Supporting Veteran Health & Well-Being

Each year, approximately 200,000 service members leave the military and transition back to civilian life, a process known as the military-to-civilian transition. For many veterans, transition into civilian life from military service can present both practical and emotional challenges that shape their success in post-military life. While a successful transition looks different for each veteran, it often requires support across multiple dimensions, including health care, housing, and employment. Moreover, the unique needs of veterans and their families can persist throughout their lives, underscoring the need for sustained investment in the well-being of our veteran community.

Our Work

Veterans Community Initiative

In 2024, The Duchossois Family Foundation and the Tullman Family Office partnered with Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy to focus on the intersection of veteran mental health and social needs post-service. The partnership examined the current state of veteran transition support to inform organizational strategies and identify opportunities for strategic collaboration across sectors. This work resulted in the development of four philanthropic priority areas to bolster comprehensive support:

  • support veteran ecosystem reform and innovation
  • enhance veteran health and well-being
  • advance economic opportunity
  • increase community and connection

Scientific Priorities

With a particular focus on biomedical philanthropy, SPARC identified several opportunities to enhance veteran physical, brain, and mental health and ensure veterans thrive in post-service life.

Expand Understanding of Veteran Brain and Mental Health.

Efforts to improve early intervention, treatment access, and long-term outcomes for veterans and their families are crucial to veteran support, with innovation and impact reverberating into the civilian community.

Enhance Health-Care Access and Delivery.

Strengthening health-care access and delivery through coordinated care can reduce the burden on individual veterans while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the veteran support ecosystem.