{{use American English|date=August 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Short description|American nonprofit organization}} {{Infobox organization | name = The Mission Continues | logo = File:Logo of The Mission Continues.png | type = Veteran Service Organization, Nonprofit | headquarters = St. Louis, MO, United States | founded = {{start date and age|2007|08}} | location = St. Louis, Missouri<!-- this parameter modifies "Headquarters" --> | leader_name3 = James Gillen | leader_title4 = Chief People Officer | leader_name4 = La Costa Moore | board_of_directors = Len Kortakaas | key_people = | region_served = United States and Puerto Rico | method = Professional Development, Leadership Development | leader_title = President | leader_name = Mary Beth Bruggeman | leader_title2 = Chief Strategy Officer | leader_name2 = Susan Thaxton | leader_title3 = Chief Marketing and Development Officer | website = www.missioncontinues.org | footnotes = }}
'''The Mission Continues'''<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/11/10/veterans-day-2021-mission-continues |title=Veterans Day 2021: They're out of uniform, but the mission continues |date=November 10, 2021}}</ref> is an American 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization<ref name=GoldMission>{{cite news |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |title=Goldman to Donate $20 Million to Nonprofits |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704447604576007862191492624 |quote=(Goldman) .. donation, .. a three-year-old |date=December 9, 2010}}</ref> that aims to empower military veterans to apply their skills and leadership abilities to benefit under-resourced communities. Established with the recognition that veterans possess a unique drive and dedication to serve, the organization seeks to harness these qualities to foster community development and support. By providing veterans with the tools and opportunities to continue their service beyond the military, the organization addresses the dual challenges of veteran reintegration and community underdevelopment.<ref>{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.missioncontinues.org/about |access-date=March 19, 2015}}</ref> They connect veterans with under-resourced communities, helping veteran volunteers collaborate with nonprofit partners.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Our Mission |url=https://www.missioncontinues.org/our-mission |access-date=March 19, 2024 |website=The Mission Continues |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Core Values |url=https://www.missioncontinues.org/our-mission/core-values |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=The Mission Continues |language=en}}</ref>
==Programs and Initiatives==
• Service Platoon Program
Led by volunteers who are veterans, they coordinate projects tailored to local needs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Volunteer veteran platoons to take on public service |newspaper=Stars and Stripes |url=https://www.stripes.com/news/us/volunteer-veteran-platoons-to-take-on-public-service-nationwide-1.244312 |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref> As of March 2023, service platoons are active in 40 cities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Service Platoon Program |website=The Mission Continues |url=https://www.missioncontinues.org/service-platoons |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref> The service platoon program is in partnership with Navy Federal Credit Union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mission Continues: Service to Military Veterans |url=https://www.navyfederal.org/makingcents/podcast/the-mission-continues.html |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=Navy Federal Credit Union |language=en}}</ref>
• Annual Mass Deployment Since 2016, veterans from across the country alongside local partners volunteer in a single city for a week.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Operation Military City Salute |url=https://www.missioncontinues.org/operation-military-city-salute |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=The Mission Continues |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Veterans beautify Detroit in week-long service marathon, volunteers encouraged to join in |date= June 25, 2016 |work=Fox News |url=https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/veterans-beautify-detroit-in-week-long-service-marathon-volunteers-encouraged-to-join-in |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hundreds of Military & Veterans Volunteer to Rebuild & Revitalize Detroit in Nation's First-Ever Local "Mass Deployment"|date=4 March 2017 |url=https://medium.com/@MediaKristina/hundreds-of-military-veterans-volunteer-to-rebuild-revitalize-detroit-in-nations-first-ever-6ac6e36d937e |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Mission Continues connects Veterans, helps communities |date=January 15, 2020 |url=https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/70247/the-mission-continues-connects-veterans-helps-communities |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Service Leadership Corps |url=https://missioncontinues.org/service-leadership-corps |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref>
• Women Veterans Leadership Program In April 2016, The Mission Continues launched the first Women Veterans Leadership Summit <ref>{{cite web |title=FHG Commanding General Empowers Female Veterans |url=https://www.marforres.marines.mil/Marine-Reserve-News-Photos/Marine-Reserve-News/Article/712732/fhg-commanding-general-empowers-female-veterans |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref> and due to its success, it was pivoted towards a full-fledged program.<ref>{{cite web|title=2019: THE LAST WOMEN VETERANS LEADERSHIP SUMMIT |url=https://missioncontinues.org/blog/2019-the-last-women-veterans-leadership-summit |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Female veterans refurbish D.C. facility for homeless women |website=The Washington Times |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/mar/5/dc-facility-for-homeless-women-refurbished-by-fema |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Women Veterans Leadership |url=https://missioncontinues.org/get-involved/women-veterans-leadership-program |access-date=June 24, 2020}}</ref>
• Fellowship Program
Post 9/11 veterans work with a non-profit or volunteer organization for 20 hours a week for 6 months to gain experience which will assist them with finding full time employment, continued volunteer services or high education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission Continues {{!}} Leadership and Volunteerism for Veterans {{!}} Pritzker Military Museum & Library {{!}} Chicago |url=http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/veterans-information-center/leadership/mission-continues/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622163414/http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/explore/veterans-information-center/leadership/mission-continues/ |archive-date=2017-06-22 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=www.pritzkermilitary.org}}</ref>
