The GBF has assisted hundreds of wounded, ill, and injured Green Berets and their family members as well as Green Beret Gold Star families since our inception in October of 2009. We continue to provide programs and services in support of the community on a daily basis.

Special Forces have suffered over half the KIA and WIA incurred by Army Special Operations Forces since 9/11.

The GBF has a goal of keeping our administrative and fundraising costs combined below 15%. We want the money that folks donate to go to our programs and services, not to excessive administrative and fundraising expenses. Although our administrative and fundraising costs remain fairly constant, our programs and services expenditures may vary widely due to the fluctuating requirements inherent to the nature of our mission. Our overall programs and services ratio for 2011 was 89%. Of the $967,543 that was spent in 2011, the GBF expended $860,217 in programs and services during 2011 in support of our mission.

Yes- The GBF’s National CFC number -  64397

Those funds would go into our General Fund to be used as needed in support of our mission to assist with the unresourced requirements of our wounded, ill, and injured Green Berets and Gold Star families. We do sometimes accept funding for a specific project or function. This would require coordination directly with our Executive Director. The GBF started out with $0. Four GBF Board members donated $500 each and the ED donated the database. With that said we have started out with little resources and spent money on short range targets where we know we would see success for our Community. This has directly impacted our success at the GBF. We don’t spend what we don’t have. What does this mean? We have only supported about 20% of our community thus far. We have room for lots of growth. As we gain resources, we have solid plans in place to expand our programs and services to support the future needs of our GBs and their families (ie PTSD treatment etc).

2012 990 form has not yet been completed. Once completed, it will be published on our website. Please see Financials and Documents on our website.

For small requests for assistance, our Executive Director has been given the authority to support those requests that clearly falls within our mission. Many requests we receive, however, ask for a greater amount of funding or are not so clear cut. If the expense is over $1000 or does not clearly fall within our mission, a vote by the Board of Directors is solicited to consider and possibly approve that expense.

No. Although there has been a dramatic improvement in services and resourcing provided to our troops since 9/11, there are still gaps in the system which remain uncovered. And as the country’s enthusiasm for supporting our troops weakens at the end of these conflicts, as it always does, these gaps may widen. Green Berets will remain engaged throughout the world in places that will not make the front page of the papers, and will continue to need that support as these current wars come to a close.

Possibly. If a support Soldier is injured while on a mission with an ODA, the GBF will consider assisting. This is a case where the Board would be required to vote on the request. After that Soldier is reassigned out of the Group, he no longer falls under our mission. Green Berets, however, are covered by the GBF regardless of their assignment status. If the Special Forces tab is earned, the GB falls under the GBF.

Preferred MO is to use our “Request Support” tab on our website; however, requests for support can be submitted through the USSOCOM Care Coalition, the POC at the SF Groups, or directly to our Staff. Once received, our Executive Director and Director of Programs and Services will take the necessary action to validate the request and begin the approval process.

Some examples of the services we provide include providing specialized exercise equipment, funding moving expenses resulting from a Soldier’s injury, funding specialized treatment not covered by the military or Tricare, providing for Gold Star family travel assistance if needed, and direct financial assistance to casualties MEDEVAC’d to the US.

Although we do not yet offer any direct financial assistance to Green Berets injured prior to 9/11, we often field calls and direct those Soldiers to where they may be able to receive assistance. The GBF has informal relationships with many organizations that provide selected assistance such as OASIS and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. We advocate for all Green Berets regardless of time of service.

The GBF has informal working relationships with numerous benevolent and Veterans Service Organizations, but no formal direct financial tie to any of them. We have and will continue to work with the SFA and SFA Chapters in fundraising efforts and in finding and supporting those in need. The SFCT is a newer organization and has a completely different mission than the GBF. As for the Care Coalition, we tie directly into them as one of the service providers they may refer Green Berets to. The GBF works closely with the Active and National Guard Commands to provide the best support possible to our beneficiaries. We have POCs at each of the FRGs and take care to collaborate and not duplicate services that the FRGs deliver.

Yes- there is no difference to us. We have supported numerous 19th and 20th SFG Green Berets and their families.

We have a good working relationship with all of the Active Duty and National Guard organizations and maintain constant contact with all of them to help identify needs throughout the force. All of our Board Members have previously served in these commands and we have outstanding personal and professional relationships throughout these organizations. We work directly with the Staff at SF Command to find and vet specific requirements, and have identified points of contact in each of the Groups to help facilitate resourcing as well.

The Green Beret Foundation is the only organization with the mission to provide for wounded, ill, and wounded Green Berets and Green Beret Gold Star (KIA) families. This unique group of warriors pays an exceptionally high cost during wartime and during operations other than war. Many organizations were created to address the broader needs of all of our wounded after 9/11, but the Green Berets have been and will continue to be the first in and will be the last out of any conflict. Additionally, long after the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are over, Green Berets will be engaged on unnoticed battlefields throughout the world and continue to need support as the current conflicts fade.

Yes- we work very closely with other not-for-profits such as the Special Operations Warrior Foundation to ensure that we are spreading the umbrella of support as wide as possible. We also work with other organizations to ensure we are not duplicating services and utilizing the donor dollars as effectively and efficiently as possible.

We do have a paid staff that is paid fair, competitive salaries, most of which are actually a programs and services expense. We must pay to hire good people, but we don’t want to over-burden our donors with an excessive salary structure. This is a balance that is closely monitored by our Business Committee and the Board of Directors as a whole. Our paid Staff consists of an Executive Director, an Executive Assistant, a Director of Programs and Services. Our non-paid staff includes a Director of Marketing, Director of Gold Star Programs and a Director of Communications and Social Media. The GBF has a strong base of volunteers which work to fundraise and support our programs and services.

A non-paid staff member is a person who has demonstrated commitment, dedication and professionalism to the GBF. These people commit to the position as if they were getting paid. It is more of a daily ongoing commitment of time and energy. They are just as dependable as a paid staff-member. A volunteer supports individual events or projects. Volunteers can be just as dedicated, professional and committed as our non-paid staff but their support can be viewed as not as frequent. They are just as impactful to the GBF. It takes both to support the GBF and keep our ratios in order.

No. Never have been. Never will be. Each one has a vested interest in the success of this organization. Our Board of Directors do not receive any compensation, and all actually contribute financially to the GBF as well as dedicating countless hours of their time to the Foundation.

Our home office is in San Antonio, TX near the Center for the Intrepid and SAMMC (formerly Brooke Army Medical Center) where many of our wounded go to recover and rehabilitate. We also have offices in Fayetteville, NC near the US Army Special Forces Command and Army Special Operations Command headquarters and Tampa, FL near USSOCOM and the James A Haley VA.

Donations can be made by mail or through our web site using a credit or debit card, or Paypal. Information on donating is clearly explained on the web site by clicking the donation button at the top right of the page.

Corporate donors may also donate by mail or the web site, and are encouraged to contact our Executive Director for information they may require in addition to what is publicly provided. Some corporate donors are interested in more detail and that can be provided on a case by case basis.

Please visit our Get Involved tab on our website.

Donations can be made on our donation page, via check (make sure to indicate GORUCK Challenge in the memo line) or via www.firstgiving.com (just look up Green Beret Foundation).