Grantees

America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP) works with communities nationwide to prevent veteran suicide by proactively connecting veterans to holistic resources and services that enhance quality of life. Funding from Face the Fight will support continued suicide risk screening and upstream prevention efforts, with a focus on identifying and assisting high-risk veterans. AWP will outreach to rural and tribal communities, including suicide screening initiatives with the Navajo Nation and in Alaska. Staff will administer the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and coordinate immediate access to critical care and quality-of-life resources in partnership with the VA and other crisis intervention programs.

The Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) develops and delivers state-of-the-art behavioral health training and education programs. The CDP trains both military and civilian behavioral health professionals to provide high-quality behavioral health services to military personnel, veterans, their families, and the public. In 2022, the Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee (SPRIRC) recommended skill-based training in evidence-based suicide prevention treatments for all DoD behavioral health providers. Face the Fight funding allows the CDP to enhance the training of military behavioral health providers in suicide prevention utilizing evidence-based practices. With this support, CDP plans to train 650 military health system providers who are expected to treat more than 20,000 military patients following the new training. Approximately 7,500 of these patients are expected to benefit directly from the suicide prevention training supported by this funding.

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The Center for Deployment Psychology operates as part of the Uniformed Services University of Uniformed Services (USU) with grant funding being directed towards the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine to support this project.

Centerstone’s Military Services aims to eliminate barriers to care commonly faced by veterans and their families. Committed to providing mental health services to active-duty service members, National Guard members, Reservists, Veterans, and military families, Centerstone offers these services nationally through its network of providers and in Centerstone clinics. Face the Fight funding will support clinical services and ongoing training for clinicians to expand and scale suicide evidence-based treatments for veterans and their families. This initiative will strengthen Centerstone’s capacity to meet the unique needs of veterans at risk for suicide, while scaling services to support a greater number of veterans and families nationwide.

Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) Operates 22 clinics across the US providing confidential, evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, adjustment issues, anger, grief and loss, transition challenges, and family/relationship concerns supporting post-9/11 veterans, service members and their family members through in-person and telehealth clinical care and case management. Continued Face the Fight funding will support two projects.

1. Suicide Prevention Fellows: Through ongoing Face the Funding, Cohen Veteran’s Network will expand the Fellows program to include 3 new Suicide Prevention Fellows positions for early career clinicians and 2 advanced, second-year fellowship positions.  Suicide Prevention Fellows will receive specialty training in both clinical services and evidence-based suicide prevention treatments for veterans.  This program is crucial for developing clinicians who will be well prepared to combat the military/veteran suicide for decades to come.
2. Optimizing Safe Storage Messaging: With Face the Fight funding, CVN is testing how different firearm safe storage messages resonate with veterans in behavioral health care. CVN will assess messaging strategies to identify which are most effective—especially among underserved veteran groups such as women and minoritized populations. This work fills a critical gap in suicide prevention: while lethal means safety is a proven intervention, there is limited understanding on how best to communicate about it in ways that are acceptable, culturally relevant, and impactful. Findings will inform a publicly available toolkit with practical guidance for veteran-serving organizations to improve communication around lethal means safety and strengthen suicide prevention efforts.

Columbia Protocol Implementation for Veteran Suicide Prevention: The Columbia Protocol (C-SSRS) is the gold standard for identifying suicide risk through a simple set of questions anyone can ask—making it ideal for use across all veteran-serving settings. Face the Fight funding will support an awareness campaign and broaden adoption of the tool in communities where veterans live and work. The grant also funds education for veteran-serving organizations—including legal, financial, first responder, and hospitality sectors—and supports a Train-the-Trainer (TTT) program to build a diverse, sustainable network of instructors. This national infrastructure will enhance early detection, standardize risk assessment, and promote a culture of safety, compassion, and swift response in veteran communities.Columbia Lighthouse Project operates in affiliation with the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University with grant funding directed towards the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene Inc to support this project.

Combined Arms delivers innovative technology solutions that streamline resource connections and improve the quality of life for veterans and their families. Face the Fight funding will support the expansion and enhancement of suicide screening within their user-friendly platform, which curates resources based on a veteran’s needs and eligibility and directly connects them to high-quality service providers. Enhancements to their intake toolkit are expected to significantly strengthen protective factors and broaden the platform’s reach—particularly among diverse and underserved veteran populations. In addition, their targeted outreach campaign will engage more than 6,000 veterans with information about mental health resources, with a focus on those underserved.

