The Problem

A new war results in new challenges demanding new solutions.  While the VA and DoD refine their legacy processes, many critical gaps remain.  Enormous preventable pain and suffering still exist as rates of crime, domestic abuse, drug use, divorce, homelessness and suicide are swelling.

Some gaps must be filled by government, but innovation is slow in the public sector.  Ironically, some needed improvements are actually harder since Walter Reed problems brought the glare of public and Congressional interest.  Government innovates slowest when in its defensive crouch.

Many gaps can be filled by a more rapid, responsive NGO community as thousands of new nonprofits and businesses have stepped forward to serve our Troops and our Veterans. Unfortunately, like any nascent market, there is chaos.  This massive new philanthropic investment is vastly underperforming, and legal and political obstacles limit the ability of VA and DoD to influence in any way the operations of these NGOs.  The challenges for the NGO community include poor management, duplication of existing services, few efforts to partner strategically, and some fundraising scams.

The Solution

Leaders from VA and DoD have asked VIC to help.  By existing outside of government, VIC can accelerate re-visioning within government, and can build more innovative and aggressive approaches to better harness the NGO community.  VIC volunteers work one-on-one with government and NGO leaders to help them understand where gaps in support exist, share best practices, and facilitate partnerships with other NGO or government programs.  VIC volunteers directly support more than 20 senior leaders in DoD and VA, helping them build quality-of-life solutions.  Within the nonprofit sector, VIC is working with the largest national nonprofits to consider new ways to leverage their enormous capacity.  We are also working with young social entrepreneurs who have bold and scalable ideas.

To help better support all NGOs, a web-community is being created that will allow them to build and share performance metrics and related best-practices.  Volunteers are already assembling best-practices in the areas of Mental Health, Family Support, Employment, Mentoring, Reintegration and Homelessness.

In addition to serving the NGO community, VIC also serves philanthropic foundations by providing free advice on high-yield donation opportunities in all areas of military need.  It is essential that donors become more results-focused in military support, and VIC will ensure that such improvements are achieved.

Metrics play a pivotal role in the VIC and we have enjoyed the help of several leading experts from industry, academia, foundations and government to assist us in measuring the “humanitarian ROI” of each NGO.  We will use this transparency to help encourage NGO adoption of new strategies and tactics.

As quickly as support for our troops has become the “cause” of the day, we know it won’t last.  Therefore, we must immediately create improved productivity for government programs and for NGO programs while the window of opportunity is open. Together we can do much more than apart.

Finance

As quickly as support for our troops has become the “cause” of the day, we know it won’t last.  Therefore, we must immediately create improved productivity for government programs and for NGO programs while the window of opportunity is open. Together we can do much more than apart.The VIC has been staffed exclusively by volunteers. Our cash needs have been met through the generous support of the Lockheed Martin Foundation and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).  Our work has also been supported by generous in-kind donations from Booz Allen Hamilton, Gallup, Military.com, Business Executives for National Security (BENS) and Deloitte.