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Where Your Donation Actually Goes... A Look at IW in 2025

Updated: 5 days ago

When you donate to Irreverent Warriors, you’re not funding bureaucracy... you’re fueling impact on the front lines of veteran mental health.


We believe in transparency, accountability, and being exceptional stewards of every dollar entrusted to us. Below, you’ll find our full 2025 income statement. We want you to see exactly how your donations are used, and more importantly, how seriously we take being stewards of those dollars.


Let’s walk through it together.


A Lean Organization by Design

Starting at the top of the income statement, you’ll see that in 2025 we brought in:

$1,093,484 in Unrestricted Contributions... These are sponsorships and donations received by HQ and chapters combined.


Now scroll down to Administrative Expenses, where you’ll notice:

Total Administrative Expenses: $78,561... That’s roughly 7% of total income.


This is intentional.


We’ve built Irreverent Warriors to operate lean:

  • Salaries Admin ($11,250) and Payroll Tax ($1,000) reflect a minimal HQ footprint

  • Management & General ($2,861) includes basic operational needs like licenses and internal infrastructure

  • Accounting ($19,950) and Compliance & Regulatory ($18,790) ensure we remain responsible, transparent, and legally sound

  • Modest costs like technology, rent, and banking fees keep the organization running without excess


We are not structured to scale overhead, we are structured to scale impact. We've all seen those bloated non-profits with a big HQ staff... not here.


The Majority of Funds Go Directly to Veterans

The most important section of this statement is Program Services.

Total Program Services: $686,276. This is where your money goes to work.


Within that:

  • Hike Expenses: $374,157

    • These are funds spent on hike day... meals, potties, tents, speakers, sunscreen, ice, fuel, utensils...

  • Contractors – Program: $138,219

    • 1099 folks, mostly part-time, supporting execution of our events

  • Merchandise & logistics: $94,376

    • Gear (like team and volunteer shirts), fulfillment (design and ordering), and materials that build identity and connection

  • Payment Processing Fees: $13,534

    • The unavoidable cost of collecting donations via platforms like Stripe and DonorDrive, we would LOVE to reduce this

  • Media & Communications: $5,676

    • Keeping veterans informed, connected, and engaged


These aren’t abstract “program costs.” They represent real experiences:

  • Veterans showing up to hikes instead of isolating

  • Peer-to-peer conversations that break through stigma

  • Moments of connection that interrupt suicidal ideation


Fundraising That Fuels the Mission, Not Itself.

You’ll also see: Total Fundraising Expenses: $29,219


We keep fundraising costs low and focused:

  • Event-related expenses

  • Limited support


We don’t run expensive campaigns to raise money, we focus on grassroots support.


Smarter Use of Resources

You’ll notice a few areas where we’ve made intentional improvements, and where we’ve made decisions that many nonprofits simply don’t.

  • Interest Paid ($2,067) appears on the statement, and we wish it didn't, but it's the truth. At the beginning of the year last year we were struggling... but those credit cards are now paid off and closed. We don’t believe in carrying debt while asking for donations. No more credit cards.

  • Hike Travel Expense ($14,067) reflects a major shift in philosophy.

    • HQ no longer travels just to “be there” because we can

    • We only travel when there is a clear, measurable impact (sponsor engagement, media need, or emergency critical leadership support)

  • Our annual leadership conference, which many organizations would categorize as overhead, is now fully funded by a sponsor, because we actively seek partnerships that reduce the burden on donors


Here’s the reality: Many nonprofits expand overhead as they grow... more travel, more conferences, more internal spending that’s justified as “necessary.” We’ve chosen a different path. We actively cut, question, and eliminate anything that doesn’t directly serve veterans. Every year, we challenge ourselves with a simple standard: If this expense doesn’t save veteran lives, why are we spending it?


The Bottom Line

At the bottom of the statement, you’ll see:

Total Expenses: $794,056

Net Income (Loss): $299,429


That is normal, we always have chapter funds that roll over into the next fiscal year as they plan and budget for their next event.


What This Means for You

When you look at this income statement, here’s what it really shows:

  • We operate lean BY CHOICE, not by constraint

  • We scrutinize our own spending as hard as any donor would

  • The vast majority of funds go directly toward serving veterans


This isn’t industry standard, This is intentional stewardship.


Thank You

If you’ve supported Irreverent Warriors in any way (donating, sponsoring, DIY fundraising, volunteering) you are part of this impact. You’re not funding layers of administration, you’re not funding unnecessary overhead, you’re funding real connection between veterans who need it. You’re helping pull people out of isolation which saves lives. And we will continue to honor that trust, by staying disciplined, staying lean, and putting every possible dollar where it belongs: On the front lines, with the veterans we serve. Semper Silkies!


 
 
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