Crisis Text Line is a leading nonprofit providing free, 24/7, confidential text-based crisis intervention and mental health support, with a strong commitment to serving diverse veteran communities. Face the Fight funding will support text-based, anonymous, stigma-free crisis support, complementary to VA services, reaching Spanish-speaking, younger veterans. This includes continued use of the two custom bilingual keywords—SERVE (English) and SERVICIO (Spanish)—tailored specifically for the veteran community. The expansion of these resources, along with the collection of demographic data provides valuable insights into the populations being served. Additionally, Crisis Text Line will implement a comprehensive suicide risk management tool and develop a military mental health resource guide designed to address the unique challenges faced by military and veteran populations.

Denver Research Institute, affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System, is non-profit facilitating VA research. Continued Face the Fight funding will support veteran suicide prevention experts within the VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center for Veteran Suicide Prevention on two projects:

Implementing Computerized Therapies for Suicide Prevention and Depression among Veteran Caregivers

Building on prior grant-funded work, investigators have developed two direct-to-consumer, evidence-informed interventions for suicide prevention and depression—marking the first suicide-specific, computerized intervention designed for veterans. This project will adapt and evaluate the existing Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression (cCBT-D) program to create a resource tailored for caregivers of service members and veterans. While designed for caregivers, the course will also benefit a broader audience of family members and others who support veterans. By delivering accessible, scalable, and suicide-focused care outside of traditional clinical settings, this initiative will address gaps in mental health support and reduce barriers to care.

Implementing Lethal Means Safety Policies

With support from Face the Fight, this project will advance suicide prevention efforts in underserved veteran communities through the organizational implementation of veteran-focused suicide prevention and lethal means safety practices. Continued funding will focus on supporting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI), and women veterans, furthering investments in the development and sustainment of suicide prevention quality improvement programs within healthcare settings. The project drives sustainable policy change and provides implementation support to ensure the long-term adoption of suicide prevention and lethal means safety measures.

The Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center for Veteran Suicide Prevention operates within the Department of Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System.

Endeavors is a faith-based nonprofit providing individualized, trauma-informed care to vulnerable populations. As the Texas Community Integration Coordinator hub for Onward Ops, its Transition Support Program (TSP) helps newly transitioned veterans during the high-risk “deadly gap” in the first year after leaving the military. The program expands early screenings, connects veterans to care, strengthens community ties, and addresses social determinants of health through integrated suicide risk screening, resource navigation, and personalized support. With Face the Fight funding, Endeavors will expand services, train mentors to recognize and respond to suicide risk, and build a stronger, community-based safety net for veterans in transition.

Syracuse University, in partnership with Equitable Analytics and FTF, has developed the MAP (Measure, Assess, Prioritize) Reach Platform to enable Veteran-Serving Organizations (VSOs) to quickly identify and address the medical, behavioral health, and social needs of veterans. MAP Reach provides geospatial analytics, automated, tailored needs assessment, and Agentic AI, enabling VSOs to prioritize high-risk clients and track outcomes. Interactive dashboards offer real-time insights at both the individual and population levels, enhancing services and accelerating shared learning across organizations. With continued FTF funding, this grant period, six new organizations will be onboarded (for a total of ten). This data-driven infrastructural investment will help FTF grantees and VSOs better understand and support their veterans’ needs.

This project is affiliated with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University with grant funding being directed towards Syracuse University.

Objective Zero focuses on reducing suicide risk by helping military-connected individuals engage with support earlier, more consistently, and in ways that feel safe and accessible. With this funding, their mobile platform, which includes suicide prevention through screening and management tools, will be enhanced with new tools that support self-reflection, increase emotional insight, and improve access to trusted resources and trained peers. Designed for broad use and digital sharing, this content will reach individuals, families, and community networks. Guided by a strong outcomes framework, the initiative aims to boost app usage, increase engagement with wellness features, expand resource exploration, and strengthen user confidence in recognizing and responding to emotional stress. Meeting veterans where they are remains a core suicide prevention strategy for Objective Zero.

Onward Ops, the flagship program of the Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program, supports service members during the high-risk “deadly gap” in the first year after leaving the military. By enrolling participants before separation, pairing them with trained community sponsors, and preparing destination communities, the program reduces risks like suicide and homelessness while boosting veterans’ connectedness by 30%. Face the Fight funding will expand Onward Ops into high-demand states, grow Veteran Cultural Competence Training (VCCT), and strengthen partnerships with the VA’s Veteran Sponsorship Initiative (VSI), and—building a nationwide network of culturally competent sponsors and recruit, train and certify dedicated Community Integration Coordinators professionals dedicated to helping veterans successfully transition to civilian life.

