Ahern Family Charitable Foundation

What Ahern Family Charitable Foundation does

The Ahern Family Charitable Foundation (AFCF) is a Massachusetts-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered at PO Box 80221, Stoneham, MA. Its stated mission is to raise money and awareness for veterans — past, present, and future — who may be in crisis, with primary focus on Massachusetts and secondary outreach to veterans throughout the United States. The organization is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors receiving no compensation; officers include Robert Ahern Jr. (President), Christopher M. Ahern (Vice President), Carol H. Wilson (Secretary), and Stephen A. Ahern (Treasurer), with additional board members Elisabeth Ahern, Michelle Ahern, and Robert W. Ticehurst.

The foundation's product surface is event- and grant-driven rather than technology-driven. Two signature annual events — the St. Patrick's Day Gala and the Army Navy Football Luncheon — serve as the primary fundraising and brand vehicles; in 2025, the gala introduced three awards (Robert 'Bo' Ahern Humanitarian Award, AFCF Lifetime of Service Award, AFCF Patriot Award). It also operates the Veterans Assistance Grant Program, which distributes funds to vetted 501(c)(3) military assistance organizations rather than to individuals, and partners with Military Friends Foundation on Operation Santa-Massachusetts, a holiday gift-card program for children of deployed and fallen troops. Additional revenue flows from net proceeds of Tom and Joan Kelley's memoir 'A Siren's Call & Second Chances.' The foundation does not develop technology products; distribution channels consist of grant-making to partner nonprofits, PayPal-based donations, Eventbrite ticket sales, and organic social media on Facebook and Twitter.

Revenue mechanics are donations- and contributions-driven: individual contributions (tax-deductible), corporate event sponsorships (e.g., $525 for 4 tickets plus VIP reception at events), event ticket sales ($55 per ticket for the Army Navy Football Luncheon), and book-proceeds contributions. The foundation explicitly states zero administrative costs and routes contributions through partner organizations providing direct veteran services such as lodging at Fisher House Boston, adapted housing via Homes For Our Troops, and therapeutic services through Ironstone Farm. No revenue or contribution totals are publicly disclosed; the entity operates without a parent company, institutional investors, or paid staff.

Name

Ahern Family Charitable Foundation

Legal name

Ahern Family Charitable Foundation

Website

https://ahernfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ahern Family Charitable Foundation is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 in Stoneham, Massachusetts that raises money through its annual St. Patrick's Day Gala and Army Navy Football Luncheon and distributes grants to vetted military assistance organizations supporting veterans and military families, primarily in Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Support Charitable Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Veteran assistance programs
• Charitable fundraising events
• Military family support
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Veteran welfare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stoneham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting veterans. No administrative costs ensure 100% of donations go to veteran causes.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors for events like St. Patrick's Day Gala and Army Navy Football Luncheon. Sponsorships at $525 include 4 tickets, VIP reception, and recognition on banners and website.
3. Event Revenue: Ticket sales for fundraising events. Army Navy Football Luncheon tickets are $55 including buffet, commemorative challenge coin, cash bar, and live/silent auctions.
4. Book Proceeds: Net proceeds from Tom and Joan Kelley's memoir 'A Siren's Call & Second Chances' donated to the foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Ahern Family Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises money and awareness for veterans past, present, and future through signature fundraising events (St. Patrick's Day Gala, Army Navy Football Luncheon) and then redistributes those funds as grants to military assistance organizations providing direct services such as financial grants, scholarships, psychological treatment for families, and lodging for families visiting wounded loved ones. It also runs Operation Santa-Massachusetts, delivering holiday gift cards to children of deployed or fallen troops, and receives net proceeds from the sale of the memoir "A Siren's Call & Second Chances."

Product overview

The Ahern Family Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a charitable giving and fundraising entity rather than a technology company. Its core offering consists of fundraising events (the St. Patrick's Day Gala and the annual Army Navy Football Luncheon), through which it raises money to distribute as grants to military assistance organizations. The foundation also runs Operation Santa-Massachusetts to provide holiday support to children of deployed and fallen troops, and accepts donations via book sales from the memoir "A Siren's Call & Second Chances."

