2022 ANNUAL REPORT SPIRIT OF AMERICA
1 | Spirit of America
THE PROMISE OF A FREE AND BETTER LIFE Spirit of America is the only nonprofit that unites citizens like you with our troops, diplomats, and global partners in common cause: defending freedom, helping people build better lives, and showing the world America at our best. We start by working with US troops and diplomats to identify places where America’s help is needed most. We deliver assistance and goodwill with our global network of partners. And it all happens with support from Americans like you. Together, we can stand against aggression, strengthen the frontlines of democracy, and promote America as a partner for a better future. United we can preserve the promise of a free and better life.
No endorsement of Spirit of America by the US Department of Defense, of State, or US personnel is intended or implied. 2Department | Spirit of America
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO
Dear Friends and Supporters, 2022 will be remembered at Spirit of America for our response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s war on Ukraine is the greatest threat to freedom and democracy since WWII. I am deeply grateful to the thousands of supporters whose generosity allowed us to respond quickly and on a massive scale. And, I am proud of our team springing into action to meet the moment. Colleen Denny, a Coast Guard veteran and our Europe Director, was on the ground near the Ukraine border a few days after the invasion. She was joined by Terrell Chandler, a Navy veteran and a director on our field team. They worked side by side with US troops to coordinate Spirit of America’s assistance for Ukrainian defenders. Throughout the year, Colleen and Matt Dimmick, an Army veteran and our Europe Program Manager, traveled multiple times to Ukraine and Eastern Europe, delivering lifesaving gear directly into the hands of Ukrainians and funding programs to improve their effectiveness and survivability on the front lines. Responding to the war in Ukraine was only one of the things our team did in 2022. We implemented 67 projects in 23 countries with the same speed, flexibility, and entrepreneurial problem-solving we demonstrated in helping Ukrainians on the front lines. That included supporting US missions in the Middle East, increasing resiliency in Taiwan by training citizens in crisis response skills, and continuing our commitment to Afghans who escaped the Taliban in 2021. Your generosity and investment in Spirit of America allows us to do this work and make this impact. Our unprecedented partnership with the US military enables US troops and diplomats to collaborate with our teams, receive our assistance, and help deliver vital aid and goodwill at scale. Thank you for joining us to demonstrate who Americans are and what we stand for. United we can preserve the promise of a free and better life.
Jim Hake Chief Executive Officer
RALUCA BUCUR
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IMPACT
TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION IN A GLOBAL CRISIS 2022 was defined by one crisis: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Understanding that a conflict could be imminent, Spirit of America Europe Director Colleen Denny increased communication with US military and US Embassy Kyiv personnel in the months before the war began. We had supported Ukraine’s independence and security since 2015 and were ready to step up again.
“ Spirit of America is doing the most humanitarian thing possible in Ukraine: helping to stop the suffering at its source.”
Within five days of the invasion, Spirit of America was on the ground in Poland, near the Ukraine border. Colleen and her team worked closely with our US partners to understand the most important needs inside Ukraine and provide assistance in real time. Within a month, a Boeing 777 loaded with over 60 tons of Spirit of — LT. GENERAL BEN HODGES, US ARMY, RETIRED America-provided lifesaving assistance landed in Europe; the very next day part of that aid was in the hands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers on the front lines. By June we had delivered over 165 tons of assistance, and by the year’s end it was over 200 tons. Spirit of America’s efforts in Ukraine were featured on CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell and the New York Times, among other outlets, bringing in new supporters who wanted to help Ukrainians defend their freedom. Our unprecedented partnership with the US military allowed our international operations team to spring into action even before the crisis erupted. We did all this without interrupting our important work in other places such as Taiwan, Mozambique, and Syria.
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2022 HIGHLIGHTS
67
PROJECTS
23
COUNTRIES
163,286
TOTAL IMPACTED US AND PARTNER FORCES 129% INCREASE FROM 2021
17,019,607 TOTAL IMPACTED LOCAL CIVILIANS 294% INCREASE FROM 2021
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AREAS OF IMPACT “ Everywhere our troops and diplomats need help, Spirit of America is there making a difference — a difference that shows America at our best, a force for good.” — GENERAL JOSEPH F. DUNFORD JR., US MARINE CORPS, RETIRED
EUROPE
Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Moldova Poland Serbia Ukraine
LATIN AMERICA
Barbados Panama
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MIDDLE EAST & CENTRAL ASIA
Iraq Kazakhstan Lebanon Qatar Syria Tajikistan
ASIA PACIFIC
Burma Mongolia Philippines Samoa Taiwan
AFRICA
Comoros Kenya Mozambique Niger
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FEATURED PROJECTS
DEFENDING FREEDOM AND SAVING LIVES IN UKRAINE Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Spirit of America has delivered tens of millions of dollars in nonlethal assistance to Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers on the front lines.
