About Operation Stand Down

Operation Stand Down Tennessee – and a bit of History

OSDTN is the only Veteran Service Center in Tennessee recognized by the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Serving Veterans is our sole focus. There are four major components of OSDN -1) Veteran Service Center, 2) Transitional Housing Program, 3) Stand Down Events and 4) our Thrift Store.

Highlights of our history are –

1993 – OSDTN began as a coalition of volunteers and organizations who came together to provide outreach, social services and information to Nashville’s homeless veteran population. Until 2014 an annual three-day Operation Stand Down was held to provide these services to Middle Tennessee’s homeless veterans.

1996 – The IRS granted OSDTN nonprofit status as a 501c3 organization. OSDTN became a duly registered organization with the State of TN. All legal requirements to maintain this status have been completed each year. OSDTN was approved for donations by the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).

1997 – The US Department of Labor awarded OSDTN its “Epic Award” — Exemplary Performance in the Community” for its work serving veterans through the Annual Operation Stand Down. OSDTN was the only nonprofit so honored in the US that year.

1999 – OSDTN’s Board of Directors elected to expand services by becoming a full-time agency. A Veteran Service Center was opened and four homes were purchased to begin a Transitional Housing Program able to serve 30 veterans – 27 men and 3 women.

2000 – OSDTN was selected as a United Way Partner Agency.

2004 – Finalist in “Making a Difference” Award with the Center for Nonprofit Management

2004 & 2005 – OSDTN expanded housing with the purchase of three homes. OSDTN now provides a home for 7 women and 35 men – all honorably discharged veterans. The OSDTN Women’s Program is the only one in Tennessee.

2005 – The US Department of Labor awarded OSDTN another ‘EPIC Award’ for our success helping veterans find and maintain employment.

2006 – OSDTN Awarded “Workforce Innovation Award” by Middle Tennessee Work Force Investment Board.

2006 – The US Department of Labor awarded OSDTN the Exemplary Public Interest Contribution Award

2008 – Finalist in “Team Building Award” with the Center for Nonprofit Management.

2009 – After residing for ten years in the I.W. Gernert Tower, OSDTN moved across the street into our current offices at 1125 12^th Avenue South.

2010 – OSDTN Executive Director selected as ‘CEO of the Year’ by the Center for Nonprofit Management.

2013 – Winner of the Claris Networks “Nashville Cloud Giveaway” Award – Technology Upgrade.

2014 – Finalist in “Best Nonprofit Business Category” from the Nashville Business Journal.

April 2014 – OSDTN purchased the 26,500-square-foot strip mall that sits on 2.14 acres that has been the home for OSDTN for past five years.  “We were renting a portion of the building and now we own the entire corner,” Burleigh said. “In military terms, we’ve planted our flag for veterans in Middle Tennessee.”

2014 – Winner of First Tennessee Foundation’s 150 Days of Giving

2014 – Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s NEXT Growth Award recipient: Social Enterprise & Sustainability

2014 – American Legion Department of Tennessee’s Veterans Employment Division Award

2014 – Center for Nonprofit Management’s Excellence in Volunteer Engagement (EVE) Certification

2015 – Nashville Business Journal’s Women of Influence: Nonprofit Leader 2015 awarded to Deputy Executive Director, Mary Ross