Honor Flight Chicago
Honor Flight Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides all-expense-paid one-day trips from Chicago Midway to Washington, D.C. memorials for senior WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans, supported by 1,000+ volunteers and 2.5 paid staff.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Honor Flight Chicago does
Honor Flight Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois, that provides all-expense-paid one-day trips from Chicago Midway International Airport to Washington, D.C. for senior war veterans of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War eras. The "Day of Honor" experience is a fully choreographed single-day itinerary that includes escorted visits to the WWII, Korean War, Vietnam Veterans, Air Force, Marine Corps War, Lincoln, and Udvar-Hazy memorials, a Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performance, a water cannon salute on arrival at Dulles, and a large-scale Welcome Home celebration at Midway staffed by Chicago Police, Chicago FBI, firefighters, and TSA personnel. Each veteran is paired with a one-on-one Guardian, accompanied by a medical team of 10-13 licensed providers (M.D., D.O., APN, RN), and the entire program cost is funded by private donations — no government funding is received. The organization operates with just 2.5 paid employees and over 1,000 active volunteers, has completed 129+ missions since inception, and has transported more than 12,000 veterans as of September 2025, making it the largest hub in the nationwide Honor Flight Network.
The business model rests on diversified donation streams (individual contributions, corporate/foundation grants, school and fraternal organization donations, and in-kind contributions), supplemented by partial cost-recovery fees from Family Guardians ($575 each in 2026, ~50% of full cost) and Medical Guardians ($298, ~25% of full cost), a new online Gift Shop operated in partnership with IAS Branding (Wheeling, IL), and flagship fundraising events including the annual Chicago Law Enforcement Hockey Classic. 2021 total revenue was $1,362,452 against net assets of $2,489,131, with the organization reporting that 97% of every donated dollar goes directly to program costs. Supplementary programs extend the mission surface: Operation Education partners with 60+ schools and provides 50+ veteran interview videos, lesson plans, and the Operation C.L.I.M.B. high school program; Mission Never Forget celebrates veteran alumni milestones via drive-by parades and letter campaigns; the Gold Star Family Program (launched June 2025) flies bereaved family members free of charge; and the "Honor. Thank. Inspire." podcast hosted by ABC 7 Chicago's Paul Meincke captures first-person veteran accounts. Distribution runs through PDF veteran applications, online donation portals, community outreach by Operation Locate A Hero volunteers at senior centers and veteran organizations across Chicagoland, and earned media amplified by board member Paul Meincke. Core operational dependencies are Southwest Airlines as the sole flight provider and dual partnerships with Midway and Dulles International Airports for ceremonial support.
Honor Flight Chicago firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Honor Flight Chicago
- Legal name
- Honor Flight Chicago Corp.
- Website
- https://honorflightchicago.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Honor Flight Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides all-expense-paid one-day trips from Chicago Midway to Washington, D.C. memorials for senior WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans, supported by 1,000+ volunteers and 2.5 paid staff.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Honor Flight Chicago industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Veteran Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Historical Sites (71212)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Group Air, Ticketing & Travel Operations (Manifests, Rebooking, 24/7 Support) (THAHANAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Group Flight Booking & Airfare Management (EDAIANAB)
Keywords
Where Honor Flight Chicago is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Honor Flight Chicago business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute to Honor Flight Chicago to fund veteran flights to Washington D.C. This is the primary revenue source alongside corporate, foundation, school, and military organization donations.
- Corporate, Foundation & Organizational Donations: Donations come from corporations, foundations, schools, military organizations, and fraternal organizations that wish to support the mission. No government funding is received.
- Guardian Reimbursements: Family Guardians pay a portion of the cost of their participation ($575 per person in 2026). Medical Guardians pay a reduced rate ($298). These fees represent partial cost recovery — approximately one-half and one-fourth of the full cost of the one-day trip respectively.
- Special Events: The organization hosts fundraising events including the annual Chicago Law Enforcement Hockey Classic and events at Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL.
- In-Kind Revenue: The 2021 Annual Report lists in-kind revenue of $232,420, reflecting donated goods and services supporting the flight operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Family Guardian participation fee for 2026 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Medical Guardian participation fee for 2026 |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Honor Flight Chicago product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Honor Flight Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides an all-expense-paid one-day trip from Chicago Midway International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport for senior war veterans (WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War eras) to visit the memorials built in their honor. Each veteran is paired one-on-one with a guardian, supported by a medical team of 10-13 licensed providers, and welcomed home at Midway with a large public celebration. The organization also runs supplementary programs including Operation Education (school partnerships), the Gold Star Family Program, Mission Never Forget, and an online gift shop.
