OFFER INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES
Veterans service organizations (VSOs) seeking to stand out in a crowded field should always attempt to offer individualized services to their Veteran constituents, ranging from local community programs all the way up to the national level.
After leaving military service, many Veterans interact with a wide variety of organizations, agencies, and points of contact. They can often feel like just a number. By working one on one with the Veterans you serve, will have a more meaningful impact. Some areas where Veterans might benefit from post-transition support include:
- Disability claims
- Education benefits
- Healthcare support
- Financial assistance
- Employment services
- Housing services
- Entrepreneurial support
- Mentorship
CREATE A NETWORK FOR THE VETERANS YOU WORK WITH
While they’re in the military, Veterans form strong bonds with their “battle buddies” — coming to rely on them not only during combat, but also in their day-to-day lives as friends. Your VSO can make a greater impact in your community by creating a relevant, engaging forum for Veterans to re-create those bonds — whether it be at local events, through a Facebook Group, or as a LinkedIn networking group. These opportunities for Veterans to interact with each other let them build deep connections as they transition into their post-civilian lives.
PROVIDE MEANINGFUL RESOURCES
The most successful VSOs provide a variety of benefits to not only their Veteran members, but also to their communities at large, the broader military and Veteran population, and military supporters. By ensuring that your VSO publishes only meaningful, relevant content online for your Veterans, for example, you can become a “go-to” resource within your service category. For VSOs with in-person programs and services, make sure you are using proper vetting and testing before creating them — and capturing feedback from beneficiaries afterward — to deliver a bigger impact.
PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
With the saturation of VSOs in the U.S. today, collaboration with others working in a similar space is critical. Rather than fuel competition, collaborating with these organizations lets you pool your resources and make a greater impact for Veterans.
Together, your VSOs can co-host events, co-sponsor webinars, or provide co-branded brochures and informational packets for Veterans. Partnerships embody the ethos of “service over self” that Veterans value highly, demonstrating to your target audience that you are working with other VSOs toward a common good.