irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $535KSupportive and Wellness Services: VOC offered a portfolio of no-cost services available to all veterans and immediate family members. Benefits counseling, temporary financial assistance, housing search, peer mentoring, financial counseling, budget workshops, and legal counseling are some of the services provided in 2024. VOC supported 29 veterans with their journey through Veterans Treatment Court, a program designed to support justice-involved veterans so that they may avoid incarceration, develop healthy networks, establish economic sufficiency, and lead successful lives. Continued on Schedule OSupportive and Wellness Services: (Continued) Additionally, through a partnership, VOC had 143 veterans participate in Lawyer for a Day, an opportunity hosted at VOC that utilizes volunteer lawyers who donate their time. This was utilized 163 times in 2024. A dedicated female veterans program served 196 individual veterans with services focused on the unique challenges they faced during military service. VOC conducts remote services using web-based technology and helped support 398 veterans across the country. We continue to provide hundreds of unlimited bus passes to veterans (free of charge) through our partnership with RTS in Monroe and the surrounding counties. Lastly, VOC staff safely conducted over 564 outreach activities to raise awareness of the services that local veterans have access to. This program is supported by Government grants. Grants received for this program in 2024 totaled $436,209.
- #2 $525KEmployment & Training: VOC's Employment Resource Center provides vocational counseling, skills assessment, occupational skills training, resume preparation and job search assistance. In 2024, VOC's professional team of Employment Specialists assisted in placing 202 veterans in jobs-156 in full-time positions (40 hours per week) and 46 in part-time positions (19 hours per week), with an overall average wage of $18.35/hour. VOC's Veterans Community Technology Center (VCTC) had 4225 visits. VOC provided or funded career-based training to 264 veterans and conducted 231 classes, offering professional development and training opportunities.Continued on Schedule OThis program is supported by Government grants. Grants received for this program in 2024 totaled $510,911.
named programs · 10 · from sources
What they call their work
Female Veterans Program
Offers trauma-informed services tailored to the unique challenges faced by female veterans, including economic stability and reintegration support.
Free Bus Pass Program
Partners with RTS to provide unlimited free bus passes to veterans in Monroe County and surrounding areas.
Liberty Landing
33-unit permanent affordable housing complex with veterans preference in Monroe County, managed by VOC.
Quartermaster
On-site hub providing free food, clothing, and hygiene supplies to veterans and their families at the Rochester location.
Residential Program
Operates 36 units of housing for homeless male veterans, including emergency/transitional housing at Richards House and supportive living at Otto House.
Supportive and Wellness Services
Provides no-cost services including benefits counseling, temporary financial assistance, housing search, peer mentoring, financial counseling, budget workshops, and legal counseling to veterans and their families.
Veterans Community Technology Center (VCTC)
Offers computer access, training classes, and professional development resources to veterans.
Veterans Treatment Court Support
Supports justice-involved veterans through the Veterans Treatment Court program to help them avoid incarceration and achieve economic stability.
Vets With Pets
Program supporting veterans and their pets, including events like tree-planting ceremonies for World Pet Memorial Day.
Workforce Development
Formerly Employment Resource Center; provides vocational counseling, skills assessment, resume preparation, job placement, and career advancement services for veterans.
activities · 16 groups
What they do
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Supportive and Emergency Housing Services 3 activities
- Emergency and transitional housing for male veteransProvides emergency shelter and transitional housing for male veterans experiencing homelessness through a 36-unit residential program, serving 74 veterans in 2020.
- Long-term supportive and permanent affordable housingProvides long-term supportive housing for veterans working toward independence, including Liberty Landing, a 33-unit permanent affordable housing complex with veteran preference in Monroe County, opened in 2020.
- Transitional housing for female veterans and their familiesProvides transitional housing and gender-specific supportive services for female veterans and their children who are experiencing homelessness, serving 196 female veterans in 2024.
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Comprehensive Care Management Services 2 activities
- Case management and care coordinationProvides personalized guidance, care management, and resource connection to help veterans access services and achieve goals, including specialized case management and peer support through the Female Veteran & Families Program in Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Livingston, Wayne, and Genesee Counties.
