About Us
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s millions of military and veteran caregivers—the spouses, parents, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured veterans.
Mission
Strengthen, empower, and support
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for military and veteran caregivers, empower them with valuable resources, and amplify their voices on a national scale.
From providing access to essential resources and support networks to advocating for policy changes that benefit caregivers, we work tirelessly to address the unique challenges faced by military and veteran caregivers. Through our initiatives such as the Dole Caregiver Fellowship program and the Hidden Heroes Campaign, we raise awareness, drive action, and foster a community of support for caregivers across the country.
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Vision
Value and respect the sacrifices
We envision a nation that values and respects the sacrifices made by military and veteran caregivers and their families, honoring the vital role they play by providing meaningful recognition, unwavering support, and a steadfast commitment to their overall well-being.
2.3m
Military and veteran caregiver children
14.3m
Military and veteran caregivers who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured veterans or service members.
290
Dole Caregiver Fellows who represent all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
Who We Are
A dedicated team
There are countless dedicated individuals, corporations, and organizations behind the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's mission to support military and veteran caregivers and their families.
Our History
Since its founding in 2012, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation has achieved an impressive list of accomplishments.
Winter 2011
Senator Dole meets with military and veteran families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and learns about the military caregiving crisis.
September to October 2012
Senator Dole commissions the RAND Corporation to conduct an evidence-based needs assessment of caregivers
October 2012
The Foundation launches its Innovation Grants Program (now named the Hidden Heroes Fund)
Fall 2013
A newly expanded 50 state Dole Caregiver Fellows program is announced
Winter 2013 to 2014
The Foundation begins discussions with select coalition members to organize collaborative partnerships to address gaps in coverage identified by the RAND research
April 1, 2014
The Foundation-sponsored RAND report is released in a press briefing at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, followed by a RAND briefing for potential coalition members
April 9, 2014
The Foundation organizes annual Storming of the Hill. Dole Caregiver Fellows meet with more than 100 congressional representatives culminating in Senator Patty Murray’s introduction of the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act
April 10, 2014
Senator Elizabeth Dole and Dole Caregiver Fellows join First Lady Michelle Obama, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, and Dr. Jill Biden at the White House to announce a series of major Foundation-facilitated commitments from a new National Coalition of Partners to address gaps in services and support for military caregivers
July 29, 2014
In partnership with the Foundation, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator John McCain, Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Jeff Miller launch the Hidden Heroes Congressional Caucus
February 11-12, 2015
The Foundation hosts the Hidden Heroes Impact Forum, launching seven Impact Councils addressing areas the RAND report identified as critical: Interfaith Action and Ministry, Community Support at Home, Education and Training, Employment and Workplace Support, Financial and Legal Issues, Mental and Physical Health, and Respite Care
April 22, 2015
Senator Patty Murray reintroduces the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act with the bi-partisan, bi-cameral support of Senator Susan Collins and Representative Jim Langevin
May 19, 2015
American Airlines provides three million miles, and Hilton Hotels provides accommodations for more than 70 Dole Caregivers Fellows’ travel to Washington, DC. Fellows attend a welcome a reception with Donald Trump, co-hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative
May 20, 2015
The Foundation fulfills its promise to account for the National Coalition’s progress at the Hidden Heroes Coalition Summit, featuring First Lady Michelle Obama and VA Secretary Robert McDonald
May 21, 2015
The roles of the public sector and faith communities are recognized at the Foundation’s Focus on Faith prayer reception with special guest Pastor Joel Osteen and the four co-chairs of the Hidden Heroes Congressional Caucus
May 23, 2016
The House passes the Support Our Military Caregivers Act, introduced by Representative Elise Stefanik, as a result of her work with the Dole Caregiver Fellows
September 27, 2016
Campaign Chairman Tom Hanks joins Senator Dole, Dole Caregiver Fellows, and Coalition Partners to launch the Hidden Heroes campaign and unveil HiddenHeroes.org, a first-of-its-kind online destination to address the specific needs of military caregivers
September 28, 2016
The Foundation partners with the VA and Mayo Clinic to hold its first annual conference, Empowering Hidden Heroes: Pathways to InnoVAtion
November 7, 2016
In an ongoing commitment to award grants to non-profit organizations that serve military caregivers, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation announces the creation of the Hidden Heroes Fund. This fund is dedicated to supporting innovative programs that make a direct impact on the lives of America’s military and veteran caregivers.
March 9, 2017
Senator Patty Murray, Senator Susan Collins, and Representative Jim Langevin reintroduce The Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act.
June 19, 2017
Senator Elizabeth Dole, actor Ryan Phillippe, and military caregivers convene at the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging’s hearing to testify on behalf of our nation’s military and veteran caregivers and highlight the importance of the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act.
August 21, 2017
Senator Dole is awarded the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) prestigious Special Recognition Award, recognizing her unrivaled service and commitment to our military caregivers, their well-being, their empowerment and their critical importance to the health and success of our wounded veterans and military service members.
December 12, 2017
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation celebrates the passage of the fiscal 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes a critical provision in support of military and veteran caregivers. The Foundation recognizes the contributions of Amber Oldfield, Dole Caregiver Fellow from South Dakota as the inspiration for this provision.
January 22, 2018
The Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act is signed into law. The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and 60 other organizations fought for two years for the passage of the legislation, which marks a significant milestone in support of America’s 40 million family caregivers, including our nation’s 5.5 million military caregivers —the spouses, parents, loved ones, and friends caring for wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans at home.