The Onward Ops Foundation is the is the charitable arm of the Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP), a social welfare non-profit organization.

The FORGE Foundation-- Overwatch Project: The Overwatch Project is the only comprehensive initiative dedicated to peer-based led interventions on firearms and lethal means safety (LMS), aiming to drive lasting cultural change in the veteran and service member community. Using a blunt, authentic veteran voice and a peer model inspired by “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk,” the program leverages training, community engagement, and targeted communication to promote safe firearm practices. Face the Fight funding will advance the Overwatch Project National Innovation Program, built on four pillars—National Guard and Reserve engagement, company and coalition education, key program expansion, and national marketing—to mobilize trusted networks and leaders, accelerating adoption of a proven suicide prevention strategy.

PsychArmor is a leading nonprofit and a preferred training provider with extensive local, regional, and national reach, specializing in the military-affiliated community. Our focus is on delivering education that is data-driven and evidence-based. Face the Fight funding will further develop the education system, sustain and enhance the training portal, and actively engage a growing community of learners. This continued support will ensure the ongoing effectiveness and reach of the program, fostering a well-informed network dedicated to suicide prevention within the veteran community. The initiative aims to elevate awareness of suicide risk factors and warning signs, establish a wide-reaching network of trained gatekeepers for early intervention, and enhance access to critical suicide prevention resources through a centralized portal. Additionally, it focuses on improved data collection and analysis to evaluate effectiveness and refine future initiatives.

RAND's research expertise on veteran policy that has a sustained impact on veterans' lives was enhanced with the launch of the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute (the Institute). The Institute now serves as the nation's preeminent policy research organization centered on issues facing veterans and their families. This project will conduct a landscape analysis of private and public efforts to prevent veteran suicide across the U.S.In doing so, RAND will create a typology of programs, grouping similar programs together, thereby creating categories that describe the ecosystem of clinical and non-clinical approaches currently in place to prevent veteran suicide. Both "upstream" suicide prevention strategies as well as crisis and postvention approaches will be considered. Facethe Fight funding for this ecosystem mapping will help leaders identify gaps and overlaps in current Veteran suicide-prevention efforts and help organizations and the field at large better understand where their programs and activities fit within this ecosystem.RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision making throughresearch and analysis.

Through initiatives like Breaking Bread with Heroes, Reuniting the Brave, and their Resiliency Programs, RIF fosters connection, restores purpose, and builds emotional strength among veterans and their families. With Face the Fight funding, the Robert Irvine Foundation (RIF) will significantly expand its impact in preventing veteran suicide by scaling programs that directly target two of the most critical risk factors: social isolation and loneliness. This next phase of growth will equip a broader network of trained veteran champions to integrate evidence-informed strategies—Crisis Response Planning and Lethal Means Safety—into all core programs. To further scale, RIF will extend its reach by mentoring five veteran-serving nonprofits to embed these same life-saving approaches, amplifying their collective ability to protect veterans at risk and strengthen communities nationwide.

Rush University Medical Center, with FTF funding, is addressing the critical issue of veteran suicide by developing and expanding a suite of AI-powered training tools built upon the success of the Socrates Coach project. The work involves creating two innovative tools: an AI-trainer for clinicians to practice evidence-based Crisis Response Planning (CRP) , and a novel tool designed to teach Lethal Means Safety (LMS) skills to peers and other non-professionals. The ultimate impact of this initiative is to create a scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective ecosystem of training resources. By integrating these new tools and the original AI tool Socrates Coach into the STRONG STAR Training Initiative (SSTI) training portal, this project will significantly expand access to high-quality training and equip a wider range of individuals with the skills needed to effectively intervene and save lives.

Stop Soldier Suicide's clinical program - the ROGER Wellness Service - provides personalized, confidential suicide-specific care and intervention services via telehealth to veterans and service members from all branches, regardless of discharge status, and at no cost to them. Stop Soldier Suicide (SSS) is a national nonprofit organization focused on reducing the military suicide rate by building a deeper understanding of military suicide risk through machine learning, advanced data analytics, and technological solutions. Funding from Face the Fight helps SSS, and its ROGER Wellness Service, expand its clinical footprint and accelerate its life-saving impact for veterans and service members at the highest risk for suicide. As part of this grant, ROGER will pilot VetSafe, testing new protocols that pair a firearm secure storage device with the involvement of trusted peers or family members—creating innovative, peer-supported strategies to keep those at risk safe during times of crisis.

