WORK VESSELS FOR VETS INC

Work Vessels for Veterans, is a nonprofit, charitable organization whose mission is to equip America’s returning veterans with tools to start a business or pursue career education. Since 2008, 2700 veterans in all 50 states have received “vessels” valued at $3.7 million to begin their transition to civilian life. By matching corporate, foundation, individual in-kind donations and grants, with veterans’ needs, this unique charity awards equipment, often adapted to accommodate severe combat injuries. Awards have included fishing vessels, vans, vehicles, laptops, trucks, tool sets, tractors, trailers, farm equipment, fencing, drones and more to qualified veteran-entrepreneurs, creating thousands of jobs.

Work Vessels for Vets is completely volunteer-run, enabling 99% of all donations to provide direct services to returning veterans seeking self-employment. This commitment is recognized with national ratings including the coveted TOP RATED NONPROFIT annually from GreatNonProfits rating agency, Better Business Bureau's Accredited Charity, and GUIDE STAR’s PLATINUM STATUS for efficiency & transparency.

WHAT WE DO?
WORK VESSELS FOR VETS employs a unique model that awards equipment to injured veterans who want to own their own businesses. Volunteer mentors and other partners such as the Farmer-Veteran Coalition, Semper Fi Fund, VETS AID, and many others across the country. Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Vets (EBV) at many universities and other veteran entrepreneur training programs work with WVFV to develop business plans and identify the critical equipment needed for success.
WORK VESSELS FOR VETS identifies a source for the equipment, negotiates discounts, in-kind donations, executes purchase agreements, and often cajoles sellers to obtain the items on behalf of qualified veteran applicants.
WHO ELSE DOES THIS?
Work Vessels for Vets IS UNIQUE. To this day, WVFV has found no other veterans’ charity with the sole mission to award the critical piece of equipment needed to help these eager entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. Many veterans groups turn to WVFV to assist their clients
A national survey of veteran-entrepreneurs recorded that veterans returning from combat with PTSD and physical injuries seek self-employment as an accommodation for “bad days” and frequent medical appointments. Over 57% of these combat-wounded vets need less than $25,000 in equipment to start their dream of self sufficiency.
“…being an entrepreneur affords me the ability to work around my [service-connected] disabilities. It affords me flexibility to take time off when needed. It also affords me to be in control of my time.” (Anonymous survey respondent. Boldon, N.Y. and Maury, R. V. (2017, Nov.).
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP?
Applications to WVFV from wounded veterans who are completing their rehabilitation are sharply increasing. At any given time, Work Vessels for Vets carries 80-100 applicants on a waiting list.
A recent study at Syracuse University demonstrated that injured veterans turn to self-employment at much higher rates than civilians. More than 80% of applications from veteran-entrepreneurs note significant service-connected disabilities (50% to 100%) including many with co-morbid diagnoses of PTSD along with amputations and other severe physical injuries.
WHAT WE NEED?
WORK VESSELS FOR VETS seeks funding to support requests from injured veterans on our waiting list through our program “Equipping Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.” Most applicants are veterans who were injured in the recent “surges" in Iraq and Afghanistan. These severely injured veterans have completed medical treatment and are home, wondering how they will support their families and still cope with the long-term effects of their injuries. They are ready for a “hand up” to begin their transition from combat to civilian business owners.
HOW DO WE HELP VETERANS?
WORK VESSELS FOR VETS program “Equipping Veteran-Owned Small Businesses” is divided into three equipment areas:
1. Equipping Veteran-Owned Small Businesses – This WVFV program provides critical new or used equipment (adapted to accommodate injuries if needed) to returning veterans who are starting a non-farming business, like injured Army Captain Justin Morseth of Indiana, whose dream of starting a heavy construction business was dashed when he sustained combat injuries. Work Vessels for Vets helped Captain Morseth start his specialty business, “Willing and Able Woodworking” with the award of a $5000 computerized laser router. Today, he has hired fellow veterans to meet his growing orders.
2. Equipping Injured Veteran-Farmers – This WVFV program provides agricultural equipment (tractors, fencing, farm equipment/adaptive if needed) to America's veterans who are starting farms or ranches like double amputee SSGT Alex Jauregui of California who was awarded a $30,000 adapted forklift with funds pooled with WVFV, Farmer-Veteran Coalition and Semper Fi Fund. Now he can move his 500 plus beehives to pollinate commercial crops throughout the Salinas Valley.
3. Equipping Nonprofit Programs that serve veterans – Knowing that “Start-up” nonprofits need equipment too, WVFV awards equipment to equine therapy programs and veteran training programs; boats for therapeutic fishing programs; electronics to programs for vets with PTSD, and other “vessels” for nonprofits to help meet their missions to give back to fellow veterans. USMC Maj. (ret.) David Daly started Vigilante Cares nonprofit with 8 drones from WVFV to teach fellow vets with severe PTSD about the freedom and release they can experience by flying drones.
WHERE DO WE WORK?
Work Vessels for Vets, Inc. serves veteran-businesses in all 50 states. Applications are received on a rolling basis and awards are made throughout the year. Awardees are expected to follow their business plans, communicate with their mentors, and “pay it forward” by hiring fellow veterans when they are ready.
HOW DO WE EVALUATE OUR SUCCESS?
Mentors report progress and assist new entrepreneurs as they work through their first year in business. Veteran recipients complete surveys of their experience, and participate in peer-to-peer groups.
Each veteran-entrepreneur is matched with a volunteer mentor to hone a realistic business plan. The mentor-veteran partners usually continue their relationship well into the first years of business. Once the mentor and veteran develop a plan, WVFV negotiates to obtain the equipment for the business.
To measure success, Work Vessels for Vets, Inc stays in communication with awardees throughout the first year of business. The mentors report (1) the number of veteran businesses actually started (2) the number of veterans following a business plan (3) the number of veteran-owned businesses who show growth in sales due in part to the equipment awarded by WVFV and (4) the number of veterans hired by the growing small business.
“What an amazing organization! Not only did Work Vessels for Vets assist me with two key pieces of equipment to start up my antique car restoration business, they also placed me in contact with an outstanding mentor.” - USAF Maj. Scott Bullis, Golden State Auto Restoration, Colorado
Please visit our website to read more stories of our successful veteran-entrepreneurs, and view video interviews with partners and veterans. www.WVFV.org