IAVA

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is helping the nation keep its promise to take care of the newest generation of vets. As the largest organization for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, IAVA knows that community is key to helping veterans successfully transition back to civilian life—and online tools are the fastest way for them to make social connections when they return home.

In just six weeks, IAVA created and launched the Rucksack, a rewards program built on the Salesforce Platform that connects returning vets with rewards like tickets to games and concerts, new suits for interviews, and other free employment, education and community-building opportunities. With the Rucksack, IAVA’s capacity to serve vets increased five-fold. The organization added more than 38,000 new members and received more than 75 requests by companies that want to join its 100+ partners.

“This generation of vets differs from previous generations in important ways,” says Rieckhoff. While nearly 15 percent of the population served in World War Two, a returning soldier today may be the only person in their town that served in Iraq or Afghanistan – they are less than one-half of one percent of the American population. “Connecting vets with one another to rebuild a sense of community and security can literally make the difference between life and death.”

Beyond the Rucksack, IAVA is using Salesforce to track and engage members, automate internal operations, and accurately measure key metrics to demonstrate impact for supporters. “We hope those working with veterans—especially government agencies—will follow our lead to better serve vets and their families.”