Veterans Program

Our Program Mission

Make Illinois the best state for veterans and military families to thrive. 

Our Approach

More than 2.4 million men and women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan where they fought in some of the world's most dangerous conditions. These new veterans coupled with the larger veteran population represents 7% of the total population of the U.S. While veterans' needs are multifaceted and complex, our nation's support should be built upon the belief that veterans represent a unique demographic that can be utilized for local and national success.

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation recognizes that as a country we need to respond and provide support to veterans and their families. We do this to honor their service and sacrifices, and to enable them to make a successful transition back into their communities and former lives. Today, veterans are faced with a new set of challenges making reintegration seem impossible.

Our investments focus both on organizations that are providing direct services to our veterans and families, as well as organizations that are innovatively building systems and strengthening networks to help veterans succeed. The true sign of success for all veterans is their ability to contribute to and be viewed as assets in our communities.

Our Goals

To help veterans identify their full potential, the Veterans Program focuses on three key areas:

• Invest in employment programs which focus on creating pipelines into careers while integrating supportive services that mitigate barriers to employment faced by veterans
• Identify and invest in behavioral health programs that address gaps in services that limit a veteran's ability to successfully reintegrate
• Facilitate the collaboration and coordination of services so that veterans are able to navigate existing resources successfully