The National Veterans Foundation Inc

What The National Veterans Foundation Inc does

The National Veterans Foundation Inc (NVF) is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1985 by Vietnam veteran and former VA counselor Shad Meshad. Headquartered at 5777 West Century Boulevard in Los Angeles, the organization delivers crisis-management, information, and referral services to U.S. veterans and their families at no charge. Its flagship asset is the Lifeline for Vets — a Vet-to-Vet crisis hotline (888-777-4443) launched in 1985 and now a registered service mark — which has handled more than 550,000 calls cumulatively at a current run-rate of roughly 10,000 calls per year, operating 40 hours per week with a stated goal of 24/7 coverage.

The underlying service delivery model is human-mediated rather than technology-mediated: trained veteran volunteers and a small clinical staff (including LCSW Melinda Meshad) conduct peer counseling, warm hand-offs, de-escalation, and trauma-informed care. Supporting capabilities include a WordPress-based resource directory at nvf.org, a separate job board at jobs.nvf.org, Los Angeles street outreach for homeless veterans, a Buddy Check program, the QL+ STEM innovation partnership, and the Mad Man documentary film as an awareness and fundraising channel. The website and marketing stack (Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, Pinterest, Constant Contact email) function primarily as top-of-funnel donor and community-acquisition surfaces, not as service platforms.

NVF is funded entirely through tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, plus legacy planned giving and in-kind vehicle donations. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed; the organization carries a Charity Navigator 4-Star rating. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Carole Bionda, with founder Shad Meshad serving as President. Strategic partnerships in 2024 include the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work for MSW internships (April 2024) and a coalition with Public Counsel that secured a landmark ruling for 1,800 units of permanent housing on the West LA VA campus.

Name

The National Veterans Foundation Inc

Legal name

National Veterans Foundation Inc

Website

https://nvf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Veterans Foundation Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the Lifeline for Vets crisis hotline, homeless veteran outreach, and resource referral services for U.S. veterans and their families from its Los Angeles headquarters, funded entirely through donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Services (Nonprofit Crisis Support)

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Veteran crisis hotline
• Homeless veteran outreach
• Trauma-informed care training
• Nonprofit veteran services
• Suicide prevention support

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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 Charitable Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund operations, the Lifeline for Vets hotline, and homeless veteran outreach programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Veterans Foundation delivers free crisis management, information, and referral services to U.S. veterans and their families through its Lifeline for Vets Vet-to-Vet hotline (888-777-4443) and a Homeless Veteran Outreach Program in Los Angeles. Complementary offerings include trauma-informed care education/training, a Jobs for Veterans job board, a Buddy Check Program, and a comprehensive online Veteran Resources directory. All services are provided at no cost and funded by charitable donations, grants, and sponsorships.

Product overview

The National Veterans Foundation operates as a nonprofit organization providing a portfolio of Veteran-focused services centered around its core crisis support infrastructure. The primary offerings include the Lifeline for Vets crisis hotline (a Vet-to-Vet model providing crisis counseling since 1985), the Homeless Veteran Outreach Program, and Education and Training programs including trauma-informed care workshops. Supporting services include Jobs for Veterans (job board), DD-214 Assistance, the Buddy Check Program, QL+ Quality of Life+ (technology innovation program), and the Mad Man Film documentary. The organization also maintains a comprehensive Veteran Resources directory. All services are interconnected through the Lifeline for Vets as the central access point for information, referrals, and crisis support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lifeline for Vets A Vet-to-Vet crisis hotline (888-777-4443) staffed by trained fellow U.S. veterans, providing free crisis counseling and resource referrals for veterans and their families. Operating since 1985 and has handled over 550,000 calls.
• Homeless Veteran Outreach Program NVF outreach team conducts street missions in Los Angeles, providing food and water to people in need and identifying homeless veterans to connect them with housing programs and VA services.
• Education and Training for Veterans Free training programs delivered by NVF covering trauma-informed care, PTSD and reintegration challenges, and the 4 Points Builds a STAR Program, aimed at first responders, peer supporters, case managers, healthcare providers, and employers working with veterans.
• Jobs for Veterans A free online job board at jobs.nvf.org that lists jobs for veterans, allows employers to post veteran-targeted roles, and surfaces veteran-friendly hiring companies to support veteran employment.
• Buddy Check Program NVF program that equips individuals and veteran peers with tips and resources for conducting meaningful Buddy Checks to reduce isolation and offer ongoing support to veterans.

