STARS AND STRIPES HONOR FLIGHT INC

What STARS AND STRIPES HONOR FLIGHT INC does

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, Inc. (SSHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by Joe Dean and headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The organization operates as a regional hub within the national Honor Flight Network, coordinating all-expenses-paid one-day trips for WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War veterans from General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee to Washington, D.C. to visit their war memorials. Eligibility was expanded to include terminally ill veterans from any war era. Veterans apply via website or paper forms and are placed on a first-come, first-served waiting list, with selections made approximately six weeks before each flight; volunteer guardians aged 18-64 escort each veteran on the trip. The organization is 100% volunteer-run with no paid employees and reports that more than 97 cents of every donated dollar goes directly to program expenses (96% program ratio in 2025).

The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Four revenue streams are documented: individual donations, corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations, $500 guardian donations per escort, and merchandise sales via a BigCartel storefront. Corporate sponsors include Sendik's, We Energies, Milwaukee Tool, Neumann Companies, Yontz Valor Foundation, WISN-TV, BMO Harris, and Wisconsin professional sports franchises (Bucks, Packers, Brewers). The go-to-market motion is event- and community-driven: a Speaker's Bureau delivers presentations to community groups, businesses, and schools; the annual Honor Run & Walk 5K raises funds and awareness; and Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) channels distribute veteran stories and updates.

Operationally, SSHF carries no proprietary technology stack — the product is the flight experience itself, supported by standard web forms (Veteran Application, Guardian Application, Donation Portal, Tributes page) and a merchandise store. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with at least 19 named members and is part of a coordinated Wisconsin hub network that includes Badger Honor Flight (Madison), Old Glory Honor Flight (Appleton), Freedom Honor Flight (La Crosse), and Never Forgotten Honor Flight (Wausau), with cross-border coordination with Honor Flight Northland (Duluth, MN). The national Honor Flight Network has transported nearly 250,000 veterans across approximately 130 regional hubs.

Name

STARS AND STRIPES HONOR FLIGHT INC

Legal name

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, Inc.

Website

https://starsandstripeshonorflight.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, Inc. is a Wisconsin-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and regional hub of the Honor Flight Network that provides all-expenses-paid trips to Washington, D.C. for WWII, Korean, Vietnam, and terminally ill veterans from southeastern Wisconsin, funded entirely by donations and supported by a 100% volunteer workforce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Honor Flight Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Pilgrimage/Religious & Event Air Charters (TLAFABAK)

Keywords

• Veteran honor flights
• Nonprofit veteran services
• Memorial trip programs
• Charitable flight services
• Veteran recognition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Menomonee Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Donations from individuals who wish to support veterans and contribute to the honor flight mission. These donations cover the full cost of flights for veterans at no charge to them.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Donations: Support from corporations including Sendik's, We Energies, Neumann Companies, Milwaukee Tool, Yontz Valor Foundation, WISN-TV, Milwaukee Bucks, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. Additionally, in-kind donations from Visual Image Photography, the Scan Group, Airoldi Brothers, BMO Harris, and other companies.
3. Guardian Donations: Guardians pay a $500 donation each for the honor of escorting a veteran to Washington DC. This contributes to operational costs while keeping flights free for veterans.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including apparel and gifts through the organization's BigCartel online store and at events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, Inc. organizes all-expenses-paid one-day trips to Washington, D.C. for WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans to visit their war memorials and experience a day of honor and thanks. Trips depart from General Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, WI, and include round-trip flights, ground transportation, meals, wheelchair and oxygen support, and dedicated volunteer guardian escorts. Veterans pay nothing; the program is funded through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and guardian donations.

Product overview

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Inc is a nonprofit organization (not a technology company) offering a single core service: all-expenses-paid Honor Flight trips to Washington, D.C. for WWII, Korean, and Vietnam veterans. The organization operates supporting web-based products including a Veteran Application system, Guardian Application system, and Donation Portal. Additional offerings include a Tributes memorial page, Speaker's Bureau, Merchandise Store, and an annual Honor Run & Walk 5K fundraiser. The portfolio is centered on the Honor Flight Experience and its associated volunteer/donor management systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Honor Flight Experience

