Mission: The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Our purpose is: to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of seve ... (More)
Wounded Warrior Project is a 501(c)(3) organization, with an IRS ruling year of 2005, and donations are tax-deductible.
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Contact Information
https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
4899 Belfort Road
Suite 300
Jacksonville FL 32256
Mail donations to:
P.O. Box 758516
Topeka KS 66675
You are viewing this organization's new Charity Navigator profile page. To view the legacy version, click here.
Star Rating System by Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator evaluates a nonprofit organization’s financial health including measures of stability, efficiency and sustainability. We also track accountability and transparency policies to ensure the good governance and integrity of the organization.
Good
This charity's score is 86.49, earning it a 3-Star rating. Donors can "Give with Confidence" to this charity.
This score is calculated from two sub-scores:
Finance: 81.14 View details
Accountability & Transparency: 97.00 View details
This score represents Form 990 data from 2019, the latest year published by the IRS.
View this organization’s historical ratings.
Star Rated Report
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Program Expense Ratio
71.5%
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three 990s).
This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver. Dividing a charity's average program expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Administrative Expenses
5.4%
As reported by charities on their IRS Form 990, this measure reflects what percent of its total budget a charity spends on overhead, administrative staff and associated costs, and organizational meetings. Dividing a charity's average administrative expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Fundraising Expenses
22.9%
This measure reflects what a charity spends to raise money. Fundraising expenses can include campaign printing, publicity, mailing, and staffing and costs incurred in soliciting donations, memberships, and grants. Dividing a charity's average fundraising expenses by its average total functional expenses yields this percentage. We calculate the charity's average expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Liabilities to Assets Ratio
15.6%
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent 990).
Part of our goal in rating the financial performance of charities is to help donors assess the financial capacity and sustainability of a charity. As do organizations in other sectors, charities must be mindful of their management of total liabilites in relation to their total assets. This ratio is an indicator of an organization’s solvency and or long term sustainability. Dividing a charity's total liabilities by its total assets yields this percentage.
Source: IRS Form 990
Fundraising Efficiency
$0.25
The amount spent to raise $1 in charitable contributions. To calculate a charity's fundraising efficiency, we divide its average fundraising expenses by the average total contributions it receives. We calculate the charity's average expenses and average contributions over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Working Capital Ratio
1.17 years
Determines how long a charity could sustain its level of spending using its net available assets, or working capital, as reported on its most recently filed Form 990. We include in a charity's working capital unrestricted and temporarily restricted net assets, and exclude permanently restricted net assets. Dividing these net available assets in the most recent year by a charity's average total expenses, yields the working capital ratio. We calculate the charity's average total expenses over its three most recent fiscal years.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense Growth
10.10%
We compute the average annual growth of program expenses using the following formula: [(Yn/Y0)(1/n)]-1, where Y0 is a charity's program expenses in the first year of the interval analyzed, Yn is the charity's program expenses in the most recent year, and n is the interval of years passed between Y0 and Yn.
Source: IRS Form 990
Governance
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990 that the organization has these governance practices in place.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990
| Governance: | |
|---|---|
| Independent Voting Board Members ... (More) | |
| No Material Diversion of Assets ... (More) A diversion of assets – any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft – can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We check the charity's last two Forms 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets. If the charity does report a diversion, then we check to see if it complied with the Form 990 instructions by describing what happened and its corrective action. This metric will be assigned to one of the following categories:
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| Audited Financials Prepared by Independent Accountant ... (More) Audited financial statements provide important information about financial accountability and accuracy. They should be prepared by an independent accountant with oversight from an audit committee. (It is not necessary that the audit committee be a separate committee. Often at smaller charities, it falls within the responsibilities of the finance committee or the executive committee.) The committee provides an important oversight layer between the management of the organization, which is responsible for the financial information reported, and the independent accountant, who reviews the financials and issues an opinion based on its findings. We check the charity's Form 990 reporting to see if it meets this criteria.
