Reflection on 2025 Organizational and Mission Accomplishments

18 Years of Service, Built to Last Beyond a Single Generation

For 18 years, Purple Heart Homes has served veterans one home at a time. In the daily urgency of meeting the next need, it is easy to lose sight of the cumulative impact of that work. Yet when we pause and look back, a broader picture comes into view - a forest of lives changed through the collective efforts of staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and board leadership. As an ancient Greek proverb reminds us, “A society grows great when people plant trees whose shade they may never sit in.” Purple Heart Homes exists because generations of people have chosen to serve veterans they may never meet, trusting that their efforts will ripple far beyond any single project or year.

2025: A Year of Historic Mission Milestones

In 2025, Purple Heart Homes reached significant mission milestones, including the completion of our 1,500th home project since founding. We delivered critical housing solutions for more than 218 veterans nationwide - ranging from repairs and accessibility modifications to renovations and new construction. Among these efforts was a remarkable rapid-response build that provided a new home for a 99- year-old World War II Veteran just 21 days after a tornado destroyed his residence. New home construction and manufacturing initiatives also advanced, positioning the organization for scalable, long-term impact.

From Grassroots to National: Strengthening the Organization for Scale

Equally defining was 2025’s intentional organizational transformation. Purple Heart Homes continued its shift from a grassroots construction charity to a professionally structured national nonprofit built for sustainability and scale. This included a comprehensive leadership reorganization with the hiring of an Executive Director and Vice Presidents overseeing philanthropy and marketing, community engagement, and manufacturing. Strategic outsourcing of marketing and financial accounting to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and accountability. The Board of Directors matured as a self-governing body through expanded committee leadership, an off-site retreat, and active engagement across governance, finance, development, technology, and manufacturing strategy.

A Pivotal Year Made Possible by Collective Commitment

Strategic partnerships, philanthropic support, infrastructure investments, and legislative advocacy further reinforced Purple Heart Homes’ national credibility. In 2025, we secured a historic $1.2 million individual gift, expanded relationships with longstanding and new partners, earned top nonprofit transparency and accountability ratings, advanced manufacturing licensure and facilities, leveraged property assets for financial flexibility, and supported federal legislation addressing disabled veteran housing needs. Our national visibility also grew substantially, reaching an estimated 2.85 billion media impressions with nearly 89% positive sentiment - affirming Purple Heart Homes’ role as a trusted leader in veteran housing.

2026: Stewardship as Our Guiding Principle

As we enter 2026, Purple Heart Homes does so with a clear understanding that growth brings responsibility. Reflection always leads to looking forward. For 2026, I am adopting Stewardship as our guiding strategic and cultural word. Stewardship reflects the belief that this organization is not owned by any one individual or generation, but entrusted to us - by the board of directors, the donors who invest their resources, and the communities who believe in our mission. It calls us to protect the integrity of Purple Heart Homes while ensuring it remains strong, relevant, and sustainable for those who will need it in the future.

Growing With Intention, Integrity, and Accountability

Stewardship in 2026 will require disciplined decision-making and long-term thinking. It means stewarding financial resources with care and transparency, stewarding partnerships with intention, and stewarding programs with a relentless focus on impact and dignity for veterans. As we scale manufacturing, diversify revenue, and expand our national footprint, stewardship serves as our filter: not simply asking can we grow, but how we grow in a way that honors trust and strengthens the organization beyond the present moment.

Leaving the Legacy Stronger Than We Found It

Most importantly, stewardship defines our culture. It reinforces accountability, humility, and service before self - values deeply aligned with both our military roots and our mission. Stewardship asks every board member, team member, volunteer, and partner to act as caretakers of Purple Heart Homes’ legacy and future. By embracing stewardship, we commit to leaving this organization stronger than we found it, ensuring that the trees planted today will provide shelter, dignity, and hope for veterans and their families for generations to come.