Hope For The Warriors Secures $3M for Long-Term Veteran Support

SPRINGFIELD, VA – February 18, 2026 – Hope For The Warriors (HOPE), a national nonprofit dedicated to the post-9/11 military community, has been awarded a transformative $3 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The substantial funding is designated for a multi-faceted initiative to strengthen the organization's core, ensuring its ability to serve veterans, service members, and their families for decades to come.

The grant will directly support leadership and workforce development, critical upgrades to operational systems and infrastructure, and a significant expansion of access to evidence-based care programs nationwide. This move signals a strategic investment not just in the organization's current programs, but in its long-term resilience and capacity for growth.

“This investment marks a defining moment for HOPE,” said Robin Kelleher, co-founder and CEO of Hope For The Warriors, in a statement. “Our responsibility is to care for military families with excellence while building an organization that can sustain that promise. This support allows us to strengthen our foundation and prepare HOPE to meet increasing demand today while remaining a steady, trusted source of support for military families for decades to come. We are deeply grateful to Lilly Endowment for making that future possible.”

A Strategic Investment in Long-Term Stability

Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors has established itself as a pillar of support for the post-9/11 military community, serving over 40,000 individuals through a comprehensive suite of services. The organization's effectiveness is underscored by its 12 consecutive Four-Star ratings from Charity Navigator, a distinction held by only the top 1% of nonprofits. This grant from Lilly Endowment builds upon that trusted foundation by focusing on "capacity building"—a philanthropic approach aimed at fortifying an organization from the inside out.

Rather than being allocated solely to direct program expenses, the funds will enhance the underlying structures that power HOPE’s mission. This includes investing in leadership training and professional development for staff, ensuring the team possesses cutting-edge expertise in veteran care. Crucially, the grant will also fuel upgrades to technology, marketing, and operational systems. Such improvements are vital for increasing efficiency, expanding reach to underserved military communities, and ensuring that a larger portion of resources is directed toward high-quality, direct support for families.

This focus on infrastructure and fundraising capacity is a deliberate strategy to ensure the organization's sustainability. By strengthening its operational backbone, Hope For The Warriors is positioning itself not just to manage current demand but to scale its services responsibly and navigate future challenges effectively.

Expanding Evidence-Based Care for Military Families

The ultimate goal of this organizational strengthening is to enhance the direct support provided to military families, who face a unique and complex set of challenges. Post-9/11 veterans and their loved ones often grapple with the "invisible wounds" of war, including post-traumatic stress, cognitive disabilities, and severe mental health challenges. These conditions ripple through the entire family unit, placing immense strain on caregivers and affecting the well-being of children.

Recognizing this, a key component of the grant's purpose is to expand access to evidence-based care. This includes proven therapeutic models like Parent-Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT), a specialized treatment for young children and their parents. PCIT is designed to improve the parent-child relationship and equip parents with effective skills to manage behavioral issues, a critical need in families coping with the stress of military life, deployments, and post-service transition.

By investing in programs with demonstrated effectiveness, HOPE aims to deliver tangible, lasting improvements in the lives of those it serves. The funding will also help create safe, welcoming physical and virtual spaces where military families can connect, find peer support, and access services without stigma. This holistic approach aligns with the organization's mission to restore a sense of self, family, and hope, addressing not only the individual veteran but the entire family ecosystem that supports them.

Lilly Endowment's Vision for Veteran Support

The grant to Hope For The Warriors is not an isolated act of charity but part of a much larger, strategic philanthropic vision. It is one of 18 grants, totaling over $116.5 million, that Lilly Endowment Inc. has recently awarded to military and veteran service organizations across the country. This nationwide initiative is aimed at systematically building the capacity of the entire veteran support sector.

Other prominent recipients of these capacity-building grants include Blue Star Families, which received $7.5 million to enhance its technology and research initiatives, and Operation Homefront, which was awarded $7.5 million to help double its impact by 2030. By funding a diverse array of established organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project and Fisher House Foundation, Lilly Endowment is fostering a more resilient and effective network of support for America’s service members.

This sector-wide approach signifies a powerful trend in modern philanthropy. Instead of focusing on short-term program funding, the Endowment is investing in the long-term health of the organizations themselves. The strategy acknowledges that strong leadership, modern technology, and stable operational funding are essential for non-profits to deliver on their missions consistently and effectively over the long haul. This model provides a blueprint for how major funders can catalyze transformative, sustainable change across an entire field of service.

Fortifying the Foundation for Future Service

By leveraging this $3 million investment, Hope For The Warriors is poised to enter a new era of service delivery. The upgrades to its internal systems will streamline processes, improve data analysis for better program evaluation, and enhance communications to connect with more military families in need. This internal fortification is the engine that will drive the expansion of external programs, from financial and career coaching to clinical wellness services.

The organization operates on a comprehensive model that addresses physical and emotional wellness, financial stability, and social connection. The grant will touch every aspect of this model, ensuring that as the needs of the post-9/11 community evolve, Hope For The Warriors has the agility and resources to respond. This forward-looking investment ensures that the promise of support made to those who have served the nation is not just a temporary pledge but a sustainable, long-term commitment. As the organization strengthens its foundation, it solidifies its role as a steady, trusted partner for military families navigating the complexities of life during and after service.