What Blue Skies Foundation does

Blue Skies Foundation (legal name Brotallion Blue Skies Foundation) is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in early 2020 by three Active Duty Army Aviators, in direct response to the September 26, 2019 UH-60 crash that killed MAJ Trevor Joseph. The organization is purpose-built to serve the Army Aviation community and its Gold Star Families through three programmatic pillars: Gold Star Support (delivering $2,500 in immediate ACH assistance to each Primary Next of Kin and running month-long fundraisers for each mishap), Legacy Preservation (memorial apparel, patches, steel bracelets via Steel Hearts, custom airframe models via CQ Brick, and the PAT 25 Monument campaign), and Education Assistance (an endowment-funded scholarship program for Gold Star children). It is governed by a board of directors and operated by an eight-person staff based in Austin.

The foundation does not operate proprietary technology; its operational infrastructure consists of a Shopify e-commerce storefront for branded and memorial apparel (priced from $4.99 stickers to $79.00 Nike Dri-FIT polos), mail and online donation channels, and standard social/web presence. The technical substance lies in the beneficiary workflow: when an Army Aviation mishap occurs, BSF engages unit leadership and Casualty Assistance Officers to activate support, designs commemorative apparel, runs fundraisers over roughly a month, and channels proceeds to families.

The business model is a hybrid of tax-deductible donations (individuals, corporations, CFC-eligible federal employees), direct-to-consumer e-commerce apparel sales (with 100% of memorial apparel profits passed through to Gold Star families), incident-specific fundraisers, and corporate sponsorship via an "Above The Best" tier anchored by co-founder-linked Brotallion. Distribution relies on the Gold Star Liaison Network of previously served family members, partnerships with TUFF (household needs), Steel Hearts (bracelet fulfillment with a $10-per-bracelet donation to BSF), CQ Brick (custom airframe builds), MD Helicopters (co-branded apparel), and grassroots community events such as the annual Rivalry Relay. Cumulative program impact since founding includes 49 Gold Star families served, $676K in financial support, $96K in Education Assistance, and 1,454 memorial items distributed.

Name

Blue Skies Foundation

Legal name

Brotallion Blue Skies Foundation

Website

https://flybbsf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blue Skies Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the U.S. Army Aviation community and its Gold Star Families through immediate financial assistance, memorial apparel fundraisers, legacy preservation programs, and education scholarships, funded by donations, e-commerce sales, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Family Support Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans & Military Family Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Gold Star family support
• Military family assistance
• Nonprofit charitable services
• Memorial apparel fundraising
• Veteran education scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and other organizations. The organization accepts donations through their secure online server and by mail.
2. E-commerce Sales: Sale of memorial apparel and merchandise including t-shirts, hats, hoodies, and other branded items. Proceeds support the mission. Memorial apparel profits (100%) are granted directly to Gold Star families.
3. Memorial Apparel Fundraisers: For each mishap supported, the foundation designs commemorative T-shirts that serve as fundraising vehicles, with 100% of profits granted directly to Gold Star families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Blue Skies Foundation is a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides immediate financial assistance ($2,500 ACH to each Primary Next of Kin), legacy preservation services (memorial apparel, patches, bracelets, custom airframe models), and education scholarships for Gold Star Families of the U.S. Army Aviation community. The foundation is activated upon Army Aviation mishaps and works through unit leadership and Casualty Assistance Officers to deliver support, with 100% of memorial apparel profits granted directly to affected families.

Product overview

Blue Skies Foundation is a veteran-founded 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the Army Aviation community and Gold Star Families. The organization operates a portfolio of memorial merchandise products (memorial apparel, patches, bracelets) and three core programmatic pillars: Gold Star Support providing immediate $2,500 financial assistance and memorial fundraisers, Legacy Preservation offering commemorative items and monuments, and Education Assistance through scholarships for Gold Star children. General branded apparel supports general foundation operations. The product ecosystem centers on turning grief into tangible support, with memorial apparel proceeds directly funding Gold Star family assistance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gold Star Support Program Provides immediate $2,500 ACH financial assistance to each Primary Next of Kin (PNOK), month-long fundraising campaigns, and memorial apparel design for Gold Star Families following an Army Aviation mishap. Activated through Army unit leadership and Casualty Assistance Officers.
• Legacy Preservation Program Provides memorial bracelets (via Steel Hearts partnership), PVC memorial patches, custom airframe build kits (via CQ Brick partnership), and physical monuments honoring fallen Army Aviators and supporting Gold Star Families' legacy needs.
• Education Assistance Program Scholarship program administered through the Blue Skies Endowment Fund that supports tuition, room and board, and books for Gold Star children pursuing college, trade school, or aviation training.
• Memorial Apparel Commemorative t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and long-sleeve shirts honoring specific fallen Army Aviators; 100% of profits are granted directly to the Gold Star families of the named service member.
• BSF Branded Apparel Branded apparel including t-shirts, polo shirts, 1/4 zip jackets, sweatshirts, hoodies, silkies, and embroidered hats featuring the Blue Skies Foundation logo; general sales support foundation operations.
• Memorial Patches PVC memorial patches honoring fallen Army Aviators and units, priced at $10.00 each, used for legacy preservation and unit recognition.
• Memorial Bracelets Steel memorial bracelets from Steel Hearts honoring fallen service members, fulfilled through Steel Hearts' website with $10 of each purchase donated to Blue Skies Foundation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 49 Gold Star families served
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered above the best, flagship, core and program.

