Honor Flight of the Quad Cities

What Honor Flight of the Quad Cities does

Honor Flight of the Quad Cities (HFQC) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2008 in Davenport, Iowa, that operates as a regional hub of the national Honor Flight Network. Its core service is providing free one-day, non-stop charter flights from Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Washington Dulles (IAD), enabling veterans to visit memorials dedicated to their service — including the WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery (Changing of the Guard), the Air and Space Museum, and the Iwo Jima Memorial. Top priority is given to WWII and Korean War era veterans and terminally ill veterans, and eligibility extends to all veterans within a 75-mile radius of the Quad Cities. The organization operates entirely through volunteer effort and donations.

The operating model is community-led and donation-funded. The program is free for veterans; guardians (trained escorts who provide physical assistance including wheelchair support) contribute a $400 donation to cover their own expenses. Funding comes from individual donations, corporate sponsors (e.g., RIA Credit Union, Harcros Chemical Inc., Local Union 25 Plumbers and Pipefitters), community fundraising events (Knights Motorcycle Club trivia night, Hauberg Estate plant sales, West Carroll Primary School Bike-A-Thon, Quad City Storm hockey nights), and the Birdies for Charity program connected to the John Deere Classic. Sun Country Airlines provides charter flight service. Applications are processed via downloadable PDFs on the website or by mail, with volunteers contacting selected veterans 4-8 weeks before flight dates.

Since the inaugural flight on November 1, 2008, which carried 95 veterans, 59 guardians, and 7 media personnel, the organization has completed 67 flights (with three more scheduled for 2026) and honored over 5,000 veterans. The organization has 7 employees, a board of directors, a Hub Director (Steve Garrington, succeeding founder Bob Morrison who passed in October 2019), and a volunteer coordinator. Flights were suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19 and resumed in November 2021 with the Bob Morrison Memorial Flight. Effective May 7, 2025, all participants must have a REAL ID Gold Star on their driver's license. The organization donates equipment (e.g., 30 wheelchairs to Dubuque Honor Flight) and operates as one of approximately 131 Honor Flight Network hubs across 45 states.

Name

Honor Flight of the Quad Cities

Legal name

Honor Flight of the Quad Cities

Website

https://honorflightqc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Honor Flight of the Quad Cities is a nonprofit founded in 2008 that provides free charter flights from Quad City International Airport to Washington D.C. memorials for veterans, primarily WWII, Korean War, Vietnam, and terminally ill veterans within a 75-mile Quad Cities radius, funded entirely by donations and volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Government, Diplomatic & Military Passenger Charter Operators (THABADAG)

Keywords

• Veteran honor flights
• Nonprofit veteran services
• Memorial recognition tours
• Charter flight programs
• Veteran charity services

Headquarters

HQ city

Davenport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The program operates on donations from individuals who support the mission of honoring veterans by funding their trips to Washington D.C. memorials.
2. Organizational/Corporate Donations: Organizations including companies, credit unions, motorcycle clubs, schools, and other entities make donations to support veteran flights. Examples include RIA Credit Union ($46,690 golf outing), Harcros Chemical Inc. ($5,000), Knights Motorcycle Club ($13,550 trivia night), and others.
3. Guardian Fees: Guardians donate $400 to cover their expenses on the flight. This is a cost-sharing mechanism rather than a revenue source for the organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Honor Flight of the Quad Cities is a nonprofit charitable organization that provides free, one-day chartered flights for American veterans from the Quad Cities region to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials honoring their military service. Top priority is given to WWII and Korean War veterans and terminally ill veterans. The service includes non-stop flights, bus transportation between memorials, trained guardian escorts, meals, and a homecoming celebration.

Product overview

Honor Flight of the Quad Cities operates as a single, unified service focused on organizing and executing free one-day honor flights for veterans. The core offering is the Honor Flight Program, which provides chartered non-stop flights from the Quad City International Airport to Washington D.C. for veterans to visit memorials. The organization supports this program through three application-based participation pathways: Veteran Application (for those being honored), Guardian Application (for trained companions who assist veterans, costing $400), and Volunteer Application (for ground support). Additional revenue is generated through fundraising initiatives including Birdies for Charity and the Hauberg Estate Native Plant Sale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Honor Flight Program A free one-day chartered flight service that transports American veterans from the Quad Cities region (within a 75-mile radius) to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials dedicated to honoring their service, including the WWII Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Air and Space Museum. Flights depart from Quad City International Airport and return the same evening.
• Birdies for Charity Fundraising Program Annual fundraising component conducted through the John Deere Classic golf tournament where donors pledge contributions to Honor Flight, with a minimum 5% match from the tournament and proceeds distributed to Honor Flight in the fall.
• Hauberg Estate Native Plant Sale Fundraiser Fundraising event featuring native plant sales and iron garden sculptures by veteran Don Hale, with 100% of proceeds donated to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. Over $3,000 was donated over two plant sales.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 veterans honored since 2008
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 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, minor and moderate.

• Honor Flight NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Honor Flight of the Quad Cities is a local hub/chapter of the National Honor Flight Network, which was co-founded by Earl Morse and Jeff Miller in 2005 and merged in 2007. The network had flown over 200,000 veterans by end of 2017 and has approximately 131 hubs across 45 states.
• Birdies for Charity / John Deere ClassicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBirdies for Charity is a key fundraising component for Quad Cities non-profits including Honor Flight. The John Deere Classic matches donations by at least 5% and pledge proceeds are distributed to Honor Flight in the fall.
• RIA Credit UnionmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerRIA Credit Union hosted a golf outing benefiting Honor Flight of the Quad Cities that raised $46,690. Kids for Vets also hosted a lemonade stand at the outing raising an additional $2,000.
• Knights Motorcycle ClubmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Knights Motorcycle Riding Club hosted their 6th Annual Trivia Night in November 2024, raising $13,550 to support Honor Flight of the Quad Cities.
• Quad City Storm and RIA Federal Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuad City Storm hockey team and RIA Federal Credit Union presented a check for $4,525 raised on Nickelodeon Night to support Honor Flight.
• Hauberg EstateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHauberg Estate in Rock Island, IL donated proceeds from native plant sales and iron garden sculptures by veteran Don Hale to Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, with over $3,000 donated over two plant sales.
• Knights of ColumbusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKnights of Columbus hosted a trivia night to benefit Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, with funds helping send Quad City Veterans to visit war memorials in Washington D.C.
• West Carroll Primary SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWest Carroll Primary School in Savanna, IL raised $3,682 through a Bike-A-Thon Fundraiser by 4th grade class to help send veterans on honor flights.
• Dubuque Honor FlightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonor Flight of the Quad Cities donated 30 wheelchairs to Dubuque Honor Flight for their upcoming flights.
• Sun Country AirlinesmoderateOthersSun Country Airlines provides charter flight service for Honor Flights, operating non-stop flights from Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: Large national nonprofit serving post-9/11 wounded veterans with programs including physical and mental wellness, career transition, and long-term support. Comparable as a major veteran-serving nonprofit with a national donor base, though broader in mission scope than memorial flights.
• Honor Flight Network: The national parent organization of Honor Flight of the Quad Cities, founded in 2005 with 131 hubs across 45 states. Comparable as the umbrella entity that coordinates and standardizes the hub model this Quad Cities chapter operates within.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Major nonprofit supporting veterans, first responders, and their families through programs including entertainment, military outreach, and direct services. Comparable as a high-profile, celebrity-led veteran nonprofit with strong donor fundraising mechanisms.
• Fisher House Foundation: Major nonprofit providing free lodging for military and veteran families near medical facilities. Comparable as a large, well-funded veteran-family services nonprofit with strong community donor engagement.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Long-established veterans service organization providing free rides to medical appointments and other veteran support. Comparable as a veterans service nonprofit with a transportation assistance program (DAV's transportation network), though medical-focused.

Others

• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led nonprofit disaster response organization. Comparable as a veteran-engagement nonprofit leveraging volunteer networks, but focused on humanitarian disaster response rather than memorial flights.

Direct peers

• Veterans Airlift Command: Nonprofit that provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical and other needs. Direct peer in the chartered/volon nonprofit aviation space serving veteran beneficiaries, though focused on medical transport rather than memorial visits.
• DreamFlights: Nonprofit that flies WWII veterans to Washington D.C. memorials using donated charter flights, founded in 2008. Direct peer—same mission, similar beneficiary base, same charter-flight-to-D.C.-memorials model—though DreamFlights focuses exclusively on WWII veterans.
• Chicago Honor Flight: One of the largest Honor Flight Network hubs, transporting Chicago-area veterans to Washington D.C. memorials on chartered flights. Direct peer operating an identical model in an adjacent Midwest region; useful comparison for scale and operational practices.
• Air Charity Network: Network of nonprofit pilot and aviation organizations providing free air transportation for medical and humanitarian needs. Direct peer in donated-flight nonprofit aviation; comparable volunteer-and-charter-driven model serving beneficiaries with limited resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HonorFlightQuadCities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/honor-flight-of-the-quad-cities

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Quad Cities