A Veteran PTSD Program Built for Foundation Grant Review
A veteran PTSD program foundation grant to WarriorWOD funds work your committee can check line by line. Outcomes are scored monthly on validated instruments, the cost is itemized at $1,500 per veteran, and the College of Charleston evaluated the results independently. Everything a program officer needs is on this page.
The Population and the Gap
18.2M US military veterans nationwide. The 2023 veteran suicide rate of 35.2 per 100,000 is 93.4% higher than the non-veteran adult rate of 18.2 per 100,000. Veterans are nearly twice as likely as their civilian peers to die by suicide.
PTSD, suicidal ideation, and substance misuse tend to arrive together. Even so, most community programs for veterans are short-term, address one of the three, and do not measure outcomes month to month.
WarriorWOD was built to close that gap. Veterans train, eat, and recover alongside a peer mentor for 26 weeks, and every one of them is scored on the PCL-5 and C-SSRS every month.
How a Veteran PTSD Program Foundation Grant Produces Outcomes
Independent Evaluation First, Program Data Second
The College of Charleston study was funded separately and was not subject to WarriorWOD review before release. It is pending peer review.
An independent evaluation by the College of Charleston (Dr. Katie Trejo Tello, Ph.D., grant SCTR CES-P UM1TR005294) found a statistically significant 14.42-point reduction in PCL-5 PTSD scores among WarriorWOD program completers (pre: 43.37, post: 28.95; p<.001, Cohen's d=1.33, n=21 matched pairs). Post-program scores fell below the 31-33 clinical threshold for probable PTSD.
Among 265 US military veterans who completed WarriorWOD's six-month recovery program, overall PTSD symptom severity declined 38.25% across all four DSM-5 clusters:
Veteran PTSD Program Foundation Grant Budget: $1,500 per Veteran
The program costs $1,500 per veteran for the full six-month recovery, covered entirely by donors. Veterans pay nothing. Grant budgets scale by cohort, so a $45,000 award funds 30 complete recoveries.
We Measure Every Month
WarriorWOD measures PTSD outcomes using the PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) and C-SSRS (Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale), both validated instruments used by the VA and DoD, administered at intake and every month throughout the six-month program.
As a result, grantees receive a continuous clinical record for each cohort rather than a single before-and-after snapshot. Veterans flagged on the C-SSRS are escalated to licensed clinical care.
Documents for Your Grants Committee
IRS determination letter
Provided on request during your funder call.
Cohort outcome data
De-identified PCL-5 and C-SSRS results by Warrior Class, on request.
Leadership and board
Founder Phil Palmer is a Marine combat veteran, and Purple Heart recipient
WarriorWOD Foundation leadershipVeteran PTSD Program Foundation Grant FAQ
What evidence supports WarriorWOD's veteran PTSD program?
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An independent College of Charleston evaluation led by Dr. Katie Trejo Tello, Ph.D. (grant SCTR CES-P UM1TR005294) found a 14.42-point PCL-5 reduction (pre 43.37, post 28.95; p<.001, Cohen's d=1.33, n=21 matched pairs). The study is pending peer review and was not subject to WarriorWOD review before release.
How does WarriorWOD measure outcomes for grant reporting?
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WarriorWOD administers the PCL-5 and C-SSRS at intake and every month for all 26 weeks of the program. Grantees receive cohort results drawn from that continuous record.
What does a foundation grant to WarriorWOD fund?
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Grants fund complete six-month recoveries at $1,500 per veteran: nutrition coaching ($600), a Preferred Partner Gym membership ($575+), training programming ($125), InBody assessments ($100), program support ($75), and Battle Buddy mentorship ($25).
How can we request outcome data before applying?
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Schedule a funder call with Phil Palmer. WarriorWOD shares de-identified PCL-5 and C-SSRS results by Warrior Class on request.
Is WarriorWOD Foundation a registered 501(c)(3)?
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Yes. WarriorWOD Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 87-1065126, founded in June 2021 in Charleston, South Carolina. Form 990 filings are public on ProPublica, and the IRS determination letter is available on request.
Who does the veteran PTSD program serve?
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WarriorWOD serves US military veterans with PTSD, suicidal ideation, or substance misuse. The program has 265 completers across 12 Warrior Classes in 38+ states.
Talk to Phil Before You Write the RFP Response
Bring your funding priorities. We'll bring cohort data, a budget sized to your award, and an evaluation plan.
Schedule a Funder Call