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| Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From Related Parties ... (More) | |
| Documents Board Meeting Minutes ... (More) | |
| Distributes 990 to Board Before Filing ... (More) | |
| Compensates Board ... (More) |
Policies
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization has these policies in place.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990 and organization's website
| Policies: | |
|---|---|
| Conflict of Interest ... (More) | |
| Whistleblower ... (More) | |
| Records Retention and Destruction ... (More) | |
| CEO Compensation Process ... (More) | |
| Donor Privacy ... (More) Donors can be reluctant to contribute to a charity when their name, address, or other basic information may become part of donor lists that are exchanged or sold, resulting in an influx of charitable solicitations from other organizations. Our analysts check the charity's website to see if the organization has a donor privacy policy in place and what it does and does not cover. Privacy policies are assigned to one of the following categories:
The privacy policy must be specific to donor information. A general website policy which references "visitor" or "user" personal information will not suffice. A policy that refers to donor information collected on the website is also not sufficient as the policy must be comprehensive and applicable to both online and offline donors. The existence of a privacy policy of any type does not prohibit the charity itself from contacting the donor for informational, educational, or solicitation purposes. (Less) | Partial |
Transparency
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the Form 990, or for some metrics on the charity's website, that the organization makes this information easily accessible.
Sources Include: IRS Form 990 and organization's website
| Transparency: | |
|---|---|
| CEO Salary Listed on 990 ... (More) | |
| Board of Directors Listed on Website ... (More) | |
| Key Staff Listed on Website ... (More) | |
| Audited Financial Statements on Website ... (More) | |
| Form 990 Available on Website ... (More) |
Additional Information
Unscored
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Total Revenue and Expenses
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Salary of Key Persons
Presented here are this organizations key compensated staff members as identified by our analysts. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Michael S. Linnington, Chief Executive Officer
$281,594 (0.10% of Total Expenses)
Jennifer M. Silva, Chief Program Officer
$315,189 (0.11% of Total Expenses)
Eric S. Miller, Chief Financial Officer
$295,911 (0.10% of Total Expenses)
Gary A. Corless, Chief Development Officer
$289,193 (0.10% of Total Expenses)
Current CEO and Board Chair can be found in the Leadership & Adaptability report below.
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2020
Business Master File Data
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Activities:
Activity data not reported from the IRS
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
Data Sources: IRS Forms 990
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to view this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available).
Pandemic Response
Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic, we give charities such as this one the opportunity to share the story of COVID's impact on them. Charities may submit their own pandemic responses through their nonprofit portal.
Wounded Warrior Project reported being impacted by COVID-19 in the following ways:
Program Delivery
Fundraising Capacity
Revenue
Staffing
Administrative Capacity
Grants Received
Grants Sent
Balance Sheet
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's operations financially:
Fundraising Events for Peer to Peer, Face to Face and Events like our annual fundraising dinner, all dropped by 95% in revenue raised compared to before the pandemic. WWP did not use any PPP loans nor furlough any staff. On the contrary, WWP hired more staff to meet the growing needs of Wounded Warriors and their Families.
How COVID-19 impacted the organization's delivery of programs:
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) currently serves more than 200k wounded warriors and their family members. Many of the programs that aid veterans and their families to improve their mental, physical and financial health are typically done in-person and the pandemic forced us to quickly pivot to deliver these connection programs remotely. https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/media/ylpdbw5f/wwp-fy20-impact-report.pdf
How this organization adapted to changing conditions caused by COVID-19:
WWP started a private Facebook group for veterans and their families during the pandemic, to deliver some of this programming that included everything from yoga and meditation and other exercise classes to online guitar demos. Our Warrior Care Networks began delivering some of the care virtually and as many veterans were suffering job loss we provided them with $11M+ in direct aid.
Innovations the organization intends to continue permanently after the pandemic:
The Facebook group remains relevant today and we continue delivering programming through the social app. Also, Zoom will be engaged for many events so WWP continues to serve Wounded Warriors and Families and they cab take part from the comfort of their own home.
