Restoring Purpose. Building Community. Sailing Forward. 

VetsBoats Annual Report 2025

Restoring Purpose. Building Community. Sailing Forward. Prepared October 2025

From the Helm

This year marked our most ambitious and fulfilling chapter yet. VetsBoats Foundation continued to advance its mission of restoring health, well-being, and purpose to military veterans and their families through the transformative power of sailing, craftsmanship, and community service.

From humble beginnings as a small volunteer effort in Sausalito, VetsBoats has grown into an emerging national movement uniting veterans, boat owners, and community partners across the country. Our fleet expanded, our partnerships multiplied, and our programs reached more veterans than ever before. In 2025 alone, we hosted over 20 sailing days, served more than 340 veterans and family members, and continued work on our national flagship vessel, Clover—now nearly ready to launch after years of dedicated restoration.

Our 2025 motto—Chaing Veterans, One Sail at a Time—captures the heart of what we do. Veterans heal together on the water, rebuilding trust, teamwork, and confidence while learning new skills that can carry them into civilian life.

— Terry Moran, Founder

Mission and Vision

Mission: To restore veterans’ health, confidence, and community connection through the proven therapeutic benefits of sailing and wooden boat restoration.

Vision: A nationwide network empowering veterans and families through maritime training, teamwork, and inclusion—connecting military service to community leadership and lifelong well-being.

VetsBoats’ national plan combines structured sponsorship levels with an integrated fundraising framework designed for both institutional partners and individual donors. Funds raised enable free therapeutic sailing programs, vessel upkeep, veteran crew training, and sustainable national expansion.

2025 Highlights

Healing Sails and Growth

• 28 sailing outings completed, serving 620 veterans from all branches in partnership with Call of the Sea, Wylie Charters, AdventureCat Sailing Charters, Sailing for Veterans, Indian Lake Yacht Club, and member Boat Owners

• Over 96% reporting improved morale and stronger peer connections.

• Our fleet grew to 16 operational vessels, expanding access from our headquarters in Sausalito to Springfield Ohio and Cape Cod MA.

Flagship Restoration – Clover’s Transformation

Clover, our 68-foot 1938 cutter, neared completion of her multi-year restoration. Veterans from the VA Palo Alto and Sacramento Centers worked side by side, learning maritime and trade skills that included rigging, woodworking, and deck restoration. Clover will soon begin her first sea trials as a national symbol of unity and perseverance.

Program Expansion

It’s time for a larger vision, still rooted in the shared purpose of serving those who have secured our freedom — but now powered to grow well beyond our local efforts. VetsBoats plans to evolve into a national platform—a living, collaborative model that empowers local organizations to save veterans’ lives. To do this we will share what we’ve built—our methods, our relationships, our story—so that others can create their own program tailored to their needs. The VetsBoats guiding principle remains unchanged: helping veterans move from isolation to community and purpose. Now we are inviting anyone who shares our goal to join us, personalize it, and help it grow.  

Our new Charter, VetsBoats National Expansion, outlines how we will transition from a local model of impact to a unified, scalable national presence that will unite people nationwide around action, belonging, and hope.  Highlights include: 

• Unified Program Model: Consistent safety and training standards, measurable well-being outcomes, and recognition systems for volunteers and captains.  

• Partnership-Driven Growth: Formal partnerships with VA departments, VFW posts, American Legion chapters, and other veteran service organizations.  

• Sustainable Operations: Fiscal discipline, a low-cost-per-participant focus, and transparent metrics tied to engagement and outcomes.  

Community Partnerships

• Collaborations expanded with a Three-Tier Network:

  • Members – Individual boat owners supporting veteran-focused events  

  • Chapters – Regional teams advancing measurable local programs

  • Affiliates – Nonprofits partnering under our brand for shared resources & visibility

• National Flagship – Clover: Her goodwill voyages will connect chapters, share best practices, and symbolize our collective service.  

