Certified Best Independent Charities of America
Certifies the Navy SEAL Foundation as a Best in America charity.
View ProfileServing those who
serve in silence
Our mission is to provide critical support for the warriors, veterans, and families of Naval Special Warfare (NSW).
Naval Special Warfare
The NSW community is the world’s premier fighting force. Comprising SEALs, Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (SWCCs), and support personnel, they act with unmatched precision and stealth, performing strategic reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and high-speed maritime operations in denied and contested environments.
With roots tracing back to World War II (WWII), they have executed some of the highest-risk, no-fail missions in modern history. A few have captured public attention, but the vast majority remain classified.
Whether at sea, in the air, or on land, these warriors work in silence, making an impact in ways the world will almost never see. They maintain a constant global presence and stand ready to respond wherever and whenever needed.
The NSW community is the world’s premier fighting force. Comprising SEALs, Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (SWCCs), and support personnel, they act with unmatched precision and stealth, performing strategic reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and high-speed maritime operations in denied and contested environments.
Sea
Air
Land
With roots tracing back to World War II (WWII), they have executed some of the highest-risk, no-fail missions in modern history. A few have captured public attention, but the vast majority remain classified.
Whether at sea, in the air, or on land, these warriors work in silence, making an impact in ways the world will almost never see. They maintain a constant global presence and stand ready to respond wherever and whenever needed.
The world’s toughest training
Every SEAL is forged through Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S) in Coronado, California. Many refer to it as the hardest military crucible on Earth.
The standard is virtually unchanged since the frogmen and Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) of WWII. It’s a shared experience that binds the community across eight decades.
Evolution of the SEAL Teams
From the beaches of Normandy to the Global War on Terror’s (GWOT) most consequential missions.
1942
Scouts & Raiders, NCDUs
The first naval commandos clear the way for amphibious landings, from the Pacific to Normandy.
1943
The Crucible Begins
Fort Pierce, Florida forges the first naval demolitioneers, the origin of BUD/S and Hell Week.
1944
The Frogmen Era
UDTs pioneer combat swimming and demolition, from the Pacific through Korea.
1962
SEAL Teams ONE & TWO
President Kennedy commissions the first Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Teams.
1965
The Men with Green Faces
SEALs build a legend in Vietnam’s rivers and deltas, earning a reputation that endures today.
1987
WARCOM
Naval Special Warfare Command unites SEALs, SWCCs, and support under one command in Coronado.
2000
Navy SEAL Foundation
The NSF was founded in Virginia Beach to stand behind the community and its families.
2001
The Global War on Terror
NSW deploys to Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond with two decades of ongoing operations.
2011
Operation Neptune Spear
SEALs execute the raid that brings Osama bin Laden to justice.
TODAY
A Constant Global Presence
NSW stands ready in every theater, and the NSF continues to stand behind them.
The Challenge
The Challenge
America remains safe and secure thanks in large part to the NSW community. But this comes at a cost. SEALs and SWCCs can spend up to 270 days every year away from home and in harm’s way. They train relentlessly between deployments, pushing their bodies and minds past what most people will ever ask of themselves.
25K+
NSW community members, including families and veterans
270
Days per year operators can spend away from home
Over the course of a career, operators accumulate physical and mental wear and tear that can outlast their service, requiring special attention to heal. These stressors also place increased demands on spouses who hold down the home front. Children grow up in an environment where uncertainty is the norm and the possibility of losing a parent is real. And when the worst happens, the families of the fallen carry that loss long after the memorial.
25K+
NSW community members, including families and veterans
270
Days per year operators can spend away from home
Who We Are
Established in 2000, the NSF is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit that provides a comprehensive set of programs for SEALs, SWCCs, veterans, and their families under four Pillars of Support: Community, Health, Education, and Legacy. These complement government initiatives by addressing needs that fall outside the scope of the Department of Defense and the VA, filling gaps neither institution is designed or funded to cover.
We stand at the forefront of crucial care for the NSW community. Our offerings are continuously developed, evaluated, and refined to ensure we provide the most current and relevant ones possible. We are there to keep our warriors in the fight. We are there to help them shift to successful careers in the civilian sector. We are there to assist their families every step of the way. And under the tragic circumstances that they don’t come home, we are there to support those left behind as well.
How We Answer the Call
As of 2025, we've invested more than $220 million in programmatic support for the NSW community, families, and veterans through tailored programs under four Pillars of Support, a total that grows every year.
Community
Family & Command Support, Reconnects, Camps, Respite Childcare.
Health
Warrior Fitness Program, Wounded Ill & Injured, Brain & Mental Health, Crisis Assistance.
Education
Scholarships, Grants, Transition Assistance, Certificates & Licenses.
Legacy
Survivor Retreats, Financial Assistance, Resiliency Support, Heritage Preservation.
How We Measure Up
Like the community we serve, the NSF is a high-performing organization committed to excellence. Charity Navigator has awarded us a 4-star rating since 2009 and a perfect score of “100” since 2014 for our financial health, accountability, and transparency. We rank higher than 99.9% of charities nationwide. Ninety-four cents of every dollar donated funds current or future programs. View our financials and annual reports.
Charity Navigator 4-Star Charity Since 2009
Charity Navigator has given the Navy SEAL Foundation a perfect score since 2009, placing it higher than 99.9% of all rated charities nationwide.
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Guidestar Platinum
The Navy SEAL Foundation is a platinum-level GuideStar participant, demonstrating a strong commitment to transparency.
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Compliance Shield of Approval
The Navy SEAL Foundation is awarded the Compliance Shield of Approval, verifying compliance with state solicitation laws nationwide.
One of the nation's highest-rated charities
Ways to Listen
The Official NSF Podcast
On the X
Hosted by retired Navy SEAL and NSF VP of Communications Chris Irwin, On the X explores mental health, fitness, nutrition, performance, leadership, and other topics with the world’s leading experts.
Ways to Listen
Their mission never stops.
Neither does ours.
Your support keeps warriors in the fight, helps them come home, and ensures their families are never alone.
