What Puget Sound Honor Flight does

Puget Sound Honor Flight (PSHF) is a Washington-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating as an Official Hub of the national Honor Flight Network. Founded in March 2013 by a group of Puget Sound area residents with guidance from Inland Northwest Honor Flight and Honor Flight Chicago, it transports Western Washington WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War era veterans at no cost to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at the memorials built in their honor. From an initial waitlist of over 200 veterans, the organization has served more than 2,110 veterans across its history, with 619 veterans currently on the waitlist. The model prioritizes WWII and Korean War veterans and those with terminal illness, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Operationally, PSHF runs four flights per year (April, May, September, October) from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, carrying approximately 75 veterans per trip with a corresponding escort of volunteer guardians. Trips cost roughly $1,000 per veteran to operate and are paid for entirely through donations and grants — no federal funds are accepted. Supporting infrastructure includes a guardian escort program (guardians pay a $1,025 fee covering flights, hotels, meals, transfers, and tours), volunteer training delivered via Canva, trip photo distribution through SmugMug, and event-based fundraising via Givebutter. The organization is staffed entirely by volunteers under a Board of Directors led by Board Chair Jean Carlon, with Emeritus Founders including Renee Peavey, Barb Schwartz, and Jim Peavey.

The revenue model is fundamentally donation-driven across three streams: individual contributions (the primary source), corporate sponsorships (notably Alaska Airlines as flagship partner and Talking Rain as a core sponsor), and guardian fees. Corporate and fraternal partners also include American Legion, VFW, Am Vets, DAV, and MOPH. Donations are additionally accepted via alternative assets (stocks, donor advised funds, IRA distributions, life insurance, and bequests). The organization raises profile through community presentations, events, and earned media (including King 5 Evening coverage in March 2015), with no app, no proprietary technology platform, and minimal reliance on AI tooling. Distribution of services is regionally limited to Western Washington and is delivered through direct veteran applications via the organization's website.

Name

Puget Sound Honor Flight

Legal name

Puget Sound Honor Flight

Website

https://pugetsoundhonorflight.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Puget Sound Honor Flight is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit and Official Hub of the Honor Flight Network that arranges free trips for Western Washington WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War era veterans to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C., funded entirely by donations, corporate sponsorships, and guardian fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grapeview

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Primary funding source from individuals across the country who donate to support veteran flights. Donations are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3).
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors including Alaska Airlines and Talking Rain provide significant contributions. Additional support from fraternal organizations like American Legion, VFW, Am Vets, DAV, and MOPH.
3. Guardian Fees: Guardians pay a $1,025 donation to cover their travel expenses, which includes roundtrip airfare, shared hotel accommodations, meals, transfers, tour bus, and merchandise.
4. Alternative Donations: Accepts gifts of appreciated investment assets, stocks, bonds, donor advised funds, IRA retirement assets, life insurance, bequests, and memorial/tribute gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Puget Sound Honor Flight provides free, all-expenses-paid trips from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Washington, D.C. for Western Washington WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War era veterans to visit and reflect at memorials built in their honor. Trips include roundtrip airfare, two nights of shared hotel accommodations, all meals, transfers, a tour bus, and airport send-off and welcome home celebrations. The program operates approximately four trips per year (April, May, September, October) with about 75 veterans per trip.

Product overview

Puget Sound Honor Flight is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer nonprofit organization that operates as an Official Hub of the Honor Flight Network. The core offering is the Honor Flight Program, providing free trips to Washington D.C. for WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War era veterans. Supporting services include the Guardian Escort Service (with $1,025 fee), the Veteran Application Program for trip registration, and the Donation Program accepting various contribution methods. Additional offerings include Trip Photo Service via SmugMug, the Volunteer Program for operational support, and the PSHF Golf Classic as a primary fundraising event. Since 2013, the organization has transported over 2,110 veterans with approximately 75 veterans per trip.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Honor Flight Program Free all-expenses-paid trips from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Washington, D.C. for Western Washington WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War era veterans to visit and reflect at memorials built in their honor. Approximately 75 veterans per trip across four annual departures (April, May, September, October). Includes roundtrip airfare, two nights of shared hotel, all meals, transfers, a tour bus, and ceremonial airport send-off and welcome home.
• Guardian Escort Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,110 veterans served from 2013-2025 with an additional 2,000+ guardians and volunteers

Named customers3 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

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Honor Flight NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Hub of the Honor Flight Network. The network provides support, advice, guidance, and shared protocols for operating honor flights. Puget Sound Honor Flight was established with help from the network and sister hubs.
• Alaska AirlinesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing donated tickets for some veterans and operating flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Veterans can request Atmos Rewards points be applied retroactively after trips.
• Talking RaincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor contributing to funding the honor flights.
• American Legion (Local Posts)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFraternal organization providing contributions and support for veterans.
• VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFraternal organization providing contributions and support for veterans.
• Inland Northwest Honor FlightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister hub that provided guidance and support during the founding of Puget Sound Honor Flight.
• Honor Flight ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister hub that provided guidance and support during the founding of Puget Sound Honor Flight.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pugetsoundhonorflight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/puget-sound-honor-flight

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Puget Sound Honor Flight