Veteran 1st

What Veteran 1st does

Veteran 1st is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 39-5030726) founded in 2025 by US Army veteran Toni Kennedy. The organization provides free advocacy and support services to veterans and their families across eight or more Michigan counties, covering mental health navigation, justice and legal aid, housing assistance, food security, family support, resource navigation, mentorship, and veteran entrepreneur resources. Its flagship programmatic asset is the Annual Women Veterans Conference, supported by an annual Holiday Basket Giveaway and recurring community events.

The operating model is a donation- and grant-funded nonprofit with no revenue generated from beneficiaries. Funding is solicited through consumer-friendly channels — Zeffy, Venmo, and mailed checks — indicating a grassroots fundraising posture rather than institutional grant-management scale. Service delivery is human-led and case-managed rather than technology- or platform-mediated, with no disclosed software, data, or AI layer. Institutional partnerships with the Battle Creek VA Medical Center, the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency (MVAA), the National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC), and NACD form the primary distribution backbone for referrals and co-branded programming. Leadership combines a veteran founder with a retired Major General Vice President and a board carrying military and public-sector credentials, and the organization has received civic recognitions including NAACP Distinguished Veteran of the Year (2023), Veteran of Hope (2024), a Michigan State Senate McCann tribute (2024), and US House recognition.

Name

Veteran 1st

Legal name

Veteran 1st

Website

https://veteran1st.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Veteran 1st is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2025 that delivers free mental health, housing, food security, legal aid, mentorship, and entrepreneur support services to veterans and their families across eight or more Michigan counties, funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Support Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Veteran support services
• Mental health counseling
• Housing assistance
• Food security programs
• Resource navigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Nazareth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Veteran 1st operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 39-5030726) funded primarily through charitable donations. The organization accepts donations via Zeffy (online processing), Venmo (@Veteran1st), and check by mail. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Veteran 1st is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free advocacy and support services to veterans and their families across Michigan, including mental health counseling referrals, housing assistance, food security support, justice/legal aid, family support, VA benefits resource navigation, mentorship, and veteran entrepreneur resources. The organization also produces the annual Women Veterans Conference. Services are delivered through walk-in office hours in Kalamazoo, partner referrals, and community events in 8+ counties.

