Sponsor hormone-replacement therapy access for transgender veterans
Many transgender veterans face care gaps when transitioning between VA, civilian, and Medicaid coverage — or when their VA facility lacks a willing prescriber. HRT Sponsorships pay for clinic visits, labs, and prescriptions during the gap, keeping veterans on continuous care during periods when their identity already costs them too much.
Funding Ask
$10,000–$250,000 underwrite the next 12 months of sponsorships
A $10,000 grant funds ~20 sponsorships (annual clinic + labs + prescription support per veteran). A $50,000 grant funds 100 sponsorships. A $250,000 grant scales the program to all 50 states with clinic-network agreements.
Trans veterans drop out of HRT during care-system gaps — and the cost is measured in suicide rates
~134,000
transgender veterans estimated in the US (Williams Institute / RAND)
Source: Williams Institute UCLA Law 2019; RAND Transgender Military Health 2016
5.1×
higher suicide-attempt rate among transgender veterans vs cisgender veterans
Source: JAMA Psychiatry 2017 (Blosnich et al.)
40%+
lifetime suicide-attempt rate among transgender adults (general population)
Source: National Transgender Discrimination Survey, NCTE/NGLTF 2011; replicated in subsequent USTS surveys
Up to 18 months
wait time at some VA facilities for trans-affirming primary care
Source: VA OIG and field reports collated 2022-2024
A trans veteran transitioning from active-duty TRICARE to VA HSA, or moving between states with different VA-facility policies, can lose HRT continuity for 3-12 months. HRT discontinuation drives measurable rises in dysphoria, depression, and suicidal ideation. The clinical literature is unambiguous: continuity matters. Our sponsorships pay for civilian clinic care during the gap.
The program model
How a dollar becomes an outcome
1
Veteran intake
Veteran submits application with discharge status and current care situation. We verify veteran status via DD-214 or Statement of Service.
2
Clinic match
We match the veteran with one of our partner clinics (Planned Parenthood, FOLX, Plume, Spektrum, Equality Health Center, regional LGBTQ+ centers) based on geography and care needs.
3
Direct payment
We pay the clinic directly for visits, labs (testosterone/estradiol/CBC/CMP/lipid panel), and a 90-day prescription supply. Sponsorships typically renew annually based on continued need.
4
Bridge to long-term care
Caseworker also helps the veteran navigate to long-term coverage: VA appeal for trans-affirming care, Medicaid enrollment in expansion states, ACA marketplace plans, or Medicare Part B + supplemental.
Median grant: $500-$800/year per veteran Typical use: Initial clinic visit + intake labs: $250-$400 · Quarterly follow-up + labs: $150-$300 each · 90-day Rx (estradiol, testosterone, spironolactone): $30-$120 Disbursement speed: Funds disburse to clinic at intake; veteran receives appointment within 14 days
Why fund through Wounded Warriors
✓ Three things that differentiate us
Data-infrastructure moat. We operate the only Model Context Protocol (MCP) server in the US veteran-aid sector — 41 tools exposed to AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT, Glean) at warriors-fund-api.emperormew.workers.dev/mcp. Our 100,400-record veteran-resource directory is FIPS-tract geocoded to 99.92% precision, joined with US Census ACS, CDC PLACES, and HUD CHAS data. No peer veteran nonprofit operates comparable infrastructure.
Trust signals. Texas 501(c)(3), IRS ruling year 2021, EIN 86-1336741. Candid 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency. Four consecutive Form 990s on ProPublica. 3-year program-expense ratio averaging 88%.
Restricted-gift policy: donor restrictions honored per Gift Acceptance Policy + IRS regulations on charitable giving. Restricted gifts of $50,000+ require Board acknowledgment.
Common funder questions
Why fund HRT through a veteran nonprofit instead of a general LGBTQ+ org?
Two reasons. (1) Documentation: trans veterans often need help navigating military records, DD-214 sex-marker corrections, and VA appeal processes — a veteran-specialized caseworker is materially better at that than a general-LGBTQ+ caseworker. (2) Trust: trans veterans frequently report mistrust of military and VA institutions; a veteran-led nonprofit that explicitly serves them re-establishes a trusted channel.
Is this program legally restricted under any state law?
Our program operates across all 50 states. We track state-by-state restrictions on adult HRT access (Florida SB 254, Tennessee SB1, etc.) and ensure veterans in restricted states are matched with telehealth providers licensed in their state or provided travel support to a neighboring state. We follow all state and federal law.
How do you measure outcomes?
Standard validated instruments at intake and 6 months: PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (suicidality), Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale. Anonymized aggregate outcomes published in our annual report.
Can foundations restricted from supporting trans-care still fund Wounded Warriors generally?
Yes. We accept unrestricted gifts that support the broader 5-program portfolio. Per our Gift Acceptance Policy, the Board honors donor restrictions both ways — some funders restrict toward HRT, others restrict away from it. Either is fine.