To be the trusted partner for retiring elite Special Operations members empowering purposeful transitions and building a strong and supportive network beyond service.
Our Fellows have dedicated their lives to protecting our freedom—now it’s our turn to support them. Your donation helps fill the gap in services tailored to retirinThe Portraits For Patriots® mission is to empower those who have honorably-served our nation to feel confident in their personal brand as they transition to the American work force. Our program is powered by a remarkable team of volunteer “Portraiteers” across the nation and has provided thousands of portfolio-quality images to our transitioning military, spouses and Gold Star families coast to coast — free of charge.g Special Operations members, ensuring they successfully transition from military service to the civilian workforce.
Shortly after committing to transitioning out of the military, I realized that I truly did not know what I wanted to pursue next, or how to narrow down my options. More importantly, I did not know how to clearly articulate and package up the past 20 years of military service and make myself a solid candidate for a potential company. In need of help, I was connected with the Mandatum Foundation and this quickly changed. I received executive coaching and had calls with other transitioning veterans who were in different phases of the transition process. These interactions gave me confidence and taught me the value of patience. The folks at the Mandatum Foundation helped me build my LinkedIn profile and resume. I received one-on-one coaching, which was the most beneficial to me during my transition. This coaching helped me determine what was important to me and my family, how to connect with people, and the values I wanted from a future employer and company.
Throughout this process, I learned that it is ok to say no. I had some excellent opportunities presented to me, but I knew they were not exactly what I needed to fit my priorities.
I have found a position with a great company that demonstrates the values I share and has built a great team of folks I am excited to work with. I can maximize my military experience and utilize my education with a company that conducts business in a specialized field I truly enjoy. Moving forward I intend to stay engaged with The Mandatum Foundation. I am willing to help other transitioning veterans in any way possible. I am happy to share my experience through this process and hopefully take some of the stress off of others. This can become an extremely stressful process, but at the end of the day, it should be fun.
As a transitioning special operations veteran, the biggest challenge isn’t just finding a new career, it’s building the right network to continue making an impact. The Mandatum Foundation has been a critical part of that journey, providing invaluable connections that have directly supported the growth of my coaching business, Bridge Performance Solutions. Their ability to connect veterans with key industry leaders, mentors, and opportunities is second to none.
For donors and supporters, your contributions aren’t just helping veterans find jobs, you’re investing in their ability to lead, innovate, and excel beyond service. Mandatum ensures that operators like me don’t just transition, we thrive. Your support fuels a mission that empowers veterans to bring their leadership, resilience, and experience into industries where they can continue making a difference.
I’m incredibly grateful for the doors Mandatum has opened, and I encourage those looking to support a truly impactful organization to invest in their mission. It’s not just a donation. It’s a direct contribution to the future success of our nation’s most capable leaders.
Candorful provides job interview and networking prep and practice for Veterans, Transitioning Military, and Military Spouses. Candorful has over 130 volunteers who are executive level professionals from a wide variety of industries who give you the real job interview experience so that you are ready to Nail Your Interview. Candorful interview practice sessions not only ensure you will gain experience and confidence, but provide the opportunity to ask the coaches questions and to get direct and valuable feedback about your interview skills. 97% of survey respondents state that Candorful practice helped them successfully land the job.
Details about the Candorful experience: Candorful conducts a 30 minute intake meeting to prepare you for your practice sessions before providing access to the 130 volunteer interview coaches. We encourage you to schedule AT LEAST 3 interview practice sessions with different coaches so that you can become accustomed to different interview styles and questions. However, the team encourages you to not limit yourself to 3 practice sessions. Go ahead, be bold and schedule 4 or 5!
So get started by scheduling your one INTAKE meeting. Remember, if you sign up, be sure to show up!
Candorful is a 501c3 nonprofit and provides this service for free.
Oplign serves the Veteran community as a job-market intelligence platform built specifically for those with military-connected experience. Veterans, National Guard and Reservists, Military Spouses, Student-Veterans, and dependents use Oplign to translate their skills, training, and lived experience into clear civilian career pathways. The platform provides real-time insight into where their skills are in demand, what roles they align to, and how employers evaluate qualifications—removing guesswork and bias from the job search. By turning military experience into actionable labor-market intelligence, Oplign empowers military-connected talent to make informed career decisions and connect to employers who understand and value their capabilities.
ZeroEyes delivers a proactive, human-verified AI gun detection software solution that integrates into existing digital security cameras and helps to mitigate mass shootings and gun-related violence by reducing response times, providing actionable intelligence with images, and delivering clarity among chaos — ultimately saving lives. ZeroEyes' patented solution has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a promising anti-terrorism technology and was the first video analytics technology to receive full SAFETY Act DT&E Designation. Founded by Navy SEALs and elite technologists, ZeroEyes dispatches accurate and real-time actionable intelligence about the illegal brandishing of a gun near or in an occupied area or building, to local staff and law enforcement with an image of the shooter(s) and location of the threat, as fast as 3 to 5 seconds from the moment the gun is detected.
