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The Call of Duty™ Endowment Announces Call for Submissions for 2017 "Seal of Distinction" Awards
[May 15, 2017]

The Call of Duty™ Endowment Announces Call for Submissions for 2017 "Seal of Distinction" Awards


The Call of Duty Endowment ("the Endowment") today opened the application process for the 2017 "Seal of Distinction," which recognizes non-profits that demonstrate the highest levels of effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity in placing veterans into high-quality jobs. The prestigious award is accompanied by a $30,000 unrestricted grant, as well as the opportunity to apply for future funding.

To be considered, organizations must complete an online application at http://www.callofdutyendowment.org/seal. Applications will be accepted now through June 5, 2017. Nominees for the "Seal of Distinction" must meet a number of criteria, which include:

  • Organization must be a charitable, non-profit, with 501(c)(3) status;
  • Mission must include directly assisting unemployed and underemployed veterans to find high quality jobs;
  • Group must complete an application, provide requested documentation and be prepared to submit to verification procedures by Deloitte (News - Alert);
  • Applicants will be assessed by metrics including, the number of veterans placed in jobs, the quality of those placements, average cost-per-placement, average starting salary, six-month retentio rate, key employee background checks, and a variety of organizational and financial health indicators.



The "Seal of Distinction" is the preeminent standard of excellence in the U.S. veteran's employment sector. In the last year alone, organizations supported by the Endowment placed 11,615 veterans in jobs at an average cost-per-placement of $619.

"Veterans deserve a shot at high quality jobs, and should know who to turn to for help when they finish their service," said Dan Goldenberg, executive director of the Endowment. "We're thrilled to continue the Seal of Distinction program this year and expand our network of impactful, veteran-serving organizations. In the face of growing underemployment among veterans, the help provided by these organizations is more critical than ever."


All applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the Call of Duty Endowment's outside Board of Advisors. Semi-finalists will be independently assessed on a pro bono basis by Deloitte and ultimately approved by the Endowment's Grant Committee.

The Call of Duty Endowment launched the Seal of Distinction in August 2013. In its fifth year of operation, the program has awarded $25 million in grants, including additional funding to ten previous Seal of Distinction winners. With an ambitious goal of placing 50,000 veterans into high-quality jobs by 2019, the program has placed over 34,000 veterans into full-time jobs with an average 2016 starting salary of $55,000. As a result, the Endowment has helped veterans capture over $1.7 billion in first year salaries and demonstrated the value of veterans in the civilian workplace to companies across the U.S.

About the Call of Duty Endowment:

The Call of Duty Endowment is a non-profit, public benefit corporation co-founded by Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision (News - Alert) Blizzard. The Endowment helps veterans find high quality careers by supporting groups that prepare them for the job market and by raising awareness of the value vets bring to the workplace. For more information about the Call of Duty Endowment, please visit www.callofdutyendowment.org.

ACTIVISION and CALL OF DUTY are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.


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