- Integrated on-site partner servicesHosts on-site partner organizations to deliver integrated services for veterans in a centralized location, improving access and coordination of care.
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Veteran Benefits and Reintegration Support 2 activities
- Outreach and awareness activitiesConducts outreach activities to inform local veterans about available services, carrying out over 564 outreach efforts in 2024.
- Remote supportive services for veteransDelivers remote supportive services to veterans nationwide using web-based technology, reaching 398 veterans in 2024.
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Healthcare Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocacy for non-opioid prescription policiesEngages in advocacy by traveling to Washington, D.C. to promote non-opioid prescription policies for veterans.
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Friendly Visiting & Social Companionship Programs 1 activity
- Buddy check programProvides buddy checks to support veteran well-being, delivering 608 such contacts in 2025.
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Member-Focused Fitness and Wellness Facilities 1 activity
- Fitness center access for veteransOperates a fitness center with free access to exercise equipment for veterans, serving nearly 700 veterans in 2022.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Free legal consultations for veteransProvides free monthly legal consultations through the "Lawyer for a Day" program in partnership with JustCause and the Monroe County Bar Association, hosting 163 events and serving 143 veterans in 2024.
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Community Health Fairs and Screenings 1 activity
- Health and wellness programsOffers health and wellness programs for veterans, with 3,907 recorded participations in 2025.
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Furniture and Household Essentials Provision 1 activity
- In-kind donation acceptanceAccepts in-kind donations of food, clothing, hygiene products, household items, pet care items, and gift cards to support veterans.
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Deployed Troop and Veteran Care Packages 1 activity
- Quartermaster program for essential suppliesOperates a free on-site hub in Rochester, NY, providing food, clothing, and hygiene items to veterans and their families through the Quartermaster program, with 3,824 distributions in 2022 and 6,653 uses in 2025.
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Transportation Access Support 1 activity
- Transportation assistance for veteransPartners with RTS to provide free bus passes to veterans, enabling access to job interviews, medical appointments, and other essential resources.
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Vehicle Donation Processing 1 activity
- Vehicle donation programAccepts vehicle donations including cars, trucks, boats, RVs, and snowmobiles through a partnership with Vehicles for Charity to support veteran services.
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Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Veterans Community Technology Center and career trainingOperates a Veterans Community Technology Center that hosted 4,225 visits in 2024 and delivered 231 career training classes to 264 veterans.
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Justice System Innovation & Inclusion Programs 1 activity
- Veterans Treatment Court programOperates a Veterans Treatment Court program that provides an alternative to incarceration for veterans facing non-violent criminal charges related to substance abuse or mental health, supporting 29 justice-involved veterans in 2024.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Volunteer engagementEngages volunteers to support programs and events through administrative assistance, facility maintenance, and community outreach.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Workforce development and employment placementOffers a comprehensive workforce development program that supports veterans at all career levels, placing 202 veterans in jobs in 2024 (156 full-time, 46 part-time) with an average wage of $18.35 per hour.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.57M
Contributions & grants$6.32M96%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$214K3%
Other revenue$32K
expenses
Total expenses$4.87M
Program expenses67%
Admin / overhead21%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$2.97M
Grants paid out$87K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$16.24M
Cash$274K
Investments$2.22M
Liabilities$3.44M
Net assets$12.80M
Liquid reserves6.2 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +35.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Heltz | Executive Director | 40 | $172K |
board members · 15
- Bernie Schroeder — Treasurer
- Don Reeve — Vice-Chairman
- Dr Peter Ziarnowski — Board Member
- Dylan Potter — Board Member
- Edward French — Board Member
- Ellen Adams — Board Chair
- Greg Schneider — Board Member
- Jessie Gregorio — Corporate Counsel
- Jim Magee — Board Member
- Joseph Catone — Secretary
- Joseph Robach — Board Member
- Marvin Patterson Jr — Board Member
- Matthew Legere — Board Member
- Sean McNamara — Board Member
- Yashira Rodriguez — Board Member
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Bob Woodruff Foundation Funder — Funds the Quartermaster program that provides food, clothing, and hygiene items to veterans.