• Brotallionabove the bestGTM or Marketing PartnerBrotallion is the presenting sponsor and a leading provider of quality, mission-ready gear for aviation units. Co-founder Spencer Payne co-founded both Brotallion and Blue Skies Foundation. Brotallion is described as 'Above The Best' - companies committed to maximum philanthropic impact.
• Above The Best PartnersflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCompanies and organizations committed to making their maximum philanthropic impact, including Brotallion and other partners listed in the Above The Best tier.
• The United for the Fallen (TUFF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTUFF coordinates household needs of Gold Star families served by Blue Skies Foundation, identifying what families need most at home and coordinating trusted local professionals to address those needs. TUFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting immediate and long-term domestic needs of families of those killed in the line of duty.
• Steel HeartscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteel Hearts provides steel memorial bracelets for affected units and Gold Star families. For each bracelet purchased through their website, Steel Hearts donates $10 to the Blue Skies Foundation. Steel Hearts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to honor fallen service members and raise money for charities through unique memorials.
• Whiskey Valor Foundation (WVF)programStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner supporting Blue Skies Foundation programming initiatives.
• ARCO MurrayprogramStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner supporting Blue Skies Foundation programming through construction and facility support.
• CQ BrickprogramStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough partnership with CQ Brick, each Gold Star Family receives a custom build kit of the airframe their loved one flew, serving as a lasting tribute and meaningful personal memorial.
• MD HelicoptersprogramGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration with MD Helicopters commemorating the long-standing history of the Loach platform, with co-branded t-shirts available in the BSF shop.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): Largest U.S. nonprofit providing comfort, care, and resources to all military surviving families across services and causes of death. BSF serves as an Army Aviation-specific complement to TAPS' cross-service case management and peer support model.
• Folds of Honor: Provides post-9/11 educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members across all branches. BSF's Education Assistance Program operates as a narrower, Army Aviation-focused version of the same scholarship model.
• Gary Sinise Foundation: Large 501(c)(3) serving veterans, first responders, and their families through programs including financial assistance, adapted homes, and family support. Comparable in mission scope and donor-driven funding model, though at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Becoming One Heart Foundation: Army Aviation-aligned Gold Star family nonprofit originally established by CW4 Derek Abbott (whose widow Brandi Abbott serves as a BSF Gold Star Liaison). Operates in the same niche with significant staff/program overlap with BSF.
• Special Operations Warrior Foundation: Provides scholarship grants and immediate financial assistance to surviving children and families of Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps special operations personnel killed in the line of duty. Closely comparable mission and beneficiary overlap with BSF.
• Green Beret Foundation: BSF explicitly modeled itself after the Green Beret Foundation, providing Gold Star family financial assistance, legacy preservation, and education scholarships for a special operations community. Operates as a 501(c)(3) serving a closely analogous military SOF beneficiary population.
• Steel Hearts: 501(c)(3) that creates steel memorial bracelets honoring fallen service members and donates a portion of proceeds to military-supporting charities including BSF. Shares the memorial merchandise fundraising model and beneficiary overlap with BSF.
• United for the Fallen (TUFF): 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting immediate and long-term domestic needs of families of those killed in the line of duty. Strategic partner of BSF that handles household-needs coordination, providing a directly comparable service to BSF Gold Star families.
• Never Alone Widows: Peer support organization for military widows, partnered with Becoming One Heart Foundation. Operates in adjacent Gold Star widow support space and shares the peer-liaison model that is core to BSF's Gold Star Liaison Network.

Emerging players

• Boot Campaign: 501(c)(3) supporting veterans, active-duty military, and their families through programs addressing invisible wounds, employment, and family assistance. Operates in adjacent veteran-family support space with a similar community-driven, branded-merchandise fundraising approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/blue_skies_fnd
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrotallionBlueSkiesFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blue-skies-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/blue_skies_foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Blue Skies Foundation