What Hero To Hero does

Hero To Hero is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 85-3631862) that facilitates career transitions for active-duty U.S. military service members into first responder roles in fire, EMS, and police departments. Founded by Christopher Shea — whose background spans nearly three decades in Naval Special Operations, Emergency Medical Services, and Fire Service — the organization operates as a matching and coordination service, connecting candidates with a network of Education and Employment Partners (fire academies, police departments, EMS organizations) that deliver 3–6 months of training, typically within the DOD Skillbridge Program's 180-day pre-separation window. The organization does not own proprietary technology; its core assets are the partner network, founder credibility, and a structured placement workflow (application, six-week review, individualized placement design).

The core offering is a Placement Program paired with a structured Application Process requiring ASVAB scores, physical readiness scores, three periodic performance evaluations, and a 500-word essay. Supporting assets include a Participant Management Portal for weekly training updates, an FAQ resource center, and a Volunteer Program covering mentoring, administrative support, marketing, event coordination, and fundraising. Hero To Hero does not charge participants; revenue is generated through tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, used to defray training, living, and travel expenses. The 2023 GuideStar Silver Seal of Transparency formally documents the organization's governance and programs.

Go-to-market relies on organic social media, community fundraising events (including Team Hero to Hero for the Wineglass Marathon scheduled for October 4, 2026, and the Blue Bunny Event ticketed via Donorbox), and volunteer-driven advocacy. Hero To Hero currently works with 5+ Education/Employment Partners across at least 10 U.S. states (CT, VA, NH, MA, NC, IA, OH, TX, IN, and others), with ongoing stated intent to expand the partner network nationally.

Name

Hero To Hero

Legal name

Hero To Hero

Website

https://herotohero.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hero To Hero is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that matches transitioning U.S. military service members with first responder careers in fire, EMS, and police through a partner network anchored in the DOD Skillbridge framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Career Transition Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (6117)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Search & Rescue (SAR) & Technical Rescue Training (EDAOAMAI), EMS Education, Training & Simulation Centers (HLAFANAL)

Keywords

• Veteran career transition
• First responder training
• Military transition services
• Firefighter training program
• Nonprofit veteran services

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

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: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Hero To Hero generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. These contributions help defray costs of requisite training, associated living and travel expenses for transitioning military members. The organization has secured donations to provide necessary firefighter equipment for trainees at fire academies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hero To Hero operates a Placement Program that matches transitioning military service members with first responder careers in Fire, EMS, or Police through partnerships with education and employment providers. The organization coordinates 3-6 months of training through Education/Employment Partners and provides financial assistance for training, living, and travel expenses during the military-to-civilian transition period, with placement timelines that can be as short as 90 days.

Product overview

Hero To Hero is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 85-3631862) operating a military-to-first-responder career transition program. The core offering is a Placement Program that connects qualified military personnel with first responder careers in Fire, EMS, or Police through partnerships with education and employment providers. The organization facilitates a structured Application Process requiring ASVAB scores, physical readiness scores, evaluations, and an essay. The Volunteer Program enables community members to support candidates through mentoring, administrative, marketing, event, and fundraising roles. The organization also hosts fundraising events including the Marathon 2026 (Wineglass Marathon team) and Blue Bunny Event. Participants access support resources through a secure Participant Management Portal and FAQ Resource Center. The program utilizes the DOD Skillbridge framework and operates with Education/Employment Partners across multiple states including CT, VA, NH, MA, NC, IA, OH, TX, and IN.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Placement Program A career placement service that matches transitioning military personnel with Education or Employment Partners in Fire, EMS, or Police careers, providing 3-6 months of training and typically resulting in job offers or certifications upon successful completion. Free for qualifying military members with 180 days or less remaining on active duty.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants receive 3-6 months of training resulting in certifications or job offers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

One partnership is on record.

• DOD Skillbridge ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DOD Skillbridge Program is a non-profit organization that assists with transitioning veterans to the civilian workforce. Hero To Hero was inspired by and integrates with this program, utilizing the final 180 days of active duty service for training placements. The program allows service members to participate in training or education during their last 180 days of military service.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hire Heroes USA: Hire Heroes USA is a nonprofit that provides one-on-one career coaching and employment placement to transitioning service members and veterans. It is directly comparable to Hero To Hero as a veteran-to-civilian career-transition service, with the key distinction that its placements span the full civilian labor market rather than focusing on first responder careers.
• The Mission Continues: The Mission Continues is a national nonprofit that deploys veterans into community leadership and career-development programs. Comparable to Hero To Hero in mission framing around continued service after military duty, though it focuses on civic leadership rather than first responder placement.
• Student Veterans of America: Student Veterans of America is a nonprofit that supports veterans transitioning into higher education and subsequent civilian careers. Comparable to Hero To Hero as a Skillbridge-adjacent transition nonprofit serving the same candidate pool, though its placement focus is academia rather than public safety.
• Service to School (S2S): Service to School is a 501(c)(3) that helps veterans gain admission to undergraduate and graduate programs. It overlaps with Hero To Hero's transition-through-training-and-certification concept but targets academic credentials rather than first responder certifications.
• Travis Manion Foundation: Travis Manion Foundation empowers veterans and families of fallen service members through character-development and community-service programs. Similar donor-supported veteran-service structure to Hero To Hero, with overlapping donor audiences and community-event-based fundraising.
• American Corporate Partners (ACP): ACP is a 501(c)(3) that pairs veterans with corporate mentors for a year of career guidance and networking. Like Hero To Hero it is a free, donor-supported veteran transition program, but its placements target corporate/white-collar roles rather than public-safety careers.
• Four Block: Four Block is a nonprofit that supports veteran career transition through university-based cohorts, industry mentorship, and direct employer introductions. It shares Hero To Hero's donor-funded, free-to-veteran delivery model and similar cohort-style structure.

Broad incumbents

• International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF): IAFF is the largest professional firefighters' union in North America with veteran-targeted recruitment pathways. Comparable to Hero To Hero as an ecosystem participant on the firefighter career-destination side, but far larger and broader in scope.
• National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF): NFFF is a national firefighter-support nonprofit with programs for firefighter families, training scholarships, and recruitment. Comparable to Hero To Hero in the fire-service nonprofit ecosystem and donor overlap, but operating at much greater scale and on different program areas.

Emerging players

• Vets in Tech: Vets in Tech is a nonprofit that helps veterans transition into technology careers through training and mentorship. Like Hero To Hero it is a free, donor-supported transition program leveraging volunteer mentors, but its end careers are in tech rather than fire/EMS/police.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hero-to-hero

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Hero To Hero