Veterans Navigation Network

December 16, 2022

Helping Veterans Navigate

David Segall, a United States Marine Corps veteran, “found myself in a new city without any support network at all” when he moved to Billings just before COVID hit. Segall recalls Blake Fuhriman, chairman of Veterans Navigation Network, “helped me get a gym membership, housing, and food” by connecting him with Adaptive Performance Center, Veterans Meat Locker, and other nonprofits. “The VNN really saved me,” Segall says.

The transition from military to civilian life presents challenges. Though numerous veteran organizations offer assistance, it’s hard to know where to go for what. That’s where the Veterans Navigation Network comes in.

Mike McManus, program coordinator for the VNN, says, “Veterans can be reluctant to seek help. They may know they need it, but don’t know where to turn.” The nonprofit served close to 300 Billings area vets in 2022 and is expanding its peer mentoring program, which is currently staffed by nine volunteers. “A lot of great programs work specifically with vets,” McManus adds. “Our goal is to create awareness and to help connect vets to the right programs or just a person who will listen.”

Related item: Billings Gazette

Eligibility Criteria

Tax status: We only fund work done by organizations ruled to have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Geographic location: In most cases, our funding is limited to organizations in Montana. We will occasionally provide funding to organizations that operate nationally, when their work aligns with our focus areas and impacts the nation as a whole. We rarely fund work overseas unless we have a personal connection with the group doing the work.

Funding amounts: We do not generally fund projects where we are the sole providers of funding, nor do we like to account for more than 50% of the budget for a project (and in most cases, less). In addition, we prefer to start with smaller amounts for organizations that we have not worked with in the past.

Focus areas: We limit our funding to work that falls within one of our focus areas:

Jobs, Education, and Entrepreneurship

Valuing Families and the Vulnerable

Christian Outreach and Discipleship

Bozeman Arts and Culture

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