Product overview
Honor Flight Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a core Day of Honor program - an all-expense-paid one-day trip to Washington, D.C. for senior war veterans from WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War eras. The organization operates supplementary programs including Operation Education (school partnership and educational resources), Operation C.L.I.M.B. (high school engagement), Mission Never Forget (veteran birthday celebrations), the Honor. Thank. Inspire. podcast, Gold Star Family Program, and an online Gift Shop. The organization has flown over 129 missions and transported more than 12,000 veterans since 2008.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Operation Education: Educational program that partners with schools to help students understand conflicts where American soldiers served, develop appreciation for veterans' service and sacrifice, and support the mission of Honor Flight Chicago.
- Operation C.L.I.M.B.
- Mission Never Forget
- Operation Locate A Hero
- Honor. Thank. Inspire.
Products and services
- Day of Honor
- Gold Star Family Program
- Honor. Thank. Inspire. Podcast
- Honor Flight Chicago Gift Shop
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of donated dollars are spent directly on program costs ($0.96 per dollar)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Honor Flight Chicago
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Honor Flight Chicago technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Honor Flight Chicago partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Southwest AirlinescoreSouthwest Airlines provides the aircraft for Honor Flight Chicago's one-day trips from Chicago Midway International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport. The partnership is essential to the core mission of flying veterans to their memorials.
- Chicago Police DepartmentcoreChicago Police Department participates in the annual Chicago Law Enforcement Hockey Classic (pitting CPD against the Chicago FBI), which is the organization's biggest annual fundraiser. CPD also participates in flight day operations at Midway Airport and D.C. events.
- Chicago FBIcoreChicago FBI partners with the Chicago Police Department in the annual Law Enforcement Hockey Classic fundraiser. FBI personnel also participate in flight day operations, including serving as guardians at D.C. events.
- Midway International AirportcoreMidway International Airport serves as the departure point for all Honor Flight Chicago flights. The airport's firefighters, paramedics, police officers, MATCO and Prospect staff, and TSA personnel all participate in the morning send-off and evening welcome home ceremonies. The Midway Partnership (SSP America) also supports operations.
- Washington Dulles International AirportcoreDulles Airport operations and TSA personnel welcome veterans on arrival with a water cannon salute from the Fire & Rescue Department — a gesture reserved only for heroes. The airport hosts the Udvar-Hazy Center (National Air and Space Museum annex) as the final memorial stop.
- IAS BrandingminorHonor Flight Chicago launched a new online gift shop in partnership with IAS Branding out of Wheeling, Illinois. The shop features apparel, headwear, and accessory offerings to show Honor Flight Chicago pride while supporting the mission. IAS Branding has led the industry in branded apparel and promotional merchandise since 1995.
- GuideStar (Candid)minorHonor Flight Chicago maintains a GuideStar profile (guidestar.org/profile/26-1978570) demonstrating organizational transparency. GuideStar is referenced on the financials page as a resource for donors to learn more about the organization.
- Northwestern University's Kellogg School of ManagementminorNorthwestern University's Kellogg School of Management is listed among Honor Flight Chicago's supporters and partners, contributing to the organization's mission through academic engagement.
- Jewel-OscominorJewel-Osco is listed among Honor Flight Chicago's partners and supporters, contributing to the organization's operations and mission.
- First Division Museum at CantignyminorThe First Division Museum at Cantigny (also known as Cantigny First Division Foundation) is listed among partners and supporters. The museum supports Operation Education by providing educational artifacts such as combat uniform samples and soldier ration samples for classroom use.
- USO Dulles AirportcoreUSO Dulles Airport is listed among the organization's key partners and supporters, providing services at Dulles Airport to support the Day of Honor experience.
- Marine Corps Silent Drill PlatooncoreThe Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon frequently performs for Honor Flight Chicago veterans during their Day of Honor, typically at the Lincoln Memorial. This 24-person platoon performs a silent precision drill that is breathtaking to watch and exhibits the discipline and professionalism of the Marine Corps.
- Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White SoxminorMajor Chicago professional sports teams are listed among Honor Flight Chicago's partners and supporters, contributing to events and raising awareness for the organization's mission.
- 115 Bourbon Streetminor115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL is listed among partners and is a venue for Honor Flight Chicago's late-fall fundraising event.
- Honor Flight NetworkcoreHonor Flight Chicago is part of a nationwide network of Honor Flight hubs, each operating independently. HFC is the largest hub in this network and is a standard bearer for other hubs to emulate.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Honor Flight Chicago competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- American Legion: Largest U.S. wartime veterans service organization serving WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam-era veterans — the same population as HFC's primary customer segments. Comparable on membership-driven veteran advocacy and donor fundraising.
- Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans through programs, mental health support, and career transition. Overlaps with HFC on veteran-services mission, donor pool, and corporate sponsor relationships.
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Long-standing congressionally chartered veterans service organization with broad veteran advocacy and community programs. Overlaps with HFC on WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veteran membership and donor base.
- Gary Sinise Foundation: Nationally recognized veterans-serving nonprofit funding programs for wounded service members, first responders, and military families. Comparable to HFC as a large veteran-focused charity competing for the same donor base and corporate sponsorships.
- DAV (Disabled American Veterans): Established congressionally chartered veterans service organization providing benefits assistance, transportation, and advocacy. Comparable to HFC in target beneficiary population and federal-chartered nonprofit structure.
- USO (United Service Organizations): Nationally known nonprofit supporting active-duty military and their families through airport-based programs — including at Dulles, one of HFC's arrival airports. Comparable on military-family mission, airport-based engagement, and fundraising scale.
Direct peers
- Honor Flight Network: National coordinating body of the Honor Flight Network of which Honor Flight Chicago is the largest hub. HFC operates independently but shares the same mission, brand, and operational model with all network hubs, making this the closest peer at the portfolio level.
- Honor Flight Wisconsin (Stars and Stripes Honor Flight): A regional Honor Flight hub also providing all-expense-paid trips from the upper Midwest to the D.C. memorials. Directly comparable to HFC in program design, donor model, and volunteer-driven structure.
Others
- PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes: Military-family-focused foundation that recently sponsored an entire Honor Flight trip (San Juan–D.C., June 2026). Comparable to HFC as a veteran-serving nonprofit donor and partner, though its mission is broader financial assistance rather than the curated travel experience.
Emerging players
- Student Veterans of America: Nonprofit supporting veterans in higher education through campus chapters and scholarships. Partial overlap with HFC's Operation Education program — both engage younger generations on veteran appreciation — but with a different beneficiary focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Honor Flight Chicago social profiles
Digital presenceHonor Flight Chicago compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Honor Flight Chicago financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Honor Flight Chicago leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Honor Flight Chicago funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Honor Flight Chicago M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Honor Flight Chicago
What does Honor Flight Chicago do?
Honor Flight Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides an all-expense-paid one-day trip from Chicago Midway International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport for senior war veterans (WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War eras) to visit the memorials built in their honor. Each veteran is paired one-on-one with a guardian, supported by a medical team of 10-13 licensed providers, and welcomed home at Midway with a large public celebration. The organization also runs supplementary programs including Operation Education (school partnerships), the Gold Star Family Program, Mission Never Forget, and an online gift shop.
Is Honor Flight Chicago a public or private company?
Honor Flight Chicago is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Honor Flight Chicago founded?
Honor Flight Chicago was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Honor Flight Chicago based?
Honor Flight Chicago is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Honor Flight Chicago make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate, Foundation & Organizational Donations, guardian Reimbursements, special Events and in-Kind Revenue.
Who are Honor Flight Chicago's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Gary Sinise Foundation, DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and USO (United Service Organizations). Direct peers are Honor Flight Network and Honor Flight Wisconsin (Stars and Stripes Honor Flight). PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes is listed as an others. Student Veterans of America is listed as an emerging player.
Does Honor Flight Chicago have an API?
No public API is recorded for Honor Flight Chicago.
What industry is Honor Flight Chicago in?
Honor Flight Chicago's product category is Nonprofit Veteran Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHANAF, Group Air, Ticketing & Travel Operations (Manifests, Rebooking, 24/7 Support), with a secondary code of EDAIANAB, Group Flight Booking & Airfare Management. Its NAICS code is 56152.