The Mission Continues

The Mission Continues is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on helping military veterans use the skills, discipline, and leadership experience gained in service to strengthen communities facing persistent social and economic challenges. The organization operates at the intersection of veteran reintegration and community development: rather than treating veterans only as recipients of assistance, it presents them as civic leaders and project organizers who can contribute directly to local problem-solving. The organization was established in 2007 under the former name Center for Citizen Leadership by Eric Greitens. Its founding premise was that military service often creates a lasting commitment to public service, and that veterans can continue making a measurable contribution after leaving active duty when given structured opportunities, training, and local partnerships. The Mission Continues therefore connects veteran volunteers with under-resourced communities and nonprofit organizations, supporting projects that address local priorities such as neighborhood improvement, education, public spaces, and other community needs. Its principal platform is the Service Platoon Program. Service platoons are veteran-led groups that organize recurring volunteer and service projects in partnership with local nonprofit organizations. The platoon model gives veterans an ongoing peer network and a practical leadership role while allowing community partners to define the work that is most useful in their area. According to the referenced organizational material, service platoons operated in 40 cities as of March 2023, with support from Navy Federal Credit Union. The Mission Continues also conducts an Annual Mass Deployment, a concentrated week of service that brings veterans from around the country together with local partners in one host city. The initiative has been held annually since 2016 and is designed to produce visible community improvements while building relationships among veterans, volunteers, and civic organizations. Other programs have included a Fellowship Program, through which post-9/11 veterans work approximately 20 hours per week for six months with a nonprofit or volunteer organization, and the Women Veterans Leadership Program. The latter grew out of the organization’s first Women Veterans Leadership Summit, held in April 2016, and was developed into a continuing leadership initiative after the summit’s success. The organization has received recognition as one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Its public history has also included governance and political controversy connected to founder Eric Greitens. Greitens left his chief executive role in July 2014 to pursue political office in Missouri. He was later accused of improperly using the organization’s donor list in his political campaign; the campaign was fined in 2015, and Greitens was charged with felony computer data tampering in 2018 in connection with the matter. Those charges were subsequently dropped. On July 9, 2025, the Travis Manion Foundation announced that it had acquired The Mission Continues. The transaction places the organization within the broader veteran-service ecosystem associated with the foundation while preserving The Mission Continues as the subject’s established program and brand identity. The available reference material does not specify the financial terms of the acquisition or provide a detailed post-acquisition operating structure.

The Mission Continues was founded in 2007 by Eric Greitens under the name Center for Citizen Leadership. Its creation reflected the idea that veterans’ commitment to service and their experience leading teams could remain valuable after military duty. The organization developed a model intended to address two related issues: the difficulty some veterans face when transitioning into civilian life and the shortage of resources available to communities with significant social needs. Rather than defining veterans solely through a support or assistance framework, the organization positioned them as active participants in civic life. It connected veteran volunteers with nonprofit partners and under-resourced communities, giving them structured opportunities to organize projects, develop leadership skills, and contribute to local improvements. This approach made community service the central mechanism through which veterans could continue their public mission. The organization later became known as The Mission Continues and expanded its programming around several related formats. Its Fellowship Program provided post-9/11 veterans with a six-month placement of approximately 20 hours per week at a nonprofit or volunteer organization. The fellowship was intended to help participants gain experience relevant to employment, further volunteering, or higher education. This model combined practical career development with continued public service. The Service Platoon Program became another major part of the organization’s operating model. Veteran volunteers lead platoons that coordinate projects with local nonprofit organizations and adapt activities to local needs. The platoons provide an ongoing structure rather than a single volunteer event, allowing veterans to build peer relationships and assume recurring civic leadership responsibilities. The referenced material reports that service platoons were active in 40 cities as of March 2023, with Navy Federal Credit Union identified as a program partner. Beginning in 2016, The Mission Continues organized an Annual Mass Deployment. The initiative brings veterans from different parts of the United States together for a week of service in one city, working alongside local partners. Its format combines concentrated volunteer labor with national visibility and relationship-building. It also reflects the organization’s broader effort to turn military-style teamwork and leadership into community-level action. The organization expanded its attention to women veterans through a Women Veterans Leadership Summit in April 2016. Following the summit’s success, the initiative was developed into a full Women Veterans Leadership Program. This marked an effort to provide women veterans with dedicated leadership development and peer-oriented opportunities within the organization’s service framework. The Mission Continues received workplace recognition as one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Its leadership history became more complicated when Greitens left the chief executive position in July 2014 to pursue political ambitions in Missouri. The subsequent controversy over whether his political campaign improperly obtained and used the nonprofit’s donor list resulted in a campaign fine in 2015. In April 2018, Greitens faced felony computer data tampering charges related to the same matter; the charges were later dropped. On July 9, 2025, the Travis Manion Foundation announced the acquisition of The Mission Continues. The available material does not provide the purchase price, legal structure, or detailed integration plan. The acquisition nevertheless represents a significant organizational transition, placing The Mission Continues within a larger veteran-service foundation while retaining its recognizable focus on veteran-led community service.