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 250,000 veterans transported to Washington D.C. memorials at no cost
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sendik'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal corporate sponsor that has helped sponsor recent flights. As a prominent southeastern Wisconsin grocery retailer, Sendik's provides financial support and community visibility for the honor flight mission.
• We EnergiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor energy company sponsor that has supported recent flights. We Energies provides corporate sponsorship funding for the honor flight operations.
• Milwaukee ToolcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of recent honor flights. Milwaukee Tool, a major employer in the region, supports the mission through corporate donations and sponsorship.
• Yontz Valor FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation sponsor that provides grant funding to support honor flight operations and veteran recognition programs.
• WISN-TVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal ABC affiliate in Milwaukee that has sponsored flights and provides media coverage for the honor flight mission.
• Milwaukee BucksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNBA team sponsor that has supported recent flights. The Bucks provide corporate sponsorship and community engagement for veteran recognition.
• Green Bay PackersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNFL team sponsor that has contributed to recent flights. As Wisconsin's beloved NFL franchise, the Packers provide brand visibility and community support for veteran causes.
• Milwaukee BrewersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMLB team sponsor that has supported recent flights. The Brewers contribute corporate sponsorship and community engagement for the honor flight program.
• Neumann CompaniescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal corporate sponsor that has helped sponsor recent flights, providing financial support for veteran honor flights.
• Visual Image PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind donation partner providing photography services for honor flight events and veteran documentation.
• The Scan GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind donation partner providing services to support honor flight operations.
• Airoldi BrothersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind donation partner providing services to support honor flight operations.
• BMO HarrisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial institution providing in-kind donation support for honor flight operations.
• Honor Flight NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe national umbrella organization co-founded by Earl Morse and Jeff Miller in 2007. SSHF is one of approximately 130 regional hubs across the United States. The network has transported nearly 250,000 veterans to Washington D.C. memorials. SSHF operates under the network's standards and mission.
• Freedom Honor Flight (La Crosse, WI)minorOthersAnother Wisconsin Honor Flight hub flying out of La Crosse. Wisconsin hubs work together to find the best fit for veterans based on geographic location and accessibility.
• Badger Honor Flight (Madison, WI)minorOthersWisconsin Honor Flight hub flying out of Madison. Part of the statewide network directing veterans to the most accessible hub.
• Old Glory Honor Flight (Appleton, WI)minorOthersWisconsin Honor Flight hub flying out of Appleton. Coordinates with other Wisconsin hubs to serve veterans across the state.
• Never Forgotten Honor Flight (Wausau, WI)minorOthersWisconsin Honor Flight hub flying out of Wausau. Part of the regional network serving northern Wisconsin veterans.
• Honor Flight Northland (Duluth, MN)minorOthersRegional Honor Flight hub flying out of Duluth, Minnesota. The orange zone hub serving veterans near the Minnesota-Wisconsin border region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Established national nonprofit providing benefits assistance, transportation, and advocacy for disabled veterans. Comparable as a donor-funded veteran-services organization but does not operate charter memorial flights.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large, nationally scaled veteran-services nonprofit offering physical and mental health programs, career transition, and long-term support. Comparable as a veteran-focused donor-funded nonprofit, but materially larger and broader in scope than SSHF.
• Honor Flight Network: The national umbrella organization of which SSHF is a regional hub. Operates across all 50 states with ~130 hubs and has transported nearly 250,000 veterans, providing shared branding, standards, and veteran routing that SSHF benefits from.

Others

• Spirit of '45: National nonprofit dedicated to honoring WWII-era veterans through commemorative events and education. Thematically aligned with SSHF's WWII/Korea/Vietnam veteran recognition mission but operates events rather than charter flights.

Emerging players

• Gary Sinise Foundation: Veteran-focused nonprofit that runs honor, recognition, and direct-service programs for military families. Comparable in mission focus (serving and honoring veterans) but operates a broader portfolio and does not run dedicated charter flights.

Direct peers

• Never Forgotten Honor Flight: Wausau-based Wisconsin Honor Flight hub serving northern Wisconsin veterans. Functionally interchangeable with SSHF except for departure airport and catchment geography.
• Old Glory Honor Flight: Appleton, Wisconsin Honor Flight hub serving the Fox Valley region. Direct peer with identical mission, volunteer model, and charter-flight delivery mechanism; competes only in geographic reach, not product offering.
• Honor Flight Northland: Duluth, Minnesota-based Honor Flight hub serving the Minnesota-Wisconsin border region. Same charter-flight veteran memorial model, identified in company data as a peer regional hub.
• Freedom Honor Flight: Sister Wisconsin Honor Flight hub operating out of La Crosse. Runs the same charter-flight-to-D.C.-memorials model for veterans under the same network umbrella, only differing in geography and catchment area.
• Badger Honor Flight: Madison-based Wisconsin Honor Flight hub offering the same all-expenses-paid charter experience to veterans from a different catchment. Operates with the same guardian model and volunteer-driven cost structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SSHonorFlight
• Facebookfacebook.com/starsandstripeshonorflight/?ref=bookmarks
• Instagraminstagram.com/starsandstripeshonorflight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stars-and-stripes-honor-flight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 STARS AND STRIPES HONOR FLIGHT INC