Quantifiable outcome

• The official veteran suicide rate has decreased from 22 per day to 17 per day, in part due to prevention efforts from organizations like NVF.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 November 2024NVF partners with USC's School of Social Work to provide internships for graduate students. The partnership began in April 2024 with MSW interns working on both macro and micro projects, engaging callers on the Lifeline for Vets, and receiving training in engagement, warm hand-offs, de-escalation, and trauma-informed care. Interns include Marine Corps Veteran Kimberly Chavez, Marine Corps Veteran Brian Garcia Cardona, and NC Army National Guard veteran Frances Spivey.
• Public CounselcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2024NVF participated as a plaintiff organization in a lawsuit against the VA for failing Veterans in Los Angeles County regarding the West LA VA campus. Public Counsel filed the lawsuit and NVF, along with homeless/disabled veteran plaintiffs, contributed to the landmark ruling requiring 1800 units of permanent housing for disabled Veterans and voiding significant land-use leases.
• Veterans Stand TogetherminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 31 July 2024Veterans Stand Together hosted an Appreciation Dinner recognizing people who work in veteran social services. NVF's Gerald Hillard, Jr. was honored for his service to veterans. VST helps in the fight against homelessness, PTSD, and substance abuse by directing veterans into positive outcomes.
• Veterans Affairs (VA) National CemeteriesminorOthersReference to partnership with VA for burial benefits and cemetery services for eligible veterans and their families.
• QL+ (Quality of Life+)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerQL+ challenges university STEM students to create innovative technology solutions that improve quality of life for injured veterans. NVF features QL+ as a partner organization helping injured veterans.
• Veteran Service Organizations (VFW, American Legion, DAV, etc.)minorOthersReferenced collaboration with various veteran service organizations for Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) who assist veterans in filing claims and navigating VA benefits at no cost.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• American Legion: Mass-membership veteran service organization with programs in veteran benefits, suicide prevention (Be the One), and community support; comparable to NVF in mission alignment around veteran crisis support and benefits assistance at national scale.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): National veterans service organization providing benefits navigation, claims assistance, and transition support; comparable to NVF in serving veterans seeking benefits and resources, but operates with a much larger membership-based structure.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Long-standing congressionally chartered veteran service organization with nationwide posts providing benefits assistance, advocacy, and community programs; comparable as a peer in the veteran-support ecosystem, particularly for benefits navigation services NVF also facilitates.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Largest U.S. nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans with a wide portfolio of programs (mental health, physical wellness, career support); comparable as a major 501(c)(3) veteran-services organization, though much larger in scope and budget than NVF.
• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): Leading post-9/11 veteran advocacy and support organization with programs in mental health referrals, benefits, and policy; comparable to NVF as a national veteran-services nonprofit, though primarily focused on younger veterans and policy advocacy.
• VA Veterans Crisis Line (988): Federal 24/7 crisis line operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; the most direct competitor to NVF's Lifeline for Vets, offering around-the-clock coverage, clinical integration, and no-cost service nationwide — comparable in function though governmental in operation.

Direct peers

• Cohen Veterans Network: National nonprofit operating a network of outpatient mental health clinics providing no-cost care to veterans and families; directly comparable as a non-governmental, peer-focused veteran mental health provider, though delivered via clinical in-person/telehealth rather than crisis hotline.
• Stop Soldier Suicide: 501(c)(3) dedicated specifically to veteran suicide prevention through one-on-one suicide intervention and connections to mental health care; highly comparable to NVF's crisis-counseling mission with a sharper focus on suicide prevention outcomes.

Emerging players

• Give an Hour: Nonprofit providing free mental health services to veterans, service members, and families through a network of volunteer licensed professionals; comparable to NVF's trauma-informed, peer-supported mental health support model, though clinician-led rather than veteran-peer-led.
• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led nonprofit deploying veteran volunteers in disaster response and community service; comparable peer via its veteran-led identity model and mission-driven veteran engagement, though focused on disaster response rather than crisis-line services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Pinterestpinterest.com/nvf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-veterans-foundation

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 The National Veterans Foundation Inc