“ Godspeed with all that you are doing for the people of Ukraine! You are a constant reminder of all that is good in the world and its ultimate triumph over evil.” — BILL S., MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA
Our past work in Ukraine gave us strong and trusted relationships with Ukrainians and US military and State Department personnel. These relationships made it possible to quickly understand and meet needs when the war began. And our partnership with the US military gave us unprecedented speed and scale. Our donated aid was often in the hands of Ukrainians on the front lines in less than 36 hours from when it hit the ground in Poland.
Spirit of America CEO Jim Hake and Europe Director Colleen Denny meet with Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces leadership, including Chief of Staff Brigadier General Serheii Sobko, far right
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Working closely with our US and Ukrainian military partners, we provided more than 200 tons of aid in 2022, including: › 18,594 ballistic helmets and bulletproof vests › 21,015 first aid kits and advanced trauma kits › 21,620 tourniquets › 33,000 ready-to-eat meals › 100 satellite phones and other communications gear › 100 surveillance drones › Winter clothing › 32 4x4 pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs › 9 50-passenger buses › Funding for the repair of military trucks › Seed funding for a training course for civilian
volunteers in the Territorial Defense Forces › Support for over 1,000 refugees in Poland, including families of Ukrainian soldiers The Territorial Defense Forces (TDF) Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Sobko, told us that our initial sets of body armor and helmets played a direct role in the ability of Ukrainian troops to hold ground and blunt the advance of Russia’s early offensives. Annual Report 2022 | 7
» Filling mission-critical gaps as frontline needs shift During the counteroffensive campaigns at the end of the year, we shifted resources toward equipment that would enhance Ukrainian forces’ speed and maneuverability. We provided binoculars, personal tactical equipment, and ruggedly mobile pickup trucks to all the operational detachments directly responsible for pushing Russians back in key sectors from Kharkiv to Kherson.
“ Every day I think of the freedoms I am so fortunate to have in America. The people of Ukraine deserve no less.”
We also partnered with the TDF to provide critical startup funding for their captain’s training course and a groundbreaking project to rapidly repair and deploy military grade trucks that were languishing in motor pools throughout the country.
— LORI B., BEAUMONT, TEXAS
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» Beyond military assistance 98% of our assistance supported Ukraine’s military. However, we provided targeted humanitarian support when it could have an off-scale impact, such as sprinter vans for humanitarian organizations along with body armor and helmets to protect the drivers. Those vehicles evacuated injured and vulnerable civilians, and one supporting the devastated city of Kharkiv distributed food to over 15,000 residents each week.
“ Hope for democracy still lives, thanks to the courage, sacrifice, and leadership of the Ukrainian people. Slava Ukraini!” — CARL T., MCLEAN, VIRGINIA
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HELPING TAIWAN PROTECT ITS DEMOCRACY To stand with a free Taiwan and help the Taiwanese people protect themselves and their communities from a crisis, natural or man-made, Spirit of America partnered with Taiwanese partners and civil society to increase their resiliency. We started building a network of citizens that are trained and equipped to respond to a disaster or emergency. We also helped local civil society organizations expand their training programs, and we worked with the National Fire Agency to pilot country-wide civilian response teams.
CONTINUING OUR COMMITMENT TO AFGHAN REFUGEES When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021, Spirit of America worked with the US military to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to over 30,000 Afghans being evacuated by the United States. In Albania, we supported the daily needs of 121 Afghans for seven months as they navigated the complex resettlement process — providing everything from their room and board, to clothing and diapers, to education and healthcare. On March 22, 2022, their long wait was finally over. Spirit of America helped welcome the Afghan evacuees to their new home in America. 10 | Spirit of America
HELPING US TROOPS SUPPORT WOMEN’S HEALTH IN SYRIA In rural northeast Syria, women’s hygiene products can cost up to 20% of the average monthly household income. Working with US Special Operations soldiers, Spirit of America provided 200 women in the Deir ez-Zor region with a six-month supply of feminine hygiene products and prenatal vitamins to help them take control of their health and well-being.