Support the Enlisted Project (STEP) is a national provider of financial counseling, education, and emergency financial support for active-duty enlisted service members, recently transitioned veterans, and their families. With Face the Fight funding, STEP will launch an innovative and evidence-informed approach to suicide prevention by integrating Crisis Response Planning (CRP)—adapted as Financial Safety Plans—into its financial case management model. This strategy embeds crisis intervention directly within financial counseling, offering personalized plans that equip individuals with concrete tools to navigate periods of financial distress before they escalate into suicidal crises. By identifying and supporting veterans at risk through an unexpected yet crucial entry point—financial stress—this project pioneers a new pathway for suicide prevention within the veteran community.

Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) delivers community-based health and wellness programming to strengthen upstream suicide prevention for veterans and transitioning service members. Guided by its mission to enrich veterans’ lives, Team RWB takes a holistic approach grounded in four pillars of wellness: physical health, mental health, meaningful relationships, and sense of purpose. Face the Fight funding will support the launch of an innovative, scalable nonprofit collaboration model—starting with a partnership with Onward Ops—to create meaningful peer support opportunities. As part of this initiative, 125 Team RWB volunteers will be trained in peer support and suicide prevention, equipping them to serve as sponsors for transitioning service members. This pilot program will deliver mentorship to transitioning veterans in local communities, filling a critical gap with qualified, trained peer volunteers and support future national scaling.

The Armory Project is a nationally recognized leader in engaging federal firearm licensees (FFLs) and other firearms professionals as credible messengers in promoting secure firearm storage for suicide prevention and connecting SM/V/F and other firearm owners to mental health resources. With support from Face the Fight, this project will enhance the infrastructure and pilot an expansion for free consultation and technical assistance to state coalitions and individual firearm retailers who want to provide secure in-home and voluntary out-of-home storage to Veterans in need.  This funding addresses the problem of high rates of firearm suicide by helping to normalize lethal means safety (LMS) conversations and delivering LMS education and resources to active duty, veterans, military families, and firearm owners through collaboration with firearm professionals (e.g., firearm retailers/FFLs, instructors, and manufacturers) and mental health organizations.

This project is affiliated with the Louisiana State University School of Medicine with grant funding being directed towards the LSU Health Foundation New Orleans.

The Headstrong Project is a non-profit mental health organization that offers 30 no-cost, confidential, barrier-free, and stigma-free PTSD treatment sessions to veterans, service members, and their families. Recognizing the critical link between PTSD and suicide risk, continued Face the Fight funding supports the organization’s clinical care efforts, emphasizing suicide screening, referral to Headstrong’s clinical providers trained in evidence-based suicide-specific treatments, and continuous training for the organization’s extensive network of mental health therapists. This funding will also expand their ‘Mission Any Veteran, Anywhere’ initiative to two additional states, providing increased and enhanced veteran suicide prevention support.

The STRIVE Collaborative is the only research institute in the United States that explicitly focuses on developing and refining treatments for elevated suicide risk, trauma, and gun-related violence. Since moving to The Ohio State University, and through generous donations, we’ve been able to expand our clinical operation and research efforts to include care to ALL adults in addition to continued commitment to our military, veteran and first responders.

The Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative (FIPI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine brings deep expertise in firearm injury prevention, behavioral research, and community engagement. With previous support from Face the Fight, FIPI piloted efforts to offer discounted firearm locking devices to veterans. This new project builds on that foundation by testing various messaging and outreach strategies to better engage veterans, increase interest in secure storage, and ultimately boost the use of firearm locking devices. The findings will inform future messaging efforts and support FTF coalition members and partners in expanding access to secure storage solutions.

This project is affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative (FIPI) with grant funding being directed towards the Regents of the University of Colorado.

The Penn Center for the Prevention of Suicide at the University of Pennsylvania is a leading research center specializing in suicide screening, assessment, intervention, and implementation. Face the Fight funding will provide continued infrastructure support to expand scalable, high-quality, on-demand training for clinicians in the evidence-based Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention. This initiative will also support a competency-based training program for clinicians in the Face the Fight network. This initiative will address the critical need for scalable, on-demand, high-quality, and nationally accessible suicide-specific training—ultimately improving care for veterans seeking help.

University of Washington Center for Suicide Prevention and Recovery (CSPAR): Caring Contacts (recommended periodic caring communications) is an evidence-based suicide prevention approach in which a clinician or other caring individual sends a series of eight or more messages of care, support, and connection over a year or longer to individuals at increased risk for suicide—significantly reducing suicide attempts, ideation, and death. Face the Fight funding will support the evaluation of a web app and toolkit to deliver Caring Contacts via text message to veterans experiencing stress, distress, or suicidal thoughts. This innovative, technology-enabled approach will make Caring Contacts scalable for use in both clinical and community settings, expanding its reach and life-saving potential for veterans.