Historical Ratings
| Date Published | Form 990 FYE | Overall Score | Overall Rating |
| Rating Version: 2.1 | |||
| 8/1/2020 | 2019 | 86.49 | |
| 7/1/2019 | 2018 | 86.45 | |
| 8/1/2018 | 2017 | 86.02 | |
| 2/1/2018 | 2016 | 88.67 | |
| 11/1/2017 | 2016 | 88.52 | |
This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. | |||
| 2/1/2017 | 2015 | 90.49 |  |
| 6/1/2016 | 2014 | 82.10 | |
| Rating Version: 2.0 | |||
| 7/1/2015 | 2014 | 84.52 | |
| 12/22/2014 | 2013 | 86.11 | |
| 10/1/2013 | 2012 | 84.39 | |
| 10/1/2012 | 2011 | 84.18 | |
| 12/23/2011 | 2010 | 83.37 | |
| 9/20/2011 | 2010 | 83.13 | |
| Rating Version: 1.0 | |||
| 9/1/2010 | 2009 | 78.66 |  |
Previous: Finance & Accountability / Next: Leadership & Adaptability
Impact & Results
This score estimates the actual impact a nonprofit has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact.
Impact & Results Score
Not Currently Scored
Wounded Warrior Project cannot currently be evaluated by our Encompass Rating Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Do you work at Wounded Warrior Project? Join the waitlist for an updated Impact & Results score.
Additional Information
Unscored
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Largest Programs
Wounded Warrior Project reported its three largest programs on its FY 2019 Form 990 as:
$62,679,772
Spent in most recent FY
31%
Percent of program expenses
Mental Health and Wellness
$45,820,865
Spent in most recent FY
22%
Percent of program expenses
Connection
$31,485,656
Spent in most recent FY
15%
Percent of program expenses
Financial Wellness
Previous: Impact & Results / Next: Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
This score provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Leadership & Adaptability Score
100
out of 100
The score earned by Wounded Warrior Project is a passing score. This score has no effect on the organization's Star Rating.
Encompass Rating V4 provides an evaluation of the organization's Leadership & Adaptability through the nonprofit organization submitting a survey response directly to Charity Navigator.
Leadership & Adaptability Report
100
of 100 points
Mission
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s mission
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Vision
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
The long-term strategic goal of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation's history. We will accomplish this vision by raising awareness and enlisting the public's aid for the needs of injured service members; helping injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other; and providing unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Strategic Goals
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: SERVE WARRIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES Provide the most critical services to warriors most in need by assessing their challenges and prioritizing the programs we offer.
Goal Type: Grow, expand, scale or increase access to the existing programs and services.
Goal Two: EXPAND IMPACT THROUGH COLLABORATION Expand program partnerships with nonprofit, for-profit, and government agencies. Continue to promote systemic change through policy and advocacy.
Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.
Goal Three: EMBODY WWP CORE VALUES AND CULTURE Foster a high-performing team that relentlessly commits to our mission, believes in our vision, and embodies our core values and utilizes data and impact measures.
Goal Type: Focus on core programs to achieve mission and scale back on programs not seen as core.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Leadership Development
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
The Emerging Leaders Development Program(ELDP) is designed to enhance Wounded Warrior Project’s ability to cultivate leadership at the individual contributor level, across every function of the organization. The program provides an environment for teammates to deepen their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a leader, create greater awareness of their own strengths and areas for professional development, and gain valuable leadership tools and insights to increase leadership readiness. LISTEN, LEAD, LEARN SUMMIT (L3) - Our leaders are a critical part of our organization’s success, leading and shaping our individual teams in support of our great mission. WWP developed a leader-specific annual event, L3, which brings together our entire leadership team for 2 days of team development, training, and collaboration. The objective of this event is to enhance confidence, cohesion, and clarity amongst leaders, developing individual skills while learning with and from each other.