February 6, 2018
Elizabeth Dole Foundation CEO Steve Schwab testifies before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs on the role of military caregivers, and their experiences with the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), a critical program that provides stipends for caregivers.
March 2018
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, in partnership with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and with support from USAA, launches the Campaign for Inclusive Care aimed to shift the culture of care at VA to be fully inclusive of military and veteran caregivers from day one of the veteran’s care journey.
May 1, 2018
Senator Elizabeth Dole and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Philips, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, join forces with Congressman Joe Kennedy III, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, and others to recognize the community’s military and veteran caregivers and celebrate Boston’s commitment to caregivers as a Hidden Heroes City.
June 6, 2018
The VA Mission Act is signed into law. Senator Elizabeth Dole and the Foundation’s Executive Director, Steve Schwab, stood with President Donald Trump as he signed the bill into law, fulfilling a long-held Foundation goal to reform how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs serves our veterans and their caregivers.
September 7, 2018
The Department of Veterans Affairs funds the Elizabeth Dole Center of Excellence, with the aim of expanding the capacity of the VA to deliver innovative, data-driven, and integrated approaches to improve services for veterans and their caregivers.
October 8, 2019
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Booz Allen Hamilton team up to create the Community Caregiver Map, a transformative, first-of-its-kind data tool that assists American communities to identify previously unseen and underserved military caregivers and find solutions to their top needs.
January 2020
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, in partnership with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and with support from USAA, launches the Academy for Inclusive Care as part of the Campaign for Inclusive Care to train VA providers and staff on the critical role of caregivers on veteran care teams. The training was piloted in VISNS 10, 17, and 20.
October 2020
After a successful pilot program, VA announced the expansion of the Campaign for Inclusive Care VA-wide.
April 29, 2021
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation announces the launch of Hidden Helpers, a new initiative designed to create supportive programming for the children of America’s 5.5 million military caregivers. The Foundation teamed with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) and the Biden Administration’s Joining Forces program to build the Hidden Helpers Coalition, which calls on partners to pledge to take action that fills the gaps in support and services for military caregiver kids and youth.
July 22, 2021
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation announces a new partnership with DoorDash to provide $25,000 in meal assistance to military caregiver families in moments of crisis.
October 12, 2021
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation launches I Am A Caregiver, a state-by-state campaign that shines a light on military and veteran caregivers by encouraging individuals, some of whom might not know they are a caregiver, to self-identify and be recognized as part of the I Am A Caregiver initiative.
November 10, 2021
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Denis McDonough, and Senator Elizabeth Dole announce the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative will join the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) in responding to a concerning new study revealing serious concerns for the 2.3 million children of military and veteran caregivers.
February 16, 2022
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, in partnership with Cerner Corporation, announces the launch of the Inclusive Care Clinical Council, a group of healthcare experts, leaders and stakeholders who will assess the impact of the Foundation’s Inclusive Care efforts and guide how it can be expanded to healthcare systems.
March 17, 2022
Representatives Julia Brownley and Jack Bergman and Senators Jerry Moran and Maggie Hassan introduce The Elizabeth Dole Act to Congress, which reinvests in caregiver support at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, establishes a user-friendly resource center, and expands VA Home-Based Community Services nationwide.
April 4, 2022
With generous support from the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation launches The Hope Fund for Critical Financial Assistance to offer immediate financial aid to vulnerable military caregivers.
November 18, 2022
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation (EDF) and Ohio-based incontinence product manufacturer Principle Business Enterprises, Inc. (PBE) exceeded their joint goal for a year-long fundraising drive, with contributions totaling $295,000 to provide essential relief to America’s military and veteran caregivers.
December 16, 2022
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation partners with Unite Us, the nation’s leading technology company connecting health and social care, to expand its coordinated care network. Together, Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Unite Us aim to increase access to resources that will address the unmet needs of military and veteran caregivers throughout the country.
May 11, 2023
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation, in partnership with Philips and with support from Wounded Warrior Project, launches the Caregiver Mental Wellness Framework at the Annual Convening.
June 14, 2023
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Lasagna Love launch a pilot program to assist military families facing food insecurity in 14 regions across the United States.
March 6, 2024
Senator Elizabeth Dole testifies at the Joint House and Senate Veteran Services Organization Hearing to speak to the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act which is part of the VA Omnibus package currently being negotiated between the U.S. House and Senate.
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Winter 2011
February 2012
September to October 2012
October 2012
March 2013
Fall 2013
Winter 2013 to 2014
April 1, 2014
April 9, 2014
April 10, 2014
July 29, 2014
February 11-12, 2015
April 22, 2015
May 19, 2015
May 20, 2015
May 21, 2015
May 23, 2016
September 27, 2016
September 28, 2016
November 7, 2016
March 9, 2017
June 19, 2017
August 21, 2017
December 12, 2017
January 22, 2018
February 6, 2018
March 2018
May 1, 2018
June 6, 2018
September 7, 2018
October 8, 2019
January 2020
October 2020
April 29, 2021
July 22, 2021
October 12, 2021
November 10, 2021
February 16, 2022
March 17, 2022
April 4, 2022
November 18, 2022
December 16, 2022
May 11, 2023
June 14, 2023
March 6, 2024
March 7, 2024