==Awards== The organization was named one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For in 2012, 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/BestPlacesToWork_20132.pdf |title=the NonProfit Times: Best Nonprofits to Work For 2013 |website=The Nonprofit Times |access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref> and 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=NPT's Best Nonprofits to Work For 2014 |url=http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/BestNonprofits-2014.pdf |website=The Nonprofit Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Outside's Best Places to Work 2014|url=http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/best-jobs/best-places-to-work-2014/The-Mission-Continues.html |magazine=Outside |access-date=March 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://svn.org/meet-our-members/svn-innovation-award-winners/current-winners/2011-innovation-award-winners |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225015417/http://svn.org/meet-our-members/svn-innovation-award-winners/current-winners/2011-innovation-award-winners |archive-date=2013-02-25 |title=2011 Innovation Award Winners |website=Social Venture Network |date=2012-02-16 |access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbb.org/stlouis/business-reviews/charity-national/mission-continues-in-saint-louis-mo-310286010 |title=Mission Continues Business Review in Saint Louis, MO - Eastern Missouri & Southern Illinois BBB |website=Better Business Bureau |access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://missioncontinues.org/news/latest-news/news-detail/2012/08/03/the-mission-continues-awarded-prestigious-social-change-grant |title=The Mission Continues Awarded Prestigious Social Change Grant |website=The Mission Continues |access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://missioncontinues.org/news/latest-news/news-detail/2012/08/06/the-mission-continues-receives-target's-best-of-bullseye-award |title=The Mission Continues Receives Target's "Best of Bullseye" Award |website=The Mission Continues |access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref>
==History== Formerly '''Center for Citizen Leadership''', the organization was founded in 2007 by Republican politician Eric Greitens.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Founding Story |url=http://missioncontinues.org/about-us/founding-story |access-date=2013-09-22 |website=The Mission Continues}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=For veteran volunteers, story is part of the work |url=http://archive.militarytimes.com/article/20140528/NEWS/305280056/For-veteran-volunteers-story-part-work |work=Military Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Living with Purpose: A Conversation with U.S. Navy SEAL and the Mission Continues Founder and CEO Eric Greitens |url=https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/living-with-purpose-a-conversation-with-us-navy-seal-and-the-mission-continues-founder-and |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=LegalZoom |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chief Program Officer (Preferred Locations, Remote) at The Mission |url=https://startup.jobs/chief-program-officer-preferred-locations-remote-the-mission-continues-5012040 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=Startup Jobs |language=en}}</ref> Mary Beth Bruggeman is the current President.<ref>{{cite web |author=Lee Enterprises |title=STL's Eric Greitens steps down as veterans group chief |url=http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/columns/joe-holleman/stl-s-eric-greitens-steps-down-as-veterans-group-chief/article_1efe6a36-7515-5ac0-bd7d-8fc111c83c55.html |work=stltoday.com |date=July 2, 2014 }}</ref><ref name="harvardmagazine.com">{{cite magazine |title=The Mission Continues puts veterans to work on community projects nationwide |date=November 2014 |magazine=Harvard Magazine |url=http://harvardmagazine.com/2014/11/forward-march}}</ref>
On 9 July 2025, the Travis Manion Foundation (TMF) announced the acquisition of the Mission Continues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION & THE MISSION CONTINUES JOIN FORCES TO SERVE MORE VETERANS AND COMMUNITIES |url=https://www.travismanion.org/impact-and-stories/blog/themissioncontinues/ |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=www.travismanion.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION & THE MISSION CONTINUES JOIN FORCES TO SERVE MORE VETERANS AND COMMUNITIES |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travis-manion-foundation--the-mission-continues-join-forces-to-serve-more-veterans-and-communities-302501352.html |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref>
==Political controversy== Eric Greitens stepped down as CEO in July 2014 to pursue political aspirations in Missouri;<ref>{{Cite news |author=The Editorial Board |title=Editorial: Greitens drags the charity he founded into his ethical muck |url=http://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-greitens-drags-the-charity-he-founded-into-his-ethical/article_a9ee730e-9b32-55cb-a5d4-f6ecc6038909.html |access-date=2018-04-21 |work=stltoday.com |language=en}}</ref> Greitens was accused of improperly taking The Mission Continues list of donors and his campaign was fined in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-greitens-drags-the-charity-he-founded-into-his-ethical/article_a9ee730e-9b32-55cb-a5d4-f6ecc6038909.html |title=Editorial: Greitens drags the charity he founded into his ethical muck |work=stltoday.com |access-date=2018-04-21 |language=en}}</ref> On April 20, 2018, Greitens was charged with felony computer data tampering, related to the same incident.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-missouri-governor/missouri-governor-charged-with-felony-computer-data-tampering-idUSKBN1HR383 |title=Missouri governor charged with felony computer data tampering |last=Gorman |first=Steve |work=Reuters |access-date=2018-04-21 |language=en-US}}</ref> The charges were later dropped.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/30/eric-greitens-case-dismissed-611673 |title=Prosecutor dropping computer tampering case against Greitens |work=Politico |date= |access-date=2013-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-13 |title=Nonprofit founded by Greitens to be acquired by Pennsylvania foundation |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/07/13/mission-continues-merge-travis-manion-foundation.html |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=St. Louis Business Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== * Team Rubicon
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.missioncontinues.org The Mission Continues] * [http://missioncontinues.org/2012-annual-report/ 2012 Annual Report] * [http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/after-service-ends--the-mission-continues-356678211987 MSNBC Profile on The Mission Continues]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mission Continues}} Category:Non-profit organizations based in St. Louis Category:American veterans' organizations Category:2007 establishments in Missouri Category:American organizations established in 2007
Goldman donation