Strategic Plan
The collaboratively developed Lucky Foundation Strategic Plan is the roadmap for the Foundation. It builds on our progress and includes overarching Foundation-wide strategic objectives.
Overview
Our core values
Our vision
Strategic goals
Our mission
10-year vision
Overview
Key findings in the 2020 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries reported over 7,000 Americans each year have been affected by the loss of a loved one serving in the United States Military or First Responder branches.
The 4,764 fatal occupational injuries in 2020 represents the lowest annual number since 2013.
A worker died every 111 minutes from a work-related injury in 2020.
Transportation incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal event with 1,778 fatal injuries, accounting for 37.3 percent of all work-related fatalities.
The share of Hispanic or Latino workers fatally injured on the job continued to grow, increasing to 22.5 percent (1,072 fatalities) from 20.4 percent (1,088 fatalities) in 2019.
In addition to the tragic events of September 11, in which over 400 emergency responders were killed, an average of 97 firefighters and 155 police officers died each year between 1990 and 2001, and an average of at least 11 non firefighter emergency medical services personnel died each year between 1998 and 2001. These fatality rates do not include the events of September 11 because the magnitude of those events obscures other trends in the data. Both police and career (paid) firefighters are in the top fifteen occupations for risk of fatal occupational injury, and the traumatic fatality rates are approximately three to four times higher than the average for all occupations. The fatality rate for emergency medical services responders is about two and one-half times the rates for all occupations.
The rate of occupational injury and illness for employees of local volunteer fire and police agencies is similarly elevated. Approximately 88,000 firefighters are injured each year; about 2,000 of their injuries are potentially life-threatening. Approximately 100,000 police were injured in 2000.
The United States Military estimates over 100 hostile casualties each year. This is not factoring in the non-hostile casualties or wounded in action each year.
These factors will provide unprecedented challenges and opportunities for The Lucky Foundation. Never has the case for accelerated support to these Heroes families been more urgent.
The Lucky Foundation is a voluntary awareness organization whose focus is care, support, and research regarding affected families of the fallen United States Military and First Responders. To enhance and strengthen our leadership position, as well as expand the depth, breadth, and pace of the Lucky Foundation movement, we have committed to do more.
In 2021, the Foundation undertook a strategic assessment process to look at the external environment and internal capacity and potential in order to determine what is necessary to change the trajectory of families affected by the loss of their United States Military and First Responder heroes, and to empower the youth by the sourcing of scholarships. As a result of this collaborative, organization-wide work, a bold, 10-year vision (FY2022-FY2032) for care and support and for research was created.
Additionally, in order to achieve this vision, the Foundation identified increasing revenue, advancing public policy, and growing concern and awareness as key levers.
The Lucky Foundation Strategic Plan FY2023-FY2035 (PDF)
Our Vision
Adventure enthusiasts driven towards sourcing scholarships to empower the youth of fallen United States Military and First Responders.
Our Mission
Finding ways to honor those who have fought for our country, as well as those that serve and protect our local communities, is an important part of recognizing the sacrifice these men and women make.
It is important that we honor our fallen heroes at a national level, a local level, and at a personal level. Community involvement is essential in recognizing the sacrifice. However, it also allows families to pass down the message of commitment to country, as well as lessons in honor, integrity, and sacrifice to younger generations.
There are so many ways that we can honor our fallen heroes, their families, and their sacrifice. From volunteering to donating, we can individually pay our respects for those that fight for our rights and our freedoms, help protect our families from harm, and gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
“We grieve because we love. How lucky we are to have experienced that love.”
Focused on hosted fundraising events throughout the country, The Lucky Foundation raises money for the families of the fallen or seriously injured Military and First Responders, as well as funds towards scholarships for the children of those Heroes. At our events, adventure enthusiasts from all around the country set out on guided expeditions exploring this beautiful country we call Home.
This organization carefully selects families from around the country whose Military or First Responder loved one has passed away while on active duty, in the line of duty, or was seriously injured to the point that they will be unable to return to work. We are also in the process of creating scholarship funds that will be awarded to the children of the fallen Heroes.
Turn Your Passion Into Purpose!
Through the continued support of adventure enthusiasts all over the world, as well as amazing sponsors throughout each community, we hope to continue our mission for many years to come.
Thank you for your support in this noteworthy cause.
