named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Battle Buds
Leadership and wellness community where veterans, military families, and civilians grow food for people facing food insecurity through gardening initiatives
Patriot Fellowship
Mentorship program pairing high school students with post-9/11 veteran mentors, featuring biweekly sessions in yoga, social entrepreneurship, and community-building over six months
SpouseConnect
Entrepreneurship and wellness program for military spouse small business owners, providing $500 microgrants, six months of yoga, and personal development training
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Art exhibitions and veteran-focused outreachCreates and exhibits watercolor artworks of aircraft, including participation in public exhibitions and planned collaborative events, to raise awareness and support for veterans and military causes.
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Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
- Battle Buds food-growing program for veterans and civiliansOperates a leadership and wellness initiative that engages veterans and civilians in growing food for people experiencing food insecurity, with harvested produce donated to those in need.
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Charity Event Organization 1 activity
- Community athletic fundraising eventsOrganizes athletic fundraisers—such as tennis tournaments and beach volleyball events—co-led by veteran mentors and youth participants, raising funds for veteran support causes including the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and core organizational programs.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Corporate and community engagement for veteran supportOrganizes employee volunteer opportunities and donor engagement activities—including holiday care package drives and donor letters—for partner organizations to support rehabilitating service members and strengthen veteran-civilian connections.
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Youth One-on-One Mentoring 1 activity
- Patriot Fellowship Program for high school studentsRuns a six-month fellowship program that pairs high school students with post-9/11 veteran mentors to co-develop and lead community athletic fundraisers, teaching social entrepreneurship, teamwork, and philanthropy. The program includes biweekly yoga and training in leadership and personal development.
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Women Entrepreneurs Grant Programs 1 activity
- SpouseConnect microgrant and entrepreneurship programProvides $500 microgrants via Zelle to military spouse entrepreneurs, accompanied by four to six months of programming in wellness, connectedness, and business development, including virtual yoga, networking, coaching, guest speaker sessions, and application support for external programs.
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Trauma-Informed Yoga and Mindfulness Programs 1 activity
- Wellness and connection programming for veterans and military familiesProvides quarterly and monthly virtual wellness sessions—including yoga, book clubs, and chess activities—facilitated by veterans to promote brain health, personal development, and connection among veterans, military spouses, and civilian professionals.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$134K
Contributions & grants$132K99%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue$592
expenses
Total expenses$52K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$6K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$161K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$127K
4 years on record · 2022–2025 · YoY revenue +226.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL SCHUMER | PRESIDENT AND CHIEF PROGRA | 20 | $6K |
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- Board of Ambassadors Partner — Volunteer society of young professionals supporting veteran programs through engagement, networking, and fundraising.
- Bunker Labs Partner — Collaborated through leadership involvement in the Veteran Career Advocacy Program, supporting veteran entrepreneurship and job training in Chicago.
- Civilian Young Professional Ambassadors Partner — Collaborates with civilian young professional Ambassadors on a monthly Speaker Series.
- David Axelrod’s Institute of Politics Partner — Provided funding and institutional support for launching Points for Patriots at the University of Chicago.
- Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Partner — Receives additional proceeds from Patriot Fellowship fundraisers for post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.
- Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Partner — Recipient of funds raised through early Points for Patriots tennis tournaments to support rehabilitation centers for military personnel with mental health wounds.
- Kelly-McKenna Gallery Partner — Patriotic partner supporting Points for Patriots programming and community engagement efforts.
- Lee Hightower III Partner — Gardening expert and former NFL player who leads gardening curriculum for Battle Buds.
- Lincoln Dynamic Foundation Partner — Collaborates with Points for Patriots to support veterans through gardening and yoga programs in Las Vegas.
- Lincoln Dynamic Foundation Partner — Patriotic partner supporting Points for Patriots programming and community engagement efforts.
- LinkedIn Partner — Platform used for team member professional profiles linked from the website.
- M Science Partner — Patriotic partner supporting Points for Patriots programming and community engagement efforts.
- MScience Partner — Partner organization supporting the programs of Points for Patriots.
- Mike's Pressure Washing LLC Partner — Patriotic partner supporting Points for Patriots programming and community engagement efforts.
- Premier Consulting Partners Partner — Patriotic partner supporting Points for Patriots programming and community engagement efforts.
- Spouse-ly Partner — Platform partner for helping military spouse entrepreneurs sell goods and grow businesses.
- University of Chicago Partner — Host institution where Points for Patriots expanded through student-led athletic fundraisers and veteran support programming under the Maroon Veterans Alliance.
- White House Government — Hosted Points for Patriots founder as an intern on the Joining Forces initiative, influencing the organization’s focus on public-private partnerships to support veterans.
- Yonkers Public Library Partner — Hosted an art exhibition by Bill Melvin.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Empowerment of Military Spouses Through Lived Experience and Integrated Supportmethodology: lived_experience_empowermentBy designing programs grounded in the lived experience of military spouses and combining microgrants with wellness and professional development, we increase resilience and entrepreneurial success, because financial support alone is insufficient without sustained personal and community-based development.
- Integrated Wellness and Social Entrepreneurship Modelmethodology: integrated_wellness_modelBy combining wellness practices (yoga, gardening, literature, chess) with social entrepreneurship and leadership training, we promote resilience and reintegration among veterans and military families, because sustained personal development within a supportive community produces lasting engagement and impact.
- Military-Civilian Bridge Building Through Shared Experiencesmethodology: military_civilian_integrationBy creating structured shared experiences—such as gardening, chess, literature, and athletic fundraising—we heal the invisible wounds of war and reduce isolation, because meaningful connection across divides restores purpose and belonging.
- Veteran-Led Mentorship for Youth and Community Integrationmethodology: veteran_youth_mentorshipBy engaging veterans as mentors in youth-led initiatives, we build leadership skills in young people and bridge the military-civilian divide, because shared purpose and relational trust foster mutual respect and healing on both sides.