Our Programs &
Who We Serve

Does the NSF support veterans?

The NSF is deeply committed to the health and welfare of SEAL and SWCC veterans. We provide assistance through our Veterans Crisis Assistance fund, death support, human performance support, and reconnect events.

How much assistance goes to support personnel?

The NSF legally supports all active duty NSW personnel, including support staff. However, veteran assistance is exclusively directed toward SEAL and SWCC veterans.

How does the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF) support Gold Star and Surviving Families (GSSF)?

The NSF proudly supports GSSF through wellness programs and events. We dedicate 15% of our total programs budget annually (an estimated $3 million) to ensure that fallen warriors and their families are never forgotten. This funding reflects a lifecycle of care, including immediate tragedy assistance (travel, funeral support, emergency grants), short-term financial stabilization (housing, utilities, financial guidance), long-term services (counseling, survivor programs, retreats), and education support for children.

Does the NSF offer preferential support based on location, rank, or marital status?

The NSF supports all NSW members and their families equally, regardless of geographic region, command, rank, or marital status.

Who is eligible for NSF scholarships?

The NSF provides scholarships for higher education to active duty SEALs and SWCCs, their spouses and children, veterans, and retirees’ families. We also support dependent children in duty locations with limited access to quality education and fund standardized college entrance exams for eligible transitioning NSW service members. Operating independently of Navy programs, the NSF offers additional financial resources to fill gaps in educational support.

How does the NSF support brain and mental health programs, including experimental treatments?

The NSF partners with treatment providers and non-profits to offer tailored mental health and brain treatment programs. We also invest in emerging therapies, starting with foundational interventions like sleep, nutrition, and exercise. In 2020, the NSF supported clinical trials, including a $50,000 investment in MAPS’s MDMA-assisted therapy research. We closely evaluate all treatments for safety and effectiveness, with guidance from a Scientific Advisory Board and psychologists.

How does the NSF support its events with active duty personnel?

The NSF provides active duty NSW families and GSSF with the opportunity to attend annual signature fundraising events. Event attendees are selected randomly from registrations to ensure equal opportunity, and all active duty participants attend with prior JAG approval. The NSF also ensures equitable representation across ranks and commands.

Governance & Leadership

What is the makeup of the NSF’s Board of Directors, and are they paid?

The NSF BOD is entirely volunteer-based, with no members receiving compensation. The BOD includes at least 51% SEALs, comprising both former officers and enlisted personnel, as well as NSW spouses and business professionals. As of July 2024, the BOD includes thirteen former SEALs and twelve civilians.

Why are the NSF staff paid while other non-profits rely on volunteers?

The NSF’s operations require a full-time staff of around twenty-five professionals, supplemented by volunteers, to manage our large-scale programs and mission. Staff salaries are evaluated annually by the Board of Directors (BOD) compensation committee to ensure alignment with market standards.

How does the NSF spend marketing dollars and ensure alignment with the SEAL Ethos?

The NSF shares only unclassified information about the NSW community and highlights the impact of donor-funded programs. Most advertising space is donated, and marketing is conducted with the highest standards to protect the safety of operators and their families. Corporate partnerships with like-minded organizations amplify the NSF’s mission and uphold the SEAL Ethos.

Financial Stewardship

Why does the NSF need my support? Shouldn’t “Big Navy” or the VA cover these needs?

The NSF complements government support by addressing gaps outside the scope of the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Veterans Administration (VA). Programs are reviewed annually and adjusted to meet the evolving needs of the NSW community. While some support extends beyond overseas deployments, we remain dedicated to serving NSW forces wherever and whenever they are deployed.

Why does the NSF maintain significant reserve funds and an endowment?

The NSF’s reserve funds and endowment ensure long-term sustainability for our programs supporting NSW warriors, veterans, and families. Unique challenges, including unpredictable mortality rates, catastrophic events, political instability, and economic downturns, require higher reserves than typical non-profits. The NSF endowment provides a continuous stream of resources to fund large-scale projects and meet the community’s needs well into the future.

What types of investments does the NSF hold, and why are some associated with offshore funds?

The NSF maintains a diversified portfolio across multiple asset classes, including equities, fixed income, real assets such as real estate and commodities, and hedge funds. Some hedge funds are domiciled offshore or invest through master-feeder structures in which the master fund is domiciled outside the United States, which is a standard arrangement in institutional investing. The underlying investments of these funds are global in nature and allocated in accordance with our IPS. There is no meaningful concentration of underlying investments in any single region, and these structures are common practice among universities, foundations, and large nonprofits.

How does the NSF oversee its investment portfolio?

The NSF’s investments are overseen by an Investment Committee composed of six members of our Board of Directors, selected specifically for this role. Three of the six members are former SEALs with professional experience in the financial industry, and one of them chairs the committee. The committee established an Investment Policy Statement (IPS) that integrates mission alignment, risk management, governance, and transparency into a single framework guiding all investment decisions. The Investment Committee employs an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO), High Vista Strategies, to manage the portfolio in accordance with the IPS. High Vista reports to the committee quarterly and is empowered to execute the investment strategy within the committee’s guidelines.

How are the NSF’s investments audited?

The investment portfolio is independently audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and the NSF receives its full audit report. In addition, the NSF is audited annually by RSM, currently the sixth-largest accounting firm globally, which independently reviews our investments as part of the overall financial audit published on our website each year.

How does the Navy SEAL Foundation oversee and manage its endowment?

The NSF’s endowment is managed in accordance with Virginia’s adopted version of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA), which governs how nonprofits manage and appropriate endowment funds. Spending decisions are made prudently and in good faith, taking into account factors such as the fund’s purpose, inflation, economic conditions, and the organization’s other resources. UPMIFA does not prescribe a specific spending rate. Instead, it requires that spending decisions be made with prudent stewardship, taking into account the organization’s long-term sustainability and mission.