UT San Antonio’s STRONG STAR Training Initiative is a national program focused on expanding access to evidence-based treatments for veterans and the community. Face the Fight funding will support centralized access to high-quality suicide prevention training through the Training & Resource Center. This funding will provide providers, veteran peers, and allies involved in veteran service organizations and Face the Fight Coalition Members with access to evidence-informed suicide prevention strategies. Additionally, the funding will provide implementation support to build skills, expertise, and capacity across community members, leaders, and organizations—through expert technical assistance, accelerating the adoption of suicide prevention practices in diverse settings. SSTI is a cornerstone strategy within Face the Fight’s broader mission which enables scalable, measurable, and sustainable change in how communities support Veterans at risk.

The STRONG STAR Training Initiative operates in affiliation with the University of Texas San Antonio, with grant funding directed towards the University of Texas Foundation to support this project.

The Veteran Spouse Network (VSN) facilitates a nationwide network of support for military and veteran spouses and families, providing peer support, education, and life-saving suicide prevention training as families navigate active duty, civilian transition, and post-military life. Recognizing that veteran spouses are uniquely positioned to identify suicide risk and encourage veterans to seek help, VSN provides critical training in evidence-informed suicide prevention strategies. Continued funding from Face the Fight will support spouses and family members in identifying early crisis warning signs and engaging veterans in discussions about suicide risk and the voluntary strategic storage of firearms during times of crisis. This initiative is vital in helping families feel confident and prepared to support their loved ones in the event of a crisis.

The Veteran Spouse Network operates in affiliation with the Institute for Military & Veteran Family Wellness at Dell Medical School and the School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin. Grant funding is directed through the University of Texas Foundation to support this project.

Vets4Warriors (V4W) is a 24/7 confidential peer support network that provides immediate (live answer), free and long-term peer support through phone, chat and email conversations. V4W serves veterans and the entire military community, striving to connect ‘upstream’, before someone’s circumstances and challenges become a crisis.  Continued FTF funding supports the expansion of peer support services that include systematic suicide screening, and evidence-informed intervention by trusted and trained peers to veterans in locations identified with higher rates of suicide as well as to those with limited resources. Funding will also support enhancements to the evidence-informed suicide prevention implementation and outcome measurement. Face the Fight is critical to support Vets4Warriors peers to speak with more individuals from across the country and every era each day. 

Vets4Warriors operates in affiliation with Rutgers University, with grant funding being directed towards the Rutgers University Foundation to support this project.

Worldmaker Resilience Institute provides direct suicide prevention and resiliency training to veterans and their families, including programs for women veterans, veterans with disabilities and caregivers. FTF funding will support expansion of their evidence-informed suicide prevention training program and scale via a train-the-trainer model. THRIVE training will equip participants with skills in suicide protection, risk screening, and psychological resilience. Funding will also expand support via an evidence-based mental fitness app that delivers cognitive behavioral therapy education.

Worried About a Veteran (WAV) takes a unique approach to veteran suicide prevention by empowering the people who are most likely to notice early warning signs—family members and friends. Through its website, WAV equips loved ones with practical tools and guidance to initiate sensitive but life-saving conversations about secure firearm storage, creating the critical time and space that can prevent a crisis from becoming a tragedy.  From its original pilot in New York state, FTF funding supported its national growth with a focus on content, impact, and scalability.  With continued FTF funding, WAV will expand nationwide by embedding its resources with leading suicide prevention organizations and strengthening partner networks. This work will scale lethal means safety strategies, promoting safe, voluntary firearm storage as a proven method to save lives.

Worried about Veteran grant funding is directed towards the Bronx Veterans Medical Research Foundation, Inc. to support this project.

As the leader of a nationwide coalition of top-tier veterans and military service organizations, the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is dedicated to supporting veterans, families, and caregivers. Alongside WWP’s own investment, FTF support has implemented the rapid deployment of WWP's suicide prevention strategy to include systematic suicide screening of veterans, expansion of data evaluation and program surveillance, and delivery of ongoing suicide prevention training. This grant period will extend screening into WWP’s Financial Wellness team, supporting veterans with financial stressors, a known suicide risk factor. WWP will also ensure more veterans can access informed and effective support, with focus on military personnel in rural and underserved regions such as Alaska and Germany. Data analysis will further guide program activities and services to better meet the needs of participants (as well as in development of new and innovative programming).