MISSION
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) was founded in 1980 to serve members of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps
Special Operations community. A tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, SOWF is dedicated to providing free
college scholarships and educational counseling to the children surviving Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations personnel
who are killed in a training accident or operational mission. These services are provided throughout the
United States, or overseas, depending upon where the surviving children reside.
ORGANIZATION
The SOWF is governed by a Board of Directors (up to 25 members), which consults with the Board of Advisors.
The Board of Directors has four standing committees: Executive, Development, Audit & Finance, and Governance. The SOWF office is
located four miles from MacDill AFB, the home of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The Foundation has seven full
time employees and one part time employee: The President/CEO, the Executive Director, Public Relations Director, Family Services Director,
Financial Aid Director and three Assistants.
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Scholarship and Counseling Support
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides free college scholarship grants for tuition, books, fees, room & board.
Currently the foundation is committed to providing scholarships for more than 700 children. In 2007, SOWF provided a total of $1.5 million in
scholarship grants, educational programs and financial counseling for its students at colleges and universities across the country.
The family and financial aid counseling continues for these children until they have graduated from college. Many of the students
eligible for the Warrior Foundation grants are also eligible for grants from other military related organizations. The Warrior Foundation has
established liaisons with many other organizations and coordinates the grants for the students in our program. The Warrior Foundation leverages
the cost and, in some cases, is able to identify 50% of the requirements from the combination of several other outside grants. However, the Warrior
Foundation is prepared to provide full funding for the educational programs if other sources are unavailable. This unique program allows the
Foundation to provide funds required for each student's needs while also investing funds for the needs of the students who will attend post-secondary
schools in the future.
Wounded Warrior Support
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation, in cooperation with the U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM),
is part of a
united effort to address the needs of special operations personnel severely wounded in the global war on terrorism. To this
end, the Foundation has joined a coalition of non-profit organizations dedicated to assisting the wounded. The Warrior
Foundation coordinates with USSOCOM to ensure all of the needs of the wounded special operations personnel are met including
providing $2,000 to meet immediate needs their families face when severely wounded special operations personnel are hospitalized
from wounds suffered in combat.
CHALLENGES
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation strives to relieve SOF personnel of the one concern, their families, which might
distract them when they need to be-and when America needs them to be-at their very best. Since 1980, more
than 500 Special Operations personnel have given their lives on operational missions or during intense
training programs. More than 700 children survive these oft-unsung heroes.
FUND-RAISING
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation obtains its funding primarily from private citizens, corporations, and
participation in the Combined Federal Campaign and State Campaigns in Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Texas, California, Maryland, and
Virginia. The Warrior Foundation participated in 15 fundraising events in 2007. In 2007 the Combined Federal Campaign donations totaled nearly
$1 million bringing the total revenue to nearly $7 million. With more than 100 children eligible each year for college in the upcoming years,
the Foundation's financial need, determined by a professional actuarial corporation, is $76 million.
Information Updated: 23 Feb 2008
Our IRS Determination Letter can be viewed by clicking here.
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