Red Star Foundation Welcomes John Hamre to Its Board of Advisors

The Red Star Foundation is honored to announce that John Hamre, one of the most respected nonprofit and veteran-service fundraising leaders in the country, has joined the organization’s Board of Advisors.

John brings more than three decades of experience building, scaling, and sustaining mission-driven organizations that serve veterans, people with disabilities, and their families. His career is defined by disciplined growth, accountability, and a deep understanding of how to turn urgency into long-term impact.

A Proven Architect of Scale at Wounded Warrior Project

John spent over 20 years helping transform Wounded Warrior Project from a small, early-stage nonprofit into one of the largest and most recognizable veteran service organizations in the United States. As Executive Vice President of Direct Response, he led all direct response fundraising efforts across direct mail, digital, and direct response television.

During his tenure, John was instrumental in building the systems and infrastructure that powered WWP’s growth. He helped establish diversified revenue channels, donor databases, and scalable operational frameworks that ultimately generated more than $3.4 billion in funds raised, representing the majority of the organization’s lifetime revenue. His work laid the foundation for sustainable growth, donor trust, and national reach.

Just as importantly, John’s leadership emphasized transparency, accountability, and alignment between mission and operations—principles that remain essential for any organization operating at scale.

What John Hamre Brings to Red Star Foundation

Red Star Foundation is at a pivotal moment in its growth, expanding nationally to address military, veteran, and first responder suicide and to support the families left behind—Red Star Families. John’s experience directly supports this next phase.

As a member of the Board of Advisors, John brings:

• Unmatched fundraising expertise, particularly in direct response, donor acquisition, and long-term donor value.
• Systems-level thinking to help Red Star build durable infrastructure that can scale responsibly.
• Institutional knowledge of veteran service organizations, including what works, what fails, and how to avoid common growth pitfalls.
• Strategic guidance to ensure mission integrity remains intact as the organization grows in size, visibility, and funding.

His prior work with United Spinal Association, where Wounded Warrior Project itself originated, further reinforces his lifelong commitment to serving wounded, disabled, and at-risk veterans and their families.

A Shared Commitment to Impact

Although John did not serve in the military himself, he comes from a deeply military-connected family and has spent his entire career working alongside veterans from World War II through the post-9/11 generation. His professional life reflects a clear throughline: building organizations that last, that earn trust, and that deliver real results for the people they serve.

“John understands what it takes to build a national movement the right way,” said Matt Mahoney, Executive Vice President. “His guidance will help ensure that Red Star grows with discipline, credibility, and long-term impact. Because the families we serve deserve nothing less.”

The Red Star Foundation is proud to welcome John Hamre to its Board of Advisors and looks forward to the leadership, perspective, and rigor he brings as the organization continues its mission to confront suicide, support families, and save lives.