BUILDING STABILITY AND HOPE IN MOZAMBIQUE In northern Mozambique, 800,000 people were displaced from their homes due to attacks by an Islamic State insurgent group. Working with the US Embassy, Spirit of America provided jobs to rebuild two schools in Palma serving 450 primary and secondary school students, as well as civic buildings in Mocimboa Da Praia so basic community services could be restored. Our work made the villages there a better, safer place to live, and the progress is helping to prevent a resurgence of the terrorist group.
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GOVERNANCE
Board of Directors Chairman of the Board Bob Oster Former CFO, Oracle Corp. Independent Board Member Since 2017 Michael Bigham Executive Chairman, Paratek Pharmaceuticals Independent Board Member Since 2014
Natalie Cryer Vice President, The Cambria Group Independent Board Member Since 2019
Fred Khosravi Chairman and CEO, Imperative Care Inc. Independent Board Member Since 2017
Jim Hake CEO, Spirit of America Board Member Since 2004
John Phelan Founder and Chairman, Rugger Management LLC Independent Board Member Since 2018
Board of Advisors Amb. Rick Barton Department of State, Retired
Dr. Edwin Feulner Founder, Heritage Foundation
John Bellinger Partner, Arnold & Porter
Michèle Flournoy Former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
Colonel Stu Bradin US Army, Retired CEO, Global SOF Foundation General Phil Breedlove US Air Force, Retired Dr. James Jay Carafano Vice President, The Heritage Foundation
Richard Fontaine CEO, Center for a New American Security Major General J. Marcus Hicks US Air Force, Retired Lt. General Ben Hodges US Army, Retired
General Richard Clarke US Army, Retired
Amb. Greta C. Holtz Department of State, Retired
Lt. General Charles Cleveland US Army, Retired
Hon. Jeh Johnson Former US Secretary of Homeland Security
Amb. Ryan Crocker Department of State, Retired Amb. Kelley Currie Former US Ambassadorat-Large for Global Women’s Issues
General James Jones US Marine Corps, Retired Dr. Kimberly Kagan President, Institute for the Study of War
David Davenport Research Fellow Emeritus, Hoover Institution
Dr. David Kilcullen Professor of Practice, Arizona State University
General Joseph F. Dunford Jr. US Marine Corps, Retired
Lt. General Dan “Fig” Leaf US Air Force, Retired Managing Director, Phase Minus 1
Admiral James O. Ellis Jr. US Navy, Retired Hon. Joseph Felter Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia
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Major General Jim Linder US Army, Retired Hon. James Locher III Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations
Clare Lockhart Co-Founder and Director, Institute for State Effectiveness
Linda Robinson Senior International Policy Analyst, Rand Corporation
Lt. Colonel Scott Mann US Army, Retired
Admiral Gary Roughead US Navy, Retired
Hon. James N. Mattis Former US Secretary of Defense US Marine Corps, Retired
Daniel F. Runde Senior Vice President, CSIS
Colonel David Maxwell US Army, Retired General Stanley McChrystal US Army, Retired CEO, McChrystal Group
General Curtis Scaparrotti US Army, Retired Dr. Nadia Schadlow Former Deputy National Security Advisor
Ambassador Michael McFaul Department of State, Retired
Dr. Kori Schake Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute
Lt. General H.R. McMaster US Army, Retired
Admiral Scott Swift US Navy, Retired
Nicco Mele Venture Partner, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Amb. William B. Taylor Department of State, Retired Vice President, US Institute of Peace
General T. Michael Moseley US Air Force, Retired Amb. Ronald E. Neumann President, American Academy of Diplomacy Lt. General Lawrence Nicholson US Marine Corps, Retired Admiral Eric Olson US Navy, Retired General Jay Paxton US Marine Corps, Retired
Admiral Kurt Tidd US Navy, Retired Matt Turpin US Army, Retired General Joseph L. Votel US Army, Retired
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Spirit of America is a privately funded 501c3 nonprofit organization. We are supported entirely by private contributions from citizens, foundations, and businesses. We do not accept government funding. For 2022, total net assets were $25,146,452. Total liabilities and net assets were $25,653,858.
2022 Revenue n Contributions $45,721,501 n Donated Goods & Services $4,694,781 n Investment Income $10,943 Total
91% 9% 0%
$50,427,225
100%
n Program Services n Fundraising n Management & General
$30,368,459 $5,312,302 $888,827
83% 15% 2%
Total
$36,569,588
100%
2022 Expenses
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3033 Wilson Blvd., Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22201 +1.571.970.1370 spiritofamerica.org SpiritAmerica No endorsement of Spirit of America by the US Department of Defense, Department of State, or US personnel is intended or implied.
Tax ID 20-1687786 | CFC #52009