Product overview

Veteran 1st is a nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of veteran support services, including Mental Health Support, Justice & Legal Aid, Housing Assistance, Food Security, Family Support, Resource Navigation, Mentorship, and Entrepreneur Resources. The organization also hosts the annual Women Veterans Conference as a flagship event program. Services are delivered through direct support, partner referrals, and community events across Michigan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mental Health Support Connects veterans with mental health resources, counseling, and support groups to address PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
• Housing Assistance Helps veterans find stable housing solutions, from emergency shelter to permanent housing programs, including eviction prevention support.
• Food Security Provides access to food resources, nutrition programs, and holiday gift baskets for veterans and families in need.
• Justice & Legal Aid Advocacy and support for veterans navigating the legal system, ensuring fair treatment and access to justice, including Veterans Treatment Court support.
• Family Support Tailored support for veteran families with specialized programs for women veterans, including Family & Children Services and Women's Specialty Services.
• Resource Navigation Provides expert guidance through VA benefits, community resources, and programs available to veterans, including one-on-one navigator support.
• Mentorship Mentorship and peer guidance for veterans transitioning from military service to civilian life.
• Entrepreneur Resources Connects veteran entrepreneurs with certification, networking, and business development resources, including NVBDC certification support.
• Women Veterans Conference Annual three-day conference celebrating women veterans with wellness programming, community connection, resources, and the Boots & Gowns Gala celebration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8+ counties served across Michigan
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Rotary Club of PortageminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 June 2026Sponsor of the Holiday Basket Giveaway supporting veterans and families in need in December 2025.
• Visiting Angels of Southwest MichiganminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 June 2026Sponsor of the Holiday Basket Giveaway supporting veterans and families in need in December 2025.
• Battle Creek VA Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBattle Creek VA Medical Center is a key partner providing healthcare services. The VA Medical Center serves a 21-county catchment area and partners with Veteran 1st for events and veteran outreach programs. Michelle Martin serves as Director of Battle Creek VAMC.
• Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency (MVAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMVAA is the state agency for veteran affairs. Terry Sabo serves as MVAA Director. Veteran 1st collaborates with MVAA on veteran resources and leadership summits.
• Northside Association for Community Development (NACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNACD hosts Veteran 1st's walk-in office hours on 1st and 3rd Mondays. NACD provides facility space for serving veterans in the Kalamazoo community.
• National Veteran Business Development Council (NVBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNVBDC is the leading third-party certifier of Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Businesses. Elaine Taylor serves as Executive Director. Veteran 1st refers veteran entrepreneurs to NVBDC for certification and connects them to contracting opportunities.
• Inner NorthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInner North is a wellness organization founded by Suhey Fisher (Veteran 1st Board Member) that creates innovative programs empowering veterans through wellness, resilience training, and community connection.
• Sailor's ManifestominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSailor's Manifesto is a Lake Michigan-based suicide prevention nonprofit dedicated to serving veterans through trauma-informed, transformational resilience workshops using nature and sailing as vehicles for healing.
• Douglass Community AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouglass Community Association hosted the Holiday Basket Giveaway event. Toni Kennedy serves as Secretary/Treasurer. The partnership supports community outreach events.
• Michigan Veteran ConnectorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan Veteran Connector is a resource platform operated by MVAA that helps veterans navigate available services and programs.
• Military Veterans OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary Veterans Outreach is a partner organization that supports veteran business development through the NVBDC Task Force.
• Harding's MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHarding's Market provided holiday boxes for the December 2025 Holiday Basket Giveaway event supporting veterans in need.
• Zhang FinancialminorGTM or Marketing PartnerZhang Financial is a sponsor of Veteran 1st, supporting the organization's mission to serve veterans across Michigan.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA): National veteran advocacy and policy organization serving post-9/11 veterans. Comparable in mental health policy, benefits navigation, and community connection programming, though operating at substantially larger scale and policy-influence level.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Largest combat-veteran service organization with 1.5M+ members, providing advocacy, benefits assistance, and community programs. Comparable in advocacy, benefits navigation, and veteran community vertical, but at significantly larger scale.
• D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF): University-based institute providing entrepreneurship, employment, and community programs for veterans. Comparable in veteran entrepreneur resources (NVBDC certification pathway) and policy/advocacy verticals.
• Wounded Warrior Project: National 501(c)(3) providing mental health, physical rehabilitation, and economic empowerment programs to post-9/11 veterans. Directly comparable in mental health, resource navigation, and family support verticals but operates at vastly larger scale and national scope.

Emerging players

• Black Veterans Empowered: Community-based veteran nonprofit providing housing, mental health, and resource navigation with focus on underserved veteran populations. Comparable in mission-driven community service model and grassroots delivery approach.
• Student Veterans of America: Nonprofit supporting veterans in higher education through campus chapters, mentorship, and benefits navigation. Comparable in resource navigation and mentorship, though more narrowly focused on education-focused veteran population.

Direct peers

• US Vets: National nonprofit providing housing, employment, and case management services to veterans experiencing homelessness and crisis. Directly comparable in housing assistance, food security, and resource navigation verticals.
• The Mission Continues: National nonprofit empowering veterans through service, leadership development, and community impact programs. Directly comparable in veteran leadership, community service, and transition programming.
• Team Red, White & Blue: Veteran nonprofit focused on community connection, physical wellness, and mental health through local chapters. Directly comparable in community-building, events-driven engagement, and veteran peer-to-peer support verticals.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): National veterans service organization providing benefits navigation, transportation, and advocacy. Veteran 1st's board member (Joanne Skippergosh) is the State Adjutant for DAV Michigan, evidencing direct affiliation. Directly comparable in benefits navigation and veteran advocacy verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Veteran 1st