• 2025

  Acquired by Travis Manion Foundation

  [1]The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org

  The Travis Manion Foundation announced the acquisition of The Mission Continues on July 9, 2025.

• 2023

  Service platoons active in 40 cities

  [1]The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org

  Reference material reported active Service Platoons in 40 cities as of March 2023.

• 2016

  Annual Mass Deployment begins

  [1]The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org

  The organization began its annual week-long national service deployment, bringing veterans and local partners together in one host city.

• 2016

  Women Veterans Leadership Summit launched

  [1]The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org

  The first summit was held in April, later developing into the Women Veterans Leadership Program.

• 2014

  Greitens leaves CEO role

  [1]The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org

  Founder Eric Greitens stepped down as chief executive to pursue political ambitions in Missouri.

• 2013

  Second consecutive workplace recognition

  [1]The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org

  The Mission Continues was again included among the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For.

• 2012

  Named among the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For

  [1]The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org

  The organization received workplace recognition as one of the 50 Best Nonprofits to Work For.

• 2007

  Organization founded as Center for Citizen Leadership

  [1]The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org

  Eric Greitens founded the organization to help veterans continue serving communities through civic leadership and volunteer work.

A veteran-centered civic service organization that treats military veterans as community leaders and volunteer assets, linking their leadership capabilities with under-resourced communities and nonprofit partners.

• Veteran-led community service

  Service Platoon Program

  A network of veteran-led local groups that organize service projects with nonprofit partners. Platoons tailor activities to local community needs while giving veterans recurring opportunities to lead volunteers, build civic relationships, and apply military-derived teamwork and organizational skills. The program operated in 40 cities as of March 2023 according to the referenced material and was conducted in partnership with Navy Federal Credit Union.

• National volunteer initiative · 2016

  Annual Mass Deployment

  A concentrated week of service that brings veterans from across the United States together with local nonprofit and community partners in a single host city. Introduced in 2016, the program is designed to combine large-scale volunteer activity with leadership development, community improvements, and stronger connections between veterans and civic organizations.

• Leadership development · 2016

  Women Veterans Leadership Program

  A leadership initiative for women veterans that developed from The Mission Continues’ first Women Veterans Leadership Summit in April 2016. The program provides a dedicated setting for women veterans to build leadership capacity, share experiences, and participate in the organization’s broader civic-service mission.

• Veteran career and service fellowship

  Fellowship Program

  A six-month placement program for post-9/11 veterans. Fellows work approximately 20 hours per week with a nonprofit or volunteer organization, gaining practical experience intended to support later employment, continued volunteering, or higher education. The program links professional transition with continued community service.

• 2018

  Computer data tampering charges

  Greitens was charged with felony computer data tampering in relation to the donor-list matter. The charges were later dropped.

  Source

• 2015

  Political campaign donor-list controversy

  Eric Greitens was accused of improperly taking and using The Mission Continues’ donor list in connection with his political campaign. The campaign was fined in 2015.

  Source

Read more

• 2016Annual Mass Deployment

  United States

  A national volunteer campaign bringing veterans and local partners together for a week of community service in one city. It has been conducted annually since 2016.

  Outcome. Created a recurring national platform for concentrated veteran-led service and community collaboration.

  Source
• 2016Women Veterans Leadership Summit

  United States

  The organization’s first summit dedicated to women veterans was held in April 2016.

  Outcome. The summit’s reported success led to the creation of a broader Women Veterans Leadership Program.

  Source

• 2025

  Acquisition by Travis Manion FoundationM&A

  Background

  The Mission Continues operated as a veteran-focused national nonprofit providing civic service and leadership programs.

  Action taken

  The Travis Manion Foundation announced that it had acquired The Mission Continues on July 9, 2025.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not state the transaction value or explain the detailed post-acquisition organizational structure.

  Source

• 2016

  Launch of the Women Veterans Leadership initiativeProduct launch

  Background

  The organization sought to expand leadership programming for women veterans.

  Action taken

  It held its first Women Veterans Leadership Summit in April 2016 and subsequently developed the effort into a continuing program.

  Aftermath

  The successful summit became the foundation for a full Women Veterans Leadership Program.

  Source

• 2014

  Founder steps down as chief executiveOther

  Background

  Eric Greitens left the chief executive role in July 2014 to pursue political ambitions in Missouri.

  Action taken

  Greitens relinquished operational leadership of the nonprofit.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued under later leadership, while Greitens’ departure was followed by controversy involving the nonprofit’s donor list.

  Source

1. 1The Mission Continuesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Mission Continues official websitemissioncontinues.org