Research & Publications
From the beginning, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation has been rooted in evidence-based research which has informed the creation of our Strategic Plan.
In 2012, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation commissioned RAND to develop the first comprehensive, evidence-based national study of military and veteran caregivers.
When Senator Bob Dole was recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2010 and 2011, Senator Elizabeth Dole experienced firsthand the tremendous challenges facing the loved ones caring for our service members and veterans.
In response, she established the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and began working with RAND to examine the needs of military and veteran caregivers, as well as gaps in services and recommendations for filling those gaps.
RAND Report
2025 Annual Impact Report
Detailing the work of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation in 2025 to support America's military and veteran caregivers
In 2025, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation delivered nearly $1.5 million in direct financial assistance, grew the Dole Caregiver Fellows program to more than 300 members across every state, and helped secure passage of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. From a record-breaking Heroes & History Makers Gala to a 10th Annual National Convening in Washington, D.C., the Foundation continued turning Senator Dole's founding vision into lasting support for America's 14.3 million hidden heroes.
Hidden Helpers at the Frontlines of Caregiving
Supporting the Healthy Development of Children from Military and Veteran Caregiving Homes
As a result of the 2017 study, EDF commissioned a first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking research study in 2021 focused on military and veteran caregiver children and adolescents. The findings were unveiled at the White House as First Lady Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces Initiative joined EDF and Wounded Warrior Project in responding to the needs of the millions of American hidden helpers.
Improving Support For America's Hidden Heroes
A Military Caregiver Research Blueprint
In this report, researchers describe elements of a research blueprint to inform future efforts to improve support for military and veteran caregivers. To construct this blueprint, researchers inventoried currently available research on caregiving for disabled adults and children and gathered stakeholder input by conducting a survey and facilitating an online panel. The report highlights the need for more studies that examine how military and veteran caregiver needs evolve over time, how programs are working, and how caregiving affects specific subgroups.
Hidden Heroes
America's Military Caregivers
This ground-breaking research first identified 5.5 million Americans serving as military and veteran caregivers. At that time, they were contributing an essential service to the nation, providing nearly $15 billion in unpaid care to veterans every year. These numbers have only grown.
Strategic Plan
Over the last year, we engaged in a strategic and deliberative examination of all aspects of our history, mission, and programs. Looking back on our first twelve years, we assessed where we exceeded our goals, where we fell short, and what we learned from it.
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