 10% to Community Engagement, and 5% to Administration.

The business model is donation-funded across three streams: (1) individual and corporate donations via tiered giving ($25, $50, $100, custom) plus episodic larger gifts, (2) event ticket revenue at $17–$25 per ticket, and (3) branded merchandise sales (pins, visors, tumblers, hats, challenge coins). Cumulative fundraising since inception exceeds $3 million. The customer base is highly localized: donors, volunteers, and event attendees are concentrated in The Villages retirement community and broader Central Florida, while service recipients (service dog beneficiaries, mobility vehicle recipients) are distributed nationally. Corporate sponsors include Ameris Bank, Dignity Memorial, Blackston Financial Group, Schwab, FMK Restaurants, and PGA Tour Superstore; institutional partners include the U.S. Army Women's Foundation, MOAA, The American Legion, VVA Chapter 1036, and Wreaths Across America.

Name

Villagers For Veterans

Legal name

Villagers for Veterans

Website

https://villagersforveterans.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Villagers for Veterans is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 in The Villages, Florida, providing housing, service dogs, mobility equipment, and mental health support to severely wounded U.S. veterans, with a dedicated focus on women veterans through Ashley's House and Ashley's Cottage transitional homes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Support Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Veteran support services
• Transitional housing programs
• Service dog training
• Adaptive mobility equipment
• Nonprofit fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Leesburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue stream through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and community fundraising events. The organization emphasizes that 90% of donations go directly to veteran programs.
2. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from signature events including Bingo nights, Dueling Pianos shows, comedy shows, and game nights held at venues like Old Mill Playhouse and Lake Miona Recreation Center.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including Women's Veterans Served Pins, Support Pins, Visors, Tumblers, hats, and Challenge Coins.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Villagers For Veterans is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers housing assistance, free service dogs, medical and mental health support, job placement, adaptive equipment, and gender-specific programs to severely wounded U.S. military veterans. The organization funds these services through community fundraising events, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and branded merchandise sales, and operates the Ashley House transition home for female veterans in Eustis, Florida.

Product overview

Villagers for Veterans is a 100% volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of support services for severely wounded veterans. The core offerings include House Assistance (transitional and long-term housing), Service Dogs (provided free to veterans), Medical & Mental Health Support, Job Placement & Career Support, Women Veterans Program, and Adaptive Equipment & Home Modifications. Special initiatives include Ashley House Transition Home for female veterans and the Mobility and Independence Program providing vehicles. The organization hosts signature events including the Orchid Gala and community events like bingo, dueling pianos, and comedy shows to raise funds. Merchandise is sold through an online shop to support fundraising efforts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ashley's Cottage: Women's veteran transition home in Central Florida dedicated to the memory of First Lieutenant Ashley White-Stumpf
• Ashley's House

Products and services

• Housing Assistance Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised over $3,000,000 since founding
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Army Women's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard members of U.S. Army Women's Foundation attended the Ashley's House groundbreaking ceremony, indicating partnership in supporting women veterans programs.
• Wreaths Across AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillagers for Veterans hosts events supporting Wreaths Across America, including Tight Genes Ice Cream Social benefiting the organization.
• Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Chapter 20-4minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Paul Immordino serves as Financial Officer and Life Member of CVMA Chapter 20-4, a national organization supporting combat veterans.
• Ameris BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on website partners section.
• Dignity MemorialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on website partners section.
• MOAA (Military Officers Association of America)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor partner displayed on website, MOAA is an organization supporting military officers and veterans.
• The American LegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on website partners section. Board member Paul Immordino is American Legionnaire of the Year Post 35 (2020).
• VVA Chapter 1036minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1036 listed as sponsor partner on website.
• Villages Lifestyle GroupscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Villages lifestyle groups that raise money for puppies to raise and train as service dogs for the Service Dogs program.
• The Villages EntertainmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue partner for events at Old Mill Playhouse. Tickets sold through Villages Box Offices and The Villages Entertainment platform.
• TicketorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent ticketing platform used for selling tickets to Villagers for Veterans events.
• Candid (GuideStar)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGuideStar/Candid transparency seal displayed on website, indicating nonprofit transparency and accountability certification.
• Charity NavigatorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity Navigator rating and recognition displayed on website indicating nonprofit accountability and transparency rating.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Wounded Warrior Project: The largest US nonprofit supporting post-9/11 wounded veterans through physical/mental health programs, career counseling, and long-term support. Directly comparable mission of serving severely injured veterans, but at vastly greater national scale.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Supports wounded veterans through specially adapted smart homes, mobility devices (including adapted vehicles), and family/caregiver support. Highly comparable program mix to Villagers For Veterans' housing, mobility, and independence portfolio.
• Operation Homefront: Provides housing, financial, and recurring family support to military families and wounded veterans. Direct overlap with Villagers For Veterans' housing assistance and transitional support mission, with a broader regional program network.
• The Independence Fund: Provides mobility devices (including track chairs and all-terrain vehicles) and family support to catastrophically wounded veterans. Highly comparable to Villagers' Mobility and Independence Program; notably referenced as a grant recipient from Villagers.
• Homes for Our Troops: Builds specially adapted homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans at no cost. Direct peer to Villagers For Veterans' adaptive housing and home modification programs, with a similar physical-asset model but national footprint.
• Fisher House Foundation: Provides free temporary housing to military and veteran families near medical facilities. Comparable in operating lodging-style facilities for veterans, though focused on caregiver/family housing adjacent to treatment centers.
• Semper Fi & America's Fund: Provides immediate financial assistance and ongoing support to critically wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans. Overlaps with Villagers' housing, medical/mental health, and emergency assistance model for severely wounded veterans.

Broad incumbents

• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Long-established nationwide veterans service organization providing benefits assistance, transportation, and rehabilitation support. Overlaps broadly with Villagers' housing and medical advocacy but operates at significantly larger scale as a congressionally chartered VSO.
• American Legion: Largest US wartime veterans organization offering broad support including housing referrals, employment, and health services. Already a sponsor partner of Villagers For Veterans and a comparable broad-incumbent peer in the veteran services ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Builds mortgage-free smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders, plus provides mortgage payoffs for fallen hero families. Comparable specialized housing model with stronger national brand and growth trajectory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@villagersforveterans7385
• Facebookfacebook.com/www.villagersforveterans.org
• Xx.com/villagersforve1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/villagers-for-veterans-inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Villagers For Veterans