Through this framework, VetsBoats will grow from a proven local leader into a national force for healing. Together, we can make maritime intervention accessible wherever there’s a veteran in need.  

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Media and Outreach

• Launch of the VetsBoats Foundation Podcast and YouTube Channel, featuring real stories of recovery, leadership, and resilience from participants.

Measured Impact

Using validated metrics like the Well-Being Index, VetsBoats measures and reports quantifiable improvement in wellness, leadership, and inclusion.

Key 2025 Outcomes:

• 95% participant satisfaction across all programs.

• 75% retention and re-engagement rate (participants returning to volunteer or train peers).

• Veterans reported significant increases in “sense of purpose” and “community belonging” within six months of engagement.

• Over 1,000 veteran touches (direct participants and family members supported through outreach and events).

Organizational Structure and Governance

VetsBoats Foundation operates through a federated national model as outlined in the 2025 National Charter, emphasizing standardization, service quality, and scalability.

Three Levels of Participation:

• Members: Individual boat owners hosting veteran sails under the VetsBoats banner.

• Chapters: Regional program hubs leading events and volunteer coordination.

• Affiliates: Partner nonprofits sharing training systems, evaluation tools, and branding assets.

All volunteers complete background checks, adaptive sailing safety training, and trauma-informed instruction. The Clover Fleet Recognition System honors Bronze, Silver, and Gold status for veteran engagement and service contributions.

2025 Board of Directors

• Terry Moran, Chair & Founder (Navy Veteran)

• Phillip Connolly, Treasurer (Army LTCOL, Ret.)

• Matt Cline, Board Media & Outreach

• Tom Gilheany, Safety & Cybersecurity Advisor

• Tony Maffei, Veteran Advocacy & Development

• Ashley Matchett Woods, Branding and Marketing

Volunteer and Community Engagement

• 150+ community volunteers across California and partner states.

• Volunteers logged nearly 3,500 cumulative hours in sailing, restoration, and outreach service.

• Clover’s restoration involved work from disabled veterans, students, and retirees—blending mentorship with mission.

• Recognition rewards (logbooks, shirts, and event honors) strengthened long-term volunteer retention.

Corporate volunteer groups from maritime, logistics, and technology companies participated in shoreline maintenance, equipment upgrades, and onboard instruction—building a foundation for future national sponsorship partnerships.

Financial Overview (2025 Operational Summary)

Annual reporting follows strict fiscal oversight and cost-efficiency metrics, averaging under $100 per veteran participant—demonstrating exceptional stewardship and sustainable growth.

Revenue Sources:

• Individual donors and memberships: 35%

• Corporate/Foundation grants: 40%

• Event sponsorships and partnerships: 15%

• Vessel donations and in-kind support: 10%

Primary Expenses:

• Program operations & equipment: 50%

• Boat maintenance & restoration: 25%

• Outreach & evaluation: 15%

• Administration & compliance: 10%

VetsBoats remains committed to a low-cost-per-participant model and uses transparent reporting standards verified by GuideStar and Candid Bronze Rating benchmarks.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The coming year will mark a pivotal milestone as VetsBoats transitions from regional initiative to national network. Goals include:

• Serving 2,000 veterans and family members across 10 active affiliates.

• Launching the Clover National Voyage, connecting chapters nationwide and showcasing best practices.

• Establishing formal partnerships with Warrior Sailing, Sail to Prevail, and veterans’ justice programs in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast U.S.

• Expanding our Cohort Sailing and Volunteer Credentialing System with digital evaluation dashboards and unified national training modules.

The long-term goal: to foster a network where no veteran sails alone, and every program remains accessible, sustainable, and deeply human.

Reflections

2025 reaffirmed that sailing is more than recreation—it is rehabilitation through purpose, a space where veterans regain strength and belonging. With every voyage, restoration, and partnership, VetsBoats expands the reach of its mission: to connect veterans with life, community, and meaning once more.

Fair winds and following seas, Terry Moran and the VetsBoats Board of Directors