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Mobilizing for Mission
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Policy Advocacy
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
Warrior Care Network® is a partnership between Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and four world-renowned academic medical centers, providing veterans living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and related conditions with a path to long-term wellness. Qualified applicants can expect to participate in a two- to three-week intensive outpatient program to receive mental health care at one of the four academic medical centers. Wounded Warrior Project believes that no one organization can meet the needs of all wounded, injured, or ill veterans alone. By collaborating with other military and veteran support organizations, we amplify the effects of our efforts. Our investments and unfunded partnerships in the military and veteran community fill gaps in our programs and reinforce our existing efforts. - https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/programs/community-partners
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Story of Adaptability
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) committed $11 million to help meet the immediate needs of warriors who are in financial crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020. WWP reached out to all its registered warriors to identify those who are in financial distress due to the loss of household income related to the coronavirus pandemic. Those unable to meet their needs for food or shelter applied for emergency funds. Warriors who qualified were granted $1,000 per household to help pay for groceries, utilities, rent or mortgage payments, and other essential expenses. This support, combined with our mental and physical health and wellness programs, will aid the most vulnerable veteran families in our community. "These are unprecedented times, and we must do all we can to meet the immediate financial needs of wounded warriors and their families," said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Linnington, WWP CEO. "Due to their injuries and service-connected disabilities, our nation's wounded and injured veterans are at great risk. Many are coping with a weakened immune system, increased isolation, and financial hardship. We will do all we can to help these warriors and their families through these immensely challenging times and offer opportunities of assistance for companies and foundations to match our commitment of $11 million so we can extend this help to more warriors in need." Registered warriors were asked to only apply for assistance if they absolutely needed it because of financial hardships from COVID-19. It's important to note that not all warriors qualified for this assistance. "We know we are not going to be able to give every warrior financial assistance," Linnington added. "Our goal is to do as much good as we can with the $11 million for those with the greatest need."
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Additional Information
Unscored
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Organization Leadership
Michael Linnington
Chief Executive Officer
Kathleen Widmer
Chair
Previous: Leadership & Adaptability
Culture & Community
This score provides an assessment of the organization's culture and connectedness to the community it serves. Learn more about how and why we rate Culture & Community.
Culture & Community Score
98
out of 100
Wounded Warrior Project has earned a passing score. This score has no effect on the organization's Star Rating. The organization provided data about its Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) practices (see report below).
The Culture & Community Beacon is comprised of the following metrics:
Constituent Feedback: Not Scored
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: 98/100 (100% of beacon score)
Culture & Community Report
98
of 100 points
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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
98/100 points
100% of beacon score
This organization's score of 98 is a passing score. The organization reported that it is implementing 10 diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations implementing effective DEI policies and practices can enhance a nonprofit's decision-making, staff motivation, innovation, and effectiveness.
View this organization's DEI Strategies
Methodology
We are utilizing data collected by Candid to document and assess the DEI practices implemented by the organization. Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to fill out the Equity Strategies section of their Candid profiles to receive a rating.
Learn more about the methodology.
Constituent Feedback
Not Scored
This organization reported that it is collecting feedback from the constituents and/or communities it serves. However, it did not respond to one or more survey questions, and therefore is not eligible for a score on this metric. (View our beacon methodology.) Charity Navigator believes nonprofit organizations that engage in inclusive practices, such as collecting feedback from the people and communities they serve, may be more effective.
View this organization's Constituent Feedback Practices
Methodology
We've partnered with Candid to survey organizations about their feedback practices. Nonprofit organizations can fill out the How We Listen section of their Candid profile to receive a rating.
Learn more about the methodology.
Analysis and Research
Like the overall Encompass Rating System, the Culture & Community Beacon is designed to evolve as metrics are developed and ready for integration. Below you can find more information about the metrics we currently evaluate in this beacon and their relevance to nonprofit performance.
Constituent Feedback
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