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• St. Patrick's Day Gala Annual fundraising gala that raises money and awareness for veterans in need, including award presentations (Robert 'Bo' Ahern Humanitarian Award, AFCF Lifetime of Service Award, AFCF Patriot Award) recognizing individuals and organizations supporting the veteran community. Targeted at individual donors, community supporters, and corporate sponsors.
• Army Navy Football Luncheon Annual December event featuring viewing of the Army Navy football game, with buffet lunch, commemorative challenge coin (first 300 attendees), cash bar, live and silent auctions, and raffle. Individual tickets priced at $55; sponsorships at $525 include 4 tickets, private VIP reception, banner and website recognition. Proceeds support Operation Santa-Massachusetts for children of deployed and fallen troops.
• Veterans Assistance Grant Program Grantmaking program that distributes financial assistance to vetted 501(c)(3) military assistance organizations providing direct services to veterans and military personnel, including financial grants and scholarships, psychological treatment for families of deployed troops, and lodging for families visiting wounded and injured loved ones undergoing treatment. Does not provide individual grants directly.
• Operation Santa - Massachusetts Holiday gift card program partnered with the Military Friends Foundation that delivers support to Massachusetts children who have a parent deployed or who have lost a parent in the war against terrorism.
• "A Siren's Call & Second Chances" Memoir Sales Memoir by Medal of Honor recipient Tom Kelley and his wife Joan Kelley about their Navy service experiences, sold via Amazon with all net proceeds donated to the foundation to support military families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero administrative costs - all donations go directly to veteran assistance

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Military Friends FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2025Strategic partner for Operation Santa-Massachusetts program. A program partnered by the foundation and Military Friends Foundation that provides gift cards during the holiday season to Massachusetts children who have a parent deployed or have lost a parent in the war against terrorism.
• Fisher House BostoncoreOthersResource and partner organization supporting the foundation's mission. Fisher House Boston provides lodging for families visiting wounded and injured loved ones undergoing treatment.
• Ironstone FarmcoreOthersResource and partner organization. Ironstone Farm provides therapeutic services supporting veteran wellness and recovery programs.
• Homes For Our TroopscoreOthersResource partner that builds and donates specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans.
• Medal of Honor SocietymajorOthersFeatured resource partner. Medal of Honor recipient Tom Kelley is associated with the foundation through his memoir proceeds donation.
• Blue Star Mothers of Massachusetts Chapter 1minorOthersResource and partner organization supporting military families and the foundation's mission.
• Operation Home FrontminorOthersResource partner providing support to military families in need.
• Project New HopeminorOthersResource partner providing veteran assistance programs.
• Massachusetts Fallen HeroesminorOthersResource partner supporting fallen military personnel and their families.
• Scoreboard Sports Bar & GrillcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent venue partner for Army Navy Football Luncheon. Voted #1 Sports Bar in the Boston Area. Located in Woburn, MA.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Fisher House Foundation: National nonprofit providing lodging for families of wounded veterans, which is explicitly listed as one of the service categories AFCF helps fund via grants to Fisher House Boston. Operates a similar grant-and-support model in the same beneficiary space.
• Operation Homefront: National military family support nonprofit listed as an AFCF resource partner. Funds direct financial assistance, housing, and holiday programs for military families, overlapping heavily with AFCF's mission.
• Homes For Our Troops: National nonprofit that builds specially adapted homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans — a current AFCF resource partner and grant recipient. Operates in the same direct-services-for-veterans grant ecosystem.
• Blue Star Families: Large national nonprofit supporting military families through research, programming, and community building. Overlaps with AFCF's focus on military family hardship relief and holiday support programs.
• Military Friends Foundation: Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) that partners with AFCF on Operation Santa-Massachusetts. Both organizations fundraise through events and grants to support Massachusetts military families, operating in the same donor and beneficiary community.

Broad incumbents

• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Long-standing national veterans service organization providing benefits assistance, transportation, and grants to disabled veterans. A scale incumbent in the category of financial assistance and direct support that AFCF funds.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Largest national veteran support nonprofit serving post-9/11 veterans with mental health, career, and long-term support programs. Competes for the same donor dollars and provides overlapping categories of direct veteran assistance.

Regional players

• Ironstone Farm: Massachusetts-based therapeutic farm serving veterans and individuals with disabilities, listed as an AFCF resource partner. Provides a different modality (equine therapy) but operates in the same regional veteran wellness ecosystem.
• Massachusetts Fallen Heroes: Massachusetts-based nonprofit supporting fallen military personnel and families, listed as an AFCF resource partner. A direct regional peer operating in the same Massachusetts veteran support space.
• Project New Hope: Massachusetts-based veteran assistance program listed as an AFCF resource partner. Provides retreats and family support for veterans with PTSD and TBI, sitting in the same regional grant ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ahernfoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/AFCF2022

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ahern Family Charitable Foundation