Honor Flight of the Ozarks

What Honor Flight of the Ozarks does

Honor Flight of the Ozarks is a Springfield, Missouri-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in February 2013 and operating as the 133rd regional hub in the national Honor Flight Network. Its sole core product is a free, one-day chartered flight from Springfield-Branson National Airport to Washington D.C., where qualifying veterans of WWII, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Era, and Desert Shield/Storm visit the WWII, Korean, Navy, Air Force, Vietnam, and Iwo Jima memorials, as well as Arlington National Cemetery. Each veteran is accompanied by a Guardian (an 18-to-70-year-old volunteer who pays a $600 fee) and the trip is staffed with medical personnel, wheelchairs, police escorts, and ceremonial send-off/water-cannon salutes. Flight priority is given to terminally ill veterans of any era, then to WWII, Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf War veterans in that order. By May 2024 the organization had completed 23 flights transporting approximately 1,810 veterans cumulatively, with 242 veterans flown in 2024 alone and approximately 400 on the growing waiting list.

The organization is funded entirely by charitable contributions rather than service fees. Revenue streams include individual donations processed via PayPal, DonorPerfect, and mailed checks, corporate Wall of Honor sponsorships ($1,250 per veteran, $500 per guardian), and event-based fundraising including the Greatest Generations Gala, sporting clays shoots, participation in the Price Cutter Charity Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour, and community-organized fundraisers. Disclosed cost economics are unusually lean: over 90 cents of every donated dollar is spent on direct veteran flight expenses and only 1.5% on personnel, reflecting a near-fully volunteer labor model supplemented by an extensive local ecosystem of approximately 30 corporate sponsors, VFW and American Legion posts, schools, a Youth Council, and Ozarks Public Television. The underlying technology stack is minimal — a WordPress website with online application forms, standard payment processing, and social media — with no proprietary platform, AI, or data product. The 2026 Board is led by Executive Director David T. Snider (a retired police officer and U.S. Army veteran) and President Theresa Suda, with the organization transitioning in September 2025 to its first paid Office Administrator (Teresa Wilson) after operating as a pure volunteer organization.

Name

Honor Flight of the Ozarks

Legal name

Honor Flight of the Ozarks

Website

https://honorflightoftheozarks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Honor Flight of the Ozarks is a Springfield, Missouri-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free one-day chartered flights from Springfield-Branson National Airport to Washington D.C. memorials for qualifying WWII, Korean, Vietnam, and Desert Shield/Storm veterans, funded entirely by donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Memorial Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other (48799), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Group Escorted Tour Operators (THAKADAB)

Keywords

• Veteran honor flights
• Memorial trip services
• Nonprofit veteran services
• Guardian accompaniment program
• Veteran recognition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Donations: The primary funding source is public donations from individuals, corporations, and community organizations. Donations are accepted via PayPal, credit card through DonorPerfect, and by check/money order mailed to the organization.
2. Event Fundraising: The organization hosts fundraising events including the annual Greatest Generations Gala, sporting clays shooting events, participation in the Price Cutter Charity Championship (Korn Ferry Tour), and community fundraisers organized by external groups.
3. Wall of Honor Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors can sponsor a veteran for $1,250 or a guardian for $500 toward flight costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Honor Flight of the Ozarks provides free, all-expenses-paid one-day chartered flights from Springfield-Branson National Airport to Washington D.C. for qualifying veterans of WWII, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Era, and Desert Shield/Desert Storm, where they visit their respective memorials and Arlington National Cemetery. Each veteran is paired with a Guardian companion who provides physical and logistical assistance during the trip, with medical staff, wheelchairs, police escorts, and a public Welcome Home celebration rounding out the experience. The service is funded entirely by public donations, corporate sponsorships, and community fundraising events.

Product overview

Honor Flight of the Ozarks is a non-profit organization that operates as a regional hub in the national Honor Flight Network, providing free one-day flights to Washington D.C. for veterans of WWII, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Era, and Desert Shield/Desert Storm to visit their memorials. The organization offers a main Honor Flight service supplemented by a Guardian Program (requiring companions for veterans), Volunteer Program, Youth Council for student involvement, Honoring Yesterday's Heroes memorial program for deceased veterans, and Wall of Honor Sponsorships for donors. All services are free to qualifying veterans, funded entirely by public donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Honor Flight Free one-day chartered flight for qualifying veterans of WWII, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Era, and Desert Shield/Desert Storm from Springfield-Branson National Airport to Washington D.C. to visit the WWII, Korean Conflict, Navy, Air Force, Vietnam, and Iwo Jima memorials and Arlington National Cemetery, with priority given to terminally ill veterans.
• Guardian Program Companion service in which trained guardians aged 18–70 accompany veterans on every Honor Flight, providing physical assistance, mobility support, and ensuring a safe, memorable experience. Guardians pay a $600 fee to cover their own flight expenses.
• Honoring Yesterday's Heroes Memorial program honoring deceased Veterans who were unable to visit their Washington D.C. memorials in person by accepting 8x10 photographs (preferably in uniform) of deceased veterans for display and recognition by the organization.
• Wall of Honor Sponsorship Sponsorship program enabling donors to fund a specific veteran ($1,250) or guardian ($500) toward the cost of their Honor Flight trip, with sponsor recognition at the flight.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,810 veterans flown to Washington D.C. since 2014
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 417 MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal magazine sponsor supporting Honor Flight of the Ozarks and its veterans.
• American National InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• Bach Medical SupplyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedical supply company sponsor that has also donated wheelchairs and medical equipment.
• Cafe B-29minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal cafe sponsor of Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• 104.7 The CaveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station sponsor supporting the organization.
• Central Bank of the OzarksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking sponsor supporting Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• Custom MetalcraftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the organization.
• Ferrell Duncan ClinicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare clinic sponsor providing medical support for veterans.
• Great Southern BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking sponsor of Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• Sam Harma FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation sponsor supporting veterans through Honor Flight.
• Hiland Dairy FoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDairy company providing food products for flights.
• History Museum On The SquareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMuseum sponsor supporting the mission.
• Don Wessel HondaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAutomotive sponsor of Honor Flight.
• KillianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• Krispy Kreme DoughnutsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonut sponsor providing treats for veterans on flight days.
• McGeehan OrganizationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• 104.1 KSGFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio station sponsor providing media support.
• Miles BoyerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor and event photographer for Honor Flight events.
• Oncology Hematology AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare provider sponsor for veterans.
• Ozark BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking sponsor of Honor Flight.
• Ozark Shoot Don't Shoot SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Honor Flight events.
• Park & Jones Attorneys at LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm sponsor supporting the organization.
• Ron & Janice PenneyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual donors/sponsors.
• Price CutterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor through Price Cutter Charity Championship on the Korn Ferry Tour.
• Prosser PaintingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• Ridewell SuspensionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor.
• SRC Holdings CorporationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting veterans.
• Zimmer CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor providing radio and communication support.
• Ozarks Public TelevisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced the documentary 'In Gratitude — Honor Flight of the Ozarks' that follows a flight from beginning to Welcome Home celebration, helping raise awareness of the mission.
• Springfield-Branson National AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides facilities for flight departures and arrivals, including storage for wheelchairs and equipment. Hosts the send-off and welcome home ceremonies.
• Honor Flight NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network of 128 regional hubs (including HFO as the 133rd hub) created to honor America's veterans. Provides shared resources, operational best practices, and coordinates the national Honor Flight program that began in May 2005.
• VFW and American LegionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran organizations partnering with HFO for outreach and fundraising programs throughout Southwest Missouri.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Honor Flight Network: National parent network of 128-129 regional hubs that operate the same free, chartered-flight-to-D.C. model. Honor Flight of the Ozarks operates as the 133rd hub under this network and shares branding, standards, and veteran-application infrastructure.
• Honor Flight Wisconsin: Wisconsin regional Honor Flight hub providing free D.C. memorial trips to Wisconsin veterans. Comparable scale, hub-and-spoke model, and community sponsorship base to Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• Honor Flight San Diego: Regional Honor Flight hub serving Southern California veterans with free chartered trips to D.C. memorials. Operates under identical network standards and sponsorship-driven cost model.
• Veterans Airlift Command: Nationwide nonprofit providing free air transportation to combat-wounded veterans, veterans in need, and their families for medical care, reunions, and memorial events — directly comparable free-flight veteran mission.
• Dream Flights: Nonprofit that provides free aerial 'Dream Flights' in open-cockpit biplanes to veterans (especially WWII) and seniors. Closely aligned charitable aviation mission targeting the same aging veteran demographic.
• Honor Flight Austin: Texas-based Honor Flight hub running multi-flight annual programs for Central Texas veterans using the same chartered-flight, donation-funded, guardian-accompanied model as Honor Flight of the Ozarks.
• Honor Flight Chicago: One of the largest and most established Honor Flight regional hubs, running multiple annual flights of WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans from Chicago to D.C. with the same donation-funded, guardian-accompanied model.

Broad incumbents

• USO (United Service Organizations): Major nonprofit supporting active-duty service members and veterans with morale, wellness, and family programs. Compares to HFO as a veteran/military-support nonprofit with broad national scale and corporate sponsorship model.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Large veteran-services nonprofit offering entertainment, housing, and wellness programs to wounded and post-9/11 veterans. Comparable donor base and veteran-recognition mission, but operates at national scale and on broader programmatic scope.
• American Airlines Veterans Initiatives: American Airlines is a long-standing Honor Flight Network airline partner providing discounted or donated chartered lift to hubs nationally. Functions as a critical infrastructure partner to the Honor Flight model, including Honor Flight of the Ozarks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/honorflightoftheozarks
• Xx.com/honorflightoz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/honor-flight-of-the-ozarks

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Honor Flight of the Ozarks