Our Core Values
The Lucky Foundation’s core values are forged by our commitment to the highest ethical standards and drive our priorities, commitments, and organizational decisions. Our reputation is the ultimate asset, and these core values guide our behaviors, judgments and how we accomplish our mission:
Community
Inspire all people and organizations to join the cause and grow our shared passion.
Inclusivity
Seek out different and diverse viewpoints through collaboration.
Accountability
Take responsibility to achieve goals and expect results — ourselves and others.
Agility
Lead and embrace changes with courage.
Integrity
Act ethically, with honesty, transparency, and compassion.
Strategic goals
Providing and Enhancing Quality Care and Support
The Lucky Foundation engages with communities on national, state, and local levels to ensure access to quality care and support for families affected by the loss of our fallen United States Military and First Responders.
Increase reach of programs and initiatives that address the unique needs of these families through direct service, volunteer delivery, community engagement and partnerships.
Increase equitable access through the sourcing of scholarships to empower the youth through donations, grants, and community-based resources.
By the conclusion of FY35, increase reach and access by 50%.
Accelerating Research
The Lucky Foundation accelerates research nationally to advance awareness while sourcing scholarships to empower the youth of the fallen United States Military and First Responders.
As the recognized national aggregator, expand accessibility, inclusion and funding opportunities throughout research and communities.
Drive engagement in all communities by increasing understanding, trust, and urgency of research.
By the conclusion of FY35, increase The Lucky Foundation’s annual investment in research to $110 million.
Increasing Concern and Awareness
The Lucky Foundation is a national voluntary organization sourcing scholarships to empower the youth of fallen United States Military and First Responders while advancing awareness in all communities. We have successfully built our brand and extended reach to increase awareness and the public’s knowledge of our support resources while making advances in statistical research.
Increase the level of awareness of The Lucky Foundation from the current baseline.
Continue to drive concern for the families affected by the loss of their Heroes, maintaining its strong baseline.
By the conclusion of FY35, advance the national cause of The Lucky Foundation by increasing the Foundation’s powerful public reach by more than 332 million total impressions from current baseline, supporting growth of all mission pillars.
Strengthening Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Lucky Foundation strives to be a leading organization in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek to create a culture where volunteers and constituents are empowered to share their voices and perspectives to create an environment of inclusion, growth, positivity, belonging and change. This culture is embraced by all parts of the Foundation and partnering organizations.
Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion goals across all aspects of mission delivery.
Create an internal culture of understanding and pursuit of diversity, equity and inclusion through education, policies, procedures, and practices.
By the conclusion of FY35, increase total constituency lives impacted in disproportionately affected and underserved communities by 25% across all aspects of mission delivery through the expansion of sustainable national and local partnerships.
Advancing Public Policy
The Lucky Foundation and “Lucky’s Legacy”℠ will advance our mission for all communities through the pursuit of federal and state policy to provide broad, timely and equitable access to effective scholarships, comprehensive education, care, services and support, while research funding to meet the growing needs of all affected.
Develop and implement effective government relations campaigns at the federal and state levels.
Advance the growth of “Lucky’s Legacy”℠.
By the conclusion of FY35, recruit, train and mobilize increasingly effective volunteer advocates, growing the number of the most active advocates by 33%.
Increasing Revenue
The Lucky Foundation will increase revenue through the mobilization of all communities by engaging individual constituents, corporations, and organizations to accelerate progress and maximize mission impact.
By the conclusion of FY35, increase total contributed revenue to $400 million.
By the conclusion of FY35, secure a minimum of $107 million new annual dollars to fuel our research investment.
10-year vision
10-year vision for Care and Support
The Foundation will contribute to a dramatic increase in the sourcing of scholarships for the youth of fallen United States Military and First Responders. The priorities identified to achieve this 10-year vision are:
Identify, create, and provide a set of evidence-based signature care and support programs.
Set standards for high-quality care and support across the “continuum of care” within the Foundation and across the broader field.
Ensure standards are adopted by the field.
10-year vision for Research
The Foundation will contribute to research breakthroughs that are life-changing for families of fallen United States Military and First Responders by driving the national research agenda. The priorities identified to achieve this 10-year vision are:
Make research funding a Foundation-wide priority.
Dramatically advance Foundation-wide fundraising for research.
Conduct nationwide, dedicated research campaigns.
Engage chapters in research fundraising.
Complete the push for funding to the field by funding “Lucky’s Legacy”℠ while increasing awareness and policy efforts.
Explore and test opportunities for national fundraising.