A dynamic platform redefining the delivery of social services.

Welcome to the Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN), a portal to meet the demands of the changing world we live in with a goal of making people’s lives better. The CAN is an emerging digital technology to protect and advance the fundamental rights of all people, particularly historically underrepresented people. It emphasizes the benefits of technology and minimizes the risks, while keeping its focus on more effective ways to identify gaps and opportunities. The CAN is a wide portfolio support initiatives that connect low-to moderate income communities to jobs, education, housing and a more economically secure and equitable future. Simply put, the CAN is an intersection of philanthropy, impact and measurement. The CAN is always free of charge to applicants.

For Nonprofits:
The CAN empowers service providers to deliver sound remedies no matter the applicants social, economic, demographic or geographic differences. A suite of technology is available for nonprofits to perform nearly every function of a day-to-day operation, ultimately streamlining their services to those who need them the most.

For Applicants:
Applicants are offered customized applications for assistance, as well as self-help tools within their own dashboard to assess and learn, enabling them to become part of their own solution. When they require more assistance, they can make a streamlined request and be connected to local and national programs with one simplified application.

The Future of Opportunity:
Our path forward is moving from commitment to action. Three strategic priorities — Champion Inclusion, Strengthen Our Diversity, and Grow Our Impact — guide us along our path. The actions we take against these priorities position us to win the future. We have seen that unchecked technology often follows broader social patterns of privilege and power. To that end, the Coordinated Assistance Network seeks funding partners to continue building the bedrock of a changing landscape for people through Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity.
Partner with the CAN today and see how your investment multiplies the reach and direct impact on nonprofits, communities individuals that deserve better.

Wading in the Sea of Goodwill

“How we touch people throughout our country [in] this sea of goodwill, who want to help our people and their families…we have got to figure out a way to do that.” – Admiral Michael Mullen, United States Navy

Before there was the CAN Portal, there was the Yellow Ribbon Network or YRN. Established in 2011, The Yellow Ribbon Network (YRN) was a collaborative platform supporting the transformation of the military and Veteran experience through information and technology. As a mission-driven nonprofit, the YRN offered a unique depth and breadth of expertise in financial innovation, multiple counseling channels, housing solutions, workforce development, healthcare information, and education tools. Each YRN pillar informed research and analytics to advise leaders, stakeholders, and influencers on best practices through the advancement of technology.

Throughout the history of the YRN, the network delivered key insights, metrics and measures to nonprofit partners, for-profit services providers, employers, and government officials. With the committed partnership of Prudential, MetLife, NTT Global, and others, the YRN served as the access point for community providers who focused operations on military & Veteran families through all phases of deployments and transition to civilian life. The YRN included thousands of individual users, nonprofit partner organizations and community service providers across the United States and 9 countries.

How the pandemic exposed the need for a new way forward

As a result of the COVID-19 national crisis, the YRN partnered with several organizations that had little to do with the military community. Tens of thousands of organizations were forced to close, many of whom would never open their doors again due to the lack of preparation for remote management. By offering a remote access workspace to better suit employees for work from home, the YRN answered the call for many organizations. There was an obvious need for a new way forward. The Coordinated Assistance Network was born out of that new inclusive strategy.