What National Flag Foundation does

National Flag Foundation is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1968 to educate Americans about the history, etiquette, and symbolism of the U.S. Flag and to honor those who serve under it. It operates as one of the longest-standing organizations in the country devoted entirely to the American Flag, delivering educational content including a comprehensive U.S. Flag Code guide (4 U.S.C. §§ 5–10), a Flag Stories content library, and a historical timeline of the flag's 27 official versions since 1777. The foundation is led by a board chaired by Romel L. Nicholas, Esq., with day-to-day operations handled by Administrator Alicia L. MunzPhelps; total staff is reported at 1–10 employees.

The foundation's core products are two flagship Semiquincentennial initiatives: Sojourn 250, a year-long journey of one American Flag across all 50 states, U.S. territories, and 26 overseas military cemeteries in 10 countries culminating in Washington, D.C.; and Light to Unite, a national call to fly the flag and illuminate landmarks in red, white, and blue on July 4, 2026. Supporting products include educational content sections, flag etiquette guides, and event storytelling distributed via the foundation's website, Instagram, Facebook, and email newsletter.

The foundation's business model is donation-driven. Revenue is generated through one-time and recurring individual donations processed via Stripe (with Apple Pay and Google Pay supported), mail-in checks to the Pittsburgh headquarters, and corporate sponsorships. Preset donation tiers are $100, $250, $500, and $1,000, plus custom amounts. Named financial sponsors include RSM US LLP (lead sponsor of Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn), UPMC, Dollar Bank, and Lamar Advertising. The organization is supported by a broad coalition of veteran, civic, labor, government, and corporate partners — including American Legion, VFW, AMVETS, American Battle Monuments Commission, NFL, United Steelworkers, Teamsters, Scouting America, and National League of Cities — whose logos and participation provide in-kind distribution for NFF programs.

Name

National Flag Foundation

Legal name

National Flag Foundation

Website

https://nationalflagfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

National Flag Foundation is a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1968 that educates Americans on U.S. Flag history and etiquette and honors those who serve under it, running national initiatives like Sojourn 250 and Light to Unite alongside donation-supported educational content.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patriotic Education and Civic Commemoration

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Flag education
• Patriotic commemoration
• Nonprofit foundation
• Flag heritage
• Veteran community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The foundation relies on donated contributions from individuals who support flag education and commemoration initiatives. Donations are accepted online via secure checkout (Stripe) and by mail.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The National Flag Foundation educates Americans about the history, etiquette, and proper care of the U.S. Flag as set out in Title 4 of the U.S. Code, and honors those who serve under it. The foundation operates national patriotic initiatives such as Sojourn 250 (a year-long journey of one historic American Flag across all 50 states, territories, and 26 overseas military cemeteries) and Light to Unite (a national illumination event on July 4, 2026), and supports these programs via tax-deductible donations.

Product overview

The National Flag Foundation is a nonprofit organization offering educational programs, patriotic initiatives, and informational resources centered on the American Flag. The foundation operates two major national initiatives—Sojourn 250 (a year-long flag journey across all 50 states, territories, and overseas cemeteries) and Light to Unite (a call for national illumination and flag flying on July 4, 2026)—alongside educational content including the Flag Stories library and U.S. Flag Code Guide. The organization is headquartered in Pittsburgh and supports its mission through donation processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Light to Unite: A national initiative calling on Americans to fly the American Flag and illuminate cities, towns, and landmarks in red, white, and blue on July 4, 2026 to mark America's 250th birthday.
• Sojourn 250

Products and services

• Sojourn 250 A year-long patriotic pilgrimage of one American Flag to every overseas military cemetery, U.S. territory, and state, culminating in Washington, D.C. for America's 250th anniversary. The initiative included a Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn with 13 community gatherings across the region from July 1-4, 2026.
• Light to Unite A national unity initiative calling on Americans to illuminate buildings, landmarks, and homes in red, white, and blue while flying the American Flag on July 4, 2026 to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The initiative was joined by hundreds of organizations across all 50 states.
• Flag Stories An educational content library featuring stories about flag history, etiquette, evolution, and the people and moments that shaped the American Flag. Includes articles such as 'How Flag Day Became a National Holiday,' 'The History and Evolution of the American Flag,' 'The High Schooler Who Designed the 50-Star Flag,' and others.
• U.S. Flag Code Guide A comprehensive plain-language guide to the U.S. Flag Code (4 U.S.C. §§ 5–10), covering when to display the flag, how to display it, flying at half-staff, respect for the flag, and conduct during hoisting, lowering, or passing. Includes FAQ section addressing common questions about flag etiquette.
• The Flag (Heritage, Etiquette, Stories) The foundational educational section of the National Flag Foundation covering the history and evolution of the American Flag (from 1777 to present with 27 official changes), proper flag etiquette and care, and user-submitted flag stories. Features visual timeline of flag versions from 1777, 1795, 1818, and 1960.
• Donation Processing Secure online donation services allowing supporters to make one-time or monthly contributions to support the foundation's mission. The foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 23-7046914). Donations are processed securely via Stripe with Apple Pay and Google Pay supported. Mail-in check donations are also accepted.

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

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• America250coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational commemoration partner for America's 250th birthday. NFF led Sojourn 250 as part of America250's America Waves program, a joint initiative to honor the American Flag nationally.
• American LegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe American Legion Riders carried the official Sojourn 250 Flag on every mile of its final journey from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Legion posts conduct flag retirement ceremonies.
• American Battle Monuments CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSojourn 250 visited all 26 overseas American military cemeteries managed by ABMC as part of its year-long journey.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerVFW posts accept worn flags for ceremonial retirement and support national unity initiatives around the Flag.
• National Football League (NFL)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerNFL is listed as a supporter of Light to Unite and the National Flag Foundation initiatives.
• United SteelworkersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted 'The People Who Make America' event at USW headquarters during Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn. Major labor union supporter of NFF initiatives.
• National Sheriffs' AssociationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting Sojourn 250 and national flag initiatives.
• Scouting AmericamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted 'Flags United' event at Flag Plaza during Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn. Scouting troops conduct flag retirement ceremonies.
• 911th Airlift WingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst stop of Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn on July 1, 2026. Military installation honoring the Flag's arrival to the region.
• TeamstersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLabor union partner supporting Light to Unite and national unity initiatives.
• Annin FlagmakersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFlