What VFW Foundation does

VFW Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization (EIN 43-1758998) established in 1996 as the official charity of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the Foundation raises funds to deliver four core programs: National Veterans Service (free expert VA claims assistance), Unmet Needs financial assistance (grants up to $2,500 paid directly to creditors, no repayment, active since 2004), Disaster Relief (boots-on-the-ground deployment via the network of nearly 6,000 VFW Posts), and the Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship (up to $5,000 per semester for veterans pursuing post-secondary education, administered jointly with Student Veterans of America). The Foundation also operates three grant programs (#StillServing Grant up to $1,500, Post Assistance Grant up to $2,500, Uniting for Veterans Grant up to $1,500) targeted at VFW Posts, Districts, and Auxiliaries.

The Foundation's business model is purely donation-driven, with no commercial product or pricing structure. Revenue is sourced from individual donations (online, mail-in, text-to-donate, vehicle donation, donor-advised funds, CFC #10511), corporate partnerships (Sport Clips Haircuts, Burger King franchisees, Humana, Twisted X, USAA), product partner contributions (John Paul Mitchell Systems, Sexy Hair, Gibs Grooming, Actiiv, American Crew, Direct Beauty Express), and planned giving/estate gifts. Per the Foundation, 72% of each dollar received over the last decade has been applied directly to veteran service, community service, legislative advocacy, and military service programs. The Foundation operates with a lean staff (1–10 employees) and is governed by Executive Director Hal Roesch II.

The operational footprint is anchored on the parent VFW's network of nearly 6,000 Posts in almost every U.S. city, providing unmatched local presence for disaster relief and direct veteran outreach. Customer-facing services are delivered free of charge; the Foundation's value proposition is anchored on a $1 = $1,585 return-for-veterans ratio and the recoupment of more than $13 billion in VA compensation and pension benefits in fiscal year 2022 alone. External credibility is supported by Charity Navigator 3-Star and Candid/GuideStar Platinum Transparency 2023 designations.

Name

VFW Foundation

Legal name

Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation

Website

https://vfwfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VFW Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity (founded 1996) that raises funds to deliver free veteran services — VA claims assistance, emergency financial grants, disaster relief, and scholarships — for U.S. military veterans, active-duty service members, and their families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Services Nonprofit

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterans & Military Family Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAI), Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF)

Keywords

• Veterans services
• Charitable foundation
• Disaster relief
• Educational scholarships
• Military family support

Headquarters

HQ city

Mound City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct charitable contributions from individuals through online portal, mail-in donations, text-to-donate, and vehicle donations. Over the last decade, 72% of each dollar received was applied directly to veteran service programs.
2. Corporate Partnerships & Giving: Direct corporate philanthropic support through donations, cause marketing campaigns, round-up programs, event sponsorships (VFW National Convention), and employee engagement including matching donations and payroll giving.
3. Product Partner Contributions: Sport Clips product partners including John Paul Mitchell Systems, Sexy Hair, Gibs Grooming, Actiiv, American Crew, and Direct Beauty Express contribute substantially to the Help A Hero Scholarship fundraising campaign.
4. Planned Giving & Estate Gifts: Irrevocable gifts of cash or securities to establish donor-advised funds, bequests, and other planned giving vehicles that provide tax-advantaged charitable giving options.
5. Combined Federal Campaign: Federal employees and retirees can contribute through the Combined Federal Campaign, charity #10511.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VFW Foundation is the official 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, raising and distributing funds to support military veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Its core offerings include free expert VA claims assistance, emergency financial hardship grants paid directly to creditors (up to $2,500), disaster relief mobilized through nearly 6,000 VFW Posts, and educational scholarships for veterans pursuing post-secondary degrees.

Product overview

VFW Foundation operates as a nonprofit charity organization (501(c)(3)) providing a portfolio of programs and grants supporting military veterans, service members, and their families. The core offerings include: National Veterans Service for VA claims assistance; Financial Assistance for Service Members (Unmet Needs) for emergency grants; Disaster Relief through a nationwide network of VFW Posts; and the Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship for educational funding. Additionally, the foundation offers three grant programs (#StillServing Grant, Post Assistance Grant, and Uniting for Veterans Grant) specifically designed for VFW Posts, Districts, and Auxiliaries to support their community service missions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Veterans Service (NVS) Expert VA claims assistance provided free of charge through a network of VFW-accredited service officers who help veterans navigate the claims process and secure benefits they are entitled to. Intended for U.S. military veterans seeking compensation, pension, and survivor benefits.
• Financial Assistance for Service Members (Unmet Needs) Financial assistance program providing grants of up to $2,500 to active-duty service members experiencing hardship due to deployment, military pay errors, or service-connected injuries. Grants are paid directly to creditors and require no repayment. Intended for currently serving military personnel, including activated National Guard and Reserve members.
• Disaster Relief Boots-on-the-ground disaster relief support through a network of nearly 6,000 VFW Posts across the United States, providing emergency shelter, food, water, medical supplies, and recovery assistance during major disasters. Intended for veterans and communities affected by natural disasters.
• Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship Educational scholarship program in partnership with Student Veterans of America and Sport Clips Haircuts, offering up to $5,000 per semester for tuition and fees to service members and veterans pursuing post-secondary education when G.I. Bill funds are exhausted. Intended for military service members and veterans enrolled in accredited post-secondary programs.
• VFW #StillServing Grant Grant of up to $1,500 available to VFW Posts, Districts, and Auxiliaries to offset expenses incurred during community service projects involving direct member engagement with their community.
• Post Assistance Grant Grant of up to $2,500 offered exclusively to VFW Posts for building repairs and equipment that enhance or restore their ability to serve veterans and their community. Available once every three years per Post.
• Uniting for Veterans Grant Matching grant of up to $1,500 available to VFW Posts and Auxiliaries for monetary and food donations to local food banks, pantries, and homeless shelters. The VFW Foundation matches $1 for every pound of food or dollar donated.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recouped more than $13 billion in compensation and pension benefits for veterans in fiscal year 2022
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supportive.

• Sport Clips HaircutscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 January 2025Sport Clips Haircuts is a veteran-founded corporate partner that has contributed over $16 million to the Help A Hero Scholarship program since 2013. In 2025, Sport Clips raised $1.33 million for student veterans. The partnership includes annual fundraising campaigns, Veterans Day free haircuts for service members, and cause marketing through product partners. Sport Clips store owners commit $2 per haircut on Veterans Day, with additional contributions from clients, team members, and product partners.
• Student Veterans of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent Veterans of America partners with VFW Foundation and Sport Clips Haircuts to administer the Help A Hero Scholarship program, the largest veterans' scholarship program of its kind, providing up to $5,000 per semester for tuition and fees.
• Burger King FranchiseessupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerBurger King franchisees are proud supporters of the VFW Foundation's Unmet Needs program. Individual franchisees conduct annual fundraisers benefiting the program, with franchisees reporting that customers and crew members connect personally with supporting veterans.
• HumanasupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerHumana is a corporate partner of the VFW Foundation, with Cara Brown serving as National Director. Humana values the partnership for supporting veterans and creating meaningful programs that make a difference in communities.
• Twisted XsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerTwisted X Global Brands, led by CEO Prasad Reddy (who became a U.S. citizen in 1980 welcomed by VFW members), is a corporate sponsor of the Voice of Democracy Scholarship program and supporter of the VFW Foundation's commitment to veterans.
• USAAsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerUSAA CEO featured in VFW Foundation corporate partnership materials as a partner supporting veterans.
• John Paul Mitchell SystemssupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerJohn Paul Mitchell Systems is a product partner contributing to Sport Clips Haircuts' annual Help A Hero Scholarship fundraising campaign.
• Direct Beauty ExpresssupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerDirect Beauty Express is a product partner contributing to Sport Clips Haircuts' annual Help A Hero Scholarship fundraising campaign.
• Sexy HairsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerSexy Hair is a product partner contributing to Sport Clips Haircuts' annual Help A Hero Scholarship fundraising campaign.
• Gibs GroomingsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerGibs Grooming is a product partner contributing to Sport Clips Haircuts' annual Help A Hero Scholarship fundraising campaign.
• ActiivsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerActiiv is a product partner contributing to Sport Clips Haircuts' annual Help A Hero Scholarship fundraising campaign.
• American CrewsupportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Crew is a product partner contributing to Sport Clips Haircuts' annual Help A Hero Scholarship fundraising campaign.
• John Rich (Country Music Artist)supportiveGTM or Marketing PartnerCountry singing legend John Rich partners with VFW Foundation for the Return the Favor campaign, increasing awareness among veterans of what benefits they are due and fighting predatory companies that charge fees.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led disaster response nonprofit mobilizing military veterans for emergency relief operations. Comparable to VFW Foundation's disaster relief program delivered through its 6,000-Post network.
• Semper Fi & America's Fund: Veteran nonprofit providing immediate financial assistance, case management, and support for critically wounded, ill, and injured service members. Comparable to VFW's Unmet Needs program as a direct-aid veterans charity.
• Bob Woodruff Foundation: Veteran-focused nonprofit providing grants and community-based support for post-9/11 veterans and families. Comparable as a grantmaking veterans charity with corporate and individual donor funding streams.
• Wounded Warrior Project: One of the largest and best-known U.S. veterans service nonprofits, providing direct programs (mental health, career transition, physical wellness) to post-9/11 veterans. Directly comparable to VFW Foundation as a competing donor-funded veteran support charity.
• The American Legion: Large congressionally chartered wartime veterans organization with its own charitable foundation providing scholarships, disaster relief, and veterans assistance. Directly comparable as a parallel nonprofit veterans charity structure.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Major celebrity-backed veterans charity funding programs for wounded heroes, first responders, and military families. Comparable as a high-visibility, donor-funded veterans services nonprofit.
• Fisher House Foundation: Major veterans and military family nonprofit providing free housing near military hospitals and direct grants. Comparable to VFW Foundation as a donor-funded charity serving military families with both facility-based and direct-aid programs.
• Student Veterans of America (SVA): National nonprofit coordinating the Help A Hero Scholarship program with VFW Foundation and Sport Clips. Directly comparable as a veterans-education charity with overlapping scholarship administration.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Congressionally chartered veterans service organization providing free VA claims assistance, benefits advocacy, and direct support programs. Directly comparable to VFW Foundation's National Veterans Service and veteran-support mission.

Broad incumbents

• USO (United Service Organizations): Large congressionally chartered nonprofit providing programs and services to active-duty service members and families worldwide. Comparable as a broader incumbent veteran/military support charity with a much wider footprint than VFW Foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vfw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about VFW Foundation