The STEPS Foundation is dedicated specifically to the care of Special Operations Forces (SOF) spouses during the critical transition from service to civilian life. We empower women by fostering balance and personal growth through holistic, wellness-focused, cutting-edge programs intentionally curated around the four cornerstones of a successful transition: mental health, physical health, community, and career/education. As spouses re-establish peace from within and rediscover strength through softening, self-care, and support, they are empowered to thrive—not merely survive—as they and their families journey into civilian life.
Shortly after committing to transitioning out of the military, I realized that I truly did not know what I wanted to pursue next, or how to narrow down my options. More importantly, I did not know how to clearly articulate and package up the past 20 years of military service and make myself a solid candidate for a potential company. In need of help, I was connected with the Mandatum Foundation and this quickly changed. I received executive coaching and had calls with other transitioning veterans who were in different phases of the transition process. These interactions gave me confidence and taught me the value of patience. The folks at the Mandatum Foundation helped me build my LinkedIn profile and resume. I received one-on-one coaching, which was the most beneficial to me during my transition. This coaching helped me determine what was important to me and my family, how to connect with people, and the values I wanted from a future employer and company.
Throughout this process, I learned that it is ok to say no. I had some excellent opportunities presented to me, but I knew they were not exactly what I needed to fit my priorities.
I have found a position with a great company that demonstrates the values I share and has built a great team of folks I am excited to work with. I can maximize my military experience and utilize my education with a company that conducts business in a specialized field I truly enjoy. Moving forward I intend to stay engaged with The Mandatum Foundation. I am willing to help other transitioning veterans in any way possible. I am happy to share my experience through this process and hopefully take some of the stress off of others. This can become an extremely stressful process, but at the end of the day, it should be fun.
As a transitioning special operations veteran, the biggest challenge isn’t just finding a new career, it’s building the right network to continue making an impact. The Mandatum Foundation has been a critical part of that journey, providing invaluable connections that have directly supported the growth of my coaching business, Bridge Performance Solutions. Their ability to connect veterans with key industry leaders, mentors, and opportunities is second to none.
For donors and supporters, your contributions aren’t just helping veterans find jobs, you’re investing in their ability to lead, innovate, and excel beyond service. Mandatum ensures that operators like me don’t just transition, we thrive. Your support fuels a mission that empowers veterans to bring their leadership, resilience, and experience into industries where they can continue making a difference.
I’m incredibly grateful for the doors Mandatum has opened, and I encourage those looking to support a truly impactful organization to invest in their mission. It’s not just a donation. It’s a direct contribution to the future success of our nation’s most capable leaders.
J2 Ventures is a venture capital firm dedicated to backing mission-driven founders who are building dual-use technologies that serve both American national security and the broader commercial economy. The firm is led by a team of veterans, scientists, and operators who focus on solutions that improve the health, resilience, and technological edge of service members, veterans, and the communities they return to after military service.
Shortly after committing to transitioning out of the military, I realized that I truly did not know what I wanted to pursue next, or how to narrow down my options. More importantly, I did not know how to clearly articulate and package up the past 20 years of military service and make myself a solid candidate for a potential company. In need of help, I was connected with the Mandatum Foundation and this quickly changed. I received executive coaching and had calls with other transitioning veterans who were in different phases of the transition process. These interactions gave me confidence and taught me the value of patience. The folks at the Mandatum Foundation helped me build my LinkedIn profile and resume. I received one-on-one coaching, which was the most beneficial to me during my transition. This coaching helped me determine what was important to me and my family, how to connect with people, and the values I wanted from a future employer and company.
Throughout this process, I learned that it is ok to say no. I had some excellent opportunities presented to me, but I knew they were not exactly what I needed to fit my priorities.
I have found a position with a great company that demonstrates the values I share and has built a great team of folks I am excited to work with. I can maximize my military experience and utilize my education with a company that conducts business in a specialized field I truly enjoy. Moving forward I intend to stay engaged with The Mandatum Foundation. I am willing to help other transitioning veterans in any way possible. I am happy to share my experience through this process and hopefully take some of the stress off of others. This can become an extremely stressful process, but at the end of the day, it should be fun.
As a transitioning special operations veteran, the biggest challenge isn’t just finding a new career, it’s building the right network to continue making an impact. The Mandatum Foundation has been a critical part of that journey, providing invaluable connections that have directly supported the growth of my coaching business, Bridge Performance Solutions. Their ability to connect veterans with key industry leaders, mentors, and opportunities is second to none.
For donors and supporters, your contributions aren’t just helping veterans find jobs, you’re investing in their ability to lead, innovate, and excel beyond service. Mandatum ensures that operators like me don’t just transition, we thrive. Your support fuels a mission that empowers veterans to bring their leadership, resilience, and experience into industries where they can continue making a difference.
I’m incredibly grateful for the doors Mandatum has opened, and I encourage those looking to support a truly impactful organization to invest in their mission. It’s not just a donation. It’s a direct contribution to the future success of our nation’s most capable leaders.
