What We Do

Veterans’ Pathway to Business Success

Our Structure

Veterans’ Pathway to Business Success is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization founded and funded with a $250,000 contribution in 2011 by Jerry Kramer, a highly-decorated veteran of the Korean War. The mission of this all-volunteer organization is to raise the money and provide monetary grants – with NO FEES, NO INTEREST and NO PAY-BACK REQUIREMENTS − to entrepreneurial veterans living in Florida, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Establishing Eligibility

To be eligible for a Veterans’ Pathway Grant, veterans must first file an application with, and be certified by, South Palm Beach County SCORE, a free business-training program that certifies eligibility for monetary assistance.

Veterans who satisfactorily complete business-training certification become eligible to apply for a Veterans’ Pathway Monetary Grant, if they also meet the following additional requirements:

  • Have served in Afghanistan or Iraq after September 11, 2001.
  • Have, or are eligible for, an honorable discharge.
  • Provide proof that they reside in Florida.

Veterans’ Pathway Review Process

When eligibility is established, including business- training certification:

  1. The veteran’s application is reviewed by the Veterans’ Pathway board.
  2. A date is scheduled for the veteran to present his or her business plan to the board.
  3. Upon grant approval, the veteran must, at his or her expense, obtain and present to the Veterans’ Pathway board a local background check. If the result is favorable, Veterans’ Pathway reimburses the applicant.
  4. Applicants receive their grant money only after they sign a disclaimer agreeing to the terms for expenditure and accountability established by the Veterans’ Pathway board.

The ultimate goal of Veterans’ Pathway is to assist veterans who have established their professional competence, and to select those who are most likely to establish and or expand their business, to hire the unemployed, both veterans and non-veterans, and to give a boost to Florida’s economy in the process.

Funding the Veterans’ Pathway Program

Veterans’ Pathway can accomplish its mission only through the philanthropy of those who
share our passion to help the men and women who have given so much to us. This may take the form of small, moderate or large contributions made by individuals, or substantial grants made by the corporate community.

Veterans’ Pathway provides donors who are concerned with the welfare of our returning veterans the confidence that their contributions will benefit the intended recipients: veterans, the people they hire and the communities in which they live. Aiding the Florida economy is a significant benefit of the Veterans’ Pathway program.

For a profile of the business and volunteer background of each director, please click here.

If you would like to donate, click here.

Pathway to Business Success for Veterans, DBA Veterans’ Pathway to Business Success, is a registered 501(c) (3) organization. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida State Consumer Services by calling 800-435-7352, toll free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state.