- Chase Partner — Co-presented the Land Rover Defender Service Awards with Land Rover, supporting recognition and funding for nonprofit finalists including Veterans Outreach Center.
- Chase Partner — Co-presenting partner with Land Rover for the Defender Service Awards.
- Community Bank Partner — Presented the Six Strong Challenge, which VOC deployed to support veterans.
- Conifer Partner — Development partner for Liberty Landing, a 33-unit affordable housing complex with veteran preference; handles property management while VOC provides onsite program management.
- Gary B. Beikirch Residential Complex Partner — Shared residential facility housing Richards House and Otto’s Phoenix House programs.
- Jordan Health Foundation Partner — Laura Heltz serves on the board, indicating an organizational relationship through shared governance.
- JustCause Partner — Provides legal professionals for the monthly Lawyer for a Day program offering free civil legal consultations to veterans.
- Land Rover Partner — Selected Veterans Outreach Center as a finalist in the Defender Service Awards, offering a chance to win funding and a vehicle.
- Land Rover Partner — Selected Veterans Outreach Center as a finalist in the Defender Service Awards, offering potential funding and vehicle support.
- Monroe County Bar Association Partner — Collaborates through its Veterans Committee to provide legal professionals for the Lawyer for a Day program.
- Monroe County Clerk’s Office Partner — Partnering with Monroe County to support the relaunch of the veterans discount card program as the Return the F.A.V.O.R. program.
- Monroe County Veterans Service Agency Partner — Collaborating with Monroe County to relaunch the veterans discount card program as the Return the F.A.V.O.R. program.
- Monroe County Veterans Service Agency Partner — Laura Heltz served as director from 2012 to 2017, indicating a professional affiliation and collaboration with the agency.
- New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Partner — On-site partner providing no-cost benefits counseling and assistance with applications for state and federal veterans benefits.
- New York State Veterans Home at Batavia Government — Laura Heltz was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Board of Visitors, indicating an official affiliation with the state veterans home.
- RTS Partner — Partnership to provide free unlimited bus passes to veterans in Monroe and surrounding counties.
- RTS (Regional Transit Service) Partner — Partnership to provide free bus passes to veterans in need across multiple counties.
- RochesterWorks! Partner — On-site partner providing employment services including job search assistance, resume writing, and interview preparation for veterans.
- Vehicles for Charity Partner — Partner organization that facilitates vehicle donations for Veterans Outreach Center.
- Veterans Upward Bound Partner — On-site partner offering academic instruction, career counseling, and support for veterans pursuing postsecondary education or GED completion.
strategies · 5
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.
- Client-Choice Model for Dignity and Utilizationmethodology: client_choiceBy allowing veterans to select their own food, clothing, and hygiene items, we increase dignity and engagement, because autonomy in receiving support reduces stigma and ensures relevance to individual needs.
- Gender-Specific Programming for Female Veteransmethodology: gender-specific-supportBy providing gender-specific housing and support services, we address the distinct challenges faced by female veterans, because safe, tailored environments promote confidence, self-sufficiency, and higher engagement in care.
- Individualized Case Management for Long-Term Stabilitymethodology: individualized-case-managementBy tailoring support through personalized goal setting and coordinated referrals, we improve long-term outcomes, because veterans are more likely to achieve stability when services align with their unique life circumstances and aspirations.
- Peer Support Based on Shared Military Experiencemethodology: peer_supportBy connecting veterans with peers who have shared military backgrounds, we foster trust and accelerate reintegration, because lived experience creates credibility and reduces isolation more effectively than non-peer-led support.
- Trauma-Informed Care to Improve Engagementmethodology: trauma-informed_careBy recognizing how past trauma affects behavior, we create safer, more effective support environments that reduce re-traumatization and increase veteran engagement, because trust and psychological safety are foundational to service uptake.