The Mission Continues

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We connect military veterans with opportunities to continue their service and leadership in under-resourced communities.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
67¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 6,401 volunteers and 63 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $138K a year · 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
67%
of spending
Fine: 67% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.5M
to officers and key staff · 22% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 22% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Named funders
2
named funders · $45K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
total owed
No data yet: the filing does not give total assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.6M
-14% vs prior year
Spent
$6.8M
To programs
67%
Net assets
$0
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$3.6M
FY2025▼ -14%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$11.4M
FY2021$11.1M
FY2022$18.6M
FY2023$10.8M
FY2024$4.2M
FY2025$3.6M
Expenses
$6.8M
FY2025▼ -34%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$10.9M
FY2021$9.5M
FY2022$11.3M
FY2023$11.5M
FY2024$10.3M
FY2025$6.8M
Net assets
$0
FY2025▼ -100%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$8.2M
FY2021$9.7M
FY2022$17.0M
FY2023$16.2M
FY2024$10.1M
FY2025$0

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 2007.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

67 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 67% · $4.6M Management & general 23% · $1.5M Fundraising 10% · $708K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

17 people listed on the 990; $1.5M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Financial Officer
$334,242Pt VII · Sec A
Interim CEO/Chief Ppl Officer
$333,565Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Programs Officer
$156,208Pt VII · Sec A
SR Dir, Comm & Digital Mktg
$154,677Pt VII · Sec A
Dir, Finance and Accounting
$154,268Pt VII · Sec A
Dir, National Events
$152,121Pt VII · Sec A
Dir, Partnerships
$136,251Pt VII · Sec A
SR Mgr, Talent Acq & Special Proj
$109,281Pt VII · Sec A

Autumn Smoot’s $334K as Chief Financial Officer is at the 98th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1245 $1–10M employment nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Autumn Smoot$334,242$218,895$220,170$214,315$84,213—
La Costa Moore$333,565$222,921$216,695$210,381——
Mary Beth Bruggeman—$270,988$247,779$236,037$229,675$221,673
James Gillen—$179,716$217,581$105,000——
Susan Thaxton—$172,818$216,781$215,927$204,649$180,351
Laura L'Esperance————$214,513$183,646
Jennifer Kovacs————$213,369$154,683
Jeremy Albritton————$30,114$200,512

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See The Mission Continues executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Connects veterans with chances to help underserved communities.

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2 programs · $4.6M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Service Platoon Program

Connects veterans in a city to tackle a new mission in their community. Volunteers without previous military service are welcome, and platoons often form partnerships with other community groups. Each platoon is veteran-led, supported by a leadership team, and directed by a platoon leader.

$3.4Mprogram expense
02

Mass deployment program- brings veterans from across the country together with community members and local veterans for a week of impact in an under-resourced community. Over seven full days, veterans connect deeply to each other and to a community that is facing significant challenges.

$1.2Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$45K
Grants paid · 9 grants · $1.8M · 2020–2025
Beneath the ServiceDC · FY2025$306,000
Unitemized GrantFY2025$89,200
Beneath the ServiceDC · FY2024$200,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$147,429
Unitemized GrantFY2023$221,200
Unitemized GrantFY2022$249,022
Unitemized GrantFY2021$255,600
Unitemized GrantFY2020$290,400
Unitemized GrantFY2020$45,000

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.6M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$186K
Other incomeLn 4–11$124K
Money outPt IX
$6.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.6M
Managementcol C$1.5M
Fundraisingcol D$708K
Owns and owesPt X
$0
net assets · Ln 32
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$3.3M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$15K
Investment incomeLn 3$186K
Other incomeLn 4–11$124K
Gains on assetsLn 7$43
Total revenueLn 12$3.6M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$0
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 563
VolunteersI 66,401
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.6M$0
InvestmentsLn 11–13$5.4M$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$10.7M$0
LiabilitiesLn 26$549K$0
Net assetsLn 32$10.1M$0
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$306K$306K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$89K$89K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$872K$302K$464K$106K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.5M$1.6M$491K$347K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$50K$36K$8K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$308K$188K$81K$39K
Payroll taxesLn 10$268K$164K$69K$35K
Legal feesLn 11b$2K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$125K$125K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$486K$284K$55K$147K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$141K$138K$56$3K
Office expensesLn 13$290K$205K$68K$16K
Information technologyLn 14$304K$222K$81K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$37K$37K
TravelLn 17$690K$643K$39K$7K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$35K$7K$28K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$322K$322K
Total functional expensesLn 25$6.8M$4.6M$1.5M$708K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Aug 14, 2026 $3.6M$6.8M−$3.2M$0 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Oct 25, 2025 $4.2M$10.3M−$6.1M$10.1M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Jul 11, 2024 $10.8M$11.5M−$788K$16.2M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Jul 13, 2023 $18.6M$11.3M$7.3M$17.0M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Jun 14, 2022 $11.1M$9.5M$1.6M$9.7M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Jul 20, 2021 $11.4M$10.9M$449K$8.2M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,586,630 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $3,761,598$3,276,625
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $398,973$186,099
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $31,038$123,906
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $4,191,609$3,586,630
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $347,429$395,200
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $6,101,423$3,985,545
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,871,881$2,431,595
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $10,320,733$6,812,340
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$6,129,124−$3,225,710
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,586,630 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$3,276,625
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$15,044
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,276,625
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $186,056$186,056
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $43$43
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $123,906$123,906
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $310,005$3,586,630
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $6,812,340 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $306,000$306,000
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $89,200$89,200
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $302,136 · Management $464,032 · Fundraising $106,026$872,194
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,648,774 · Management $491,482 · Fundraising $347,079$2,487,335
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $36,060 · Management $7,948 · Fundraising $6,366$50,374
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $188,049 · Management $81,241 · Fundraising $38,837$308,127
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $163,924 · Management $68,708 · Fundraising $34,883$267,515
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $1,799$1,799
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $125,150$125,150
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $283,572 · Management $55,470 · Fundraising $146,669$485,711
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $137,966 · Management $56 · Fundraising $3,056$141,078
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $205,458 · Management $68,255 · Fundraising $16,230$289,943
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $221,768 · Management $80,549 · Fundraising $2,041$304,358
IX-16 OccupancyManagement $36,850$36,850
IX-17 TravelPrograms $643,061 · Management $39,427 · Fundraising $7,252$689,740
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $7,125 · Management $28,056$35,181
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $321,785$321,785
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,554,878 · Management $1,549,023 · Fundraising $708,439$6,812,340
Part X · Balance sheet $0 assets, 22 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $30,410$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,613,826$0
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,273,935$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-5 Loans to officers and key people$0
X-6 Loans to other insiders$0
X-7 Notes and loans receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $317,676$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $5,401,580$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $22,933$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $10,660,360$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $6,253$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $548,898$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $7,236,435$0
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,875,027$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $10,111,462$0
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $10,660,360$0
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $0 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,586,630
XI-2 Total expenses$6,812,340
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$3,225,710
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$10,111,462
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$4,305
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$6,890,057
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$0

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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