Our Mission
Advocate
We advocate to change a military and veterans culture that tolerates sexual misconduct, to increase opportunities for women, and to ensure women’s health needs, including reproductive care, are fully met.
We work with Congress, DoD, the VA, and other federal agencies/departments to pass legislation and implement policy. We do this by working with like-minded coalitions and individual organizations, including MSOs, VSOs, and others.
We advocate for service women by educating, by speaking, and by participating in gatherings/events at government agencies and educational institutions with a focus on military women’s contributions and needs.
Connect
We collaborate with coalitions and other partners to amplify the voice of service women and veterans to support our advocacy efforts.
We inform our members of opportunities, events, and resources available to them.
We develop relationships with key organizations that can partner with SWAN to provide direct services, funding opportunities, and volunteer opportunities for members.
Support
We maintain a network of vetted pro bono resources to address challenges service women, veterans, and their families may face.
Our case manager works one-on-one with service members, veterans, or others, to ensure they have access to the information, tools, and support they need to overcome barriers.
The 24/7 Emergency Hotline provides real-time assistance to address immediate needs and questions. It is confidential and serves as a safe place for servicemembers and others to contact us for assistance, no matter the issue.
Our History
In 2007, a group of women veterans who were having trouble getting their Veteran Affairs (VA) claims approved decided to organize and do something about the VA claims process. Initially working under another organization, in 2009 they broke away and formed the Service Women’s Action Network, establishing SWAN as a 501(c)3 in New York City.
They quickly found that many of the problems that women veterans face stemmed from harassment and assault that they experienced while serving. At the time, the Veterans Administration (VA) did not recognize sexual assault as a source of post-traumatic stress (PTS) in the way it recognized combat stress. SWAN worked to support victims of military sexual assault, to hold perpetrators accountable in the military justice system, and to have the PTS that results from a sexual assault recognized by the VA. Despite orchestrating many institutional improvements, including having sexual assault recognized as a source of post-traumatic stress by the VA, SWAN continues to address these concerns today, offering support and resources for women dealing with issues such as mental health, sexual assault, and VA claims, among others.
In 2012, SWAN began advocating for equality within military assignments after researching the DOD’s exclusion of women from more than a quarter of a million prestigious ground combat jobs. SWAN maintained that excluding women from key positions perpetuated a military environment that undermined women’s value, obstructed their career progression and created a culture that caused service women to be more vulnerable to harassment and assault. Due to dedicated legislators, military officials, and SWAN’s consistent efforts on Capitol Hill, the policy preventing women from entering combat positions was eliminated in 2013. In 2016, the military services began integrating women into previously closed occupations and units.
Today, SWAN continues to press for law and policy changes to better address the needs of service women and women veterans. With a focus on advocacy and a 24/7 emergency assistance hotline, SWAN is the leading national organization focused on supporting service women and women veterans.
Annual Reports
SWAN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. This is the tax category for nonprofit organizations in the US Internal Revenue Code (IRC). These organizations are required to disclose their financial statements to the public, including their annual report, to build trust with the public and show accountability to donors.
Help us support Military Women & Women Veterans
Help us support Military Women & Women Veterans
For the price of a cup of coffee, you can donate to SWAN and give back to those servicewomen who have sacrificed so much for our country. Your contribution will not only support their needs but also honor their dedication and resilience. Join us in making a difference in the lives of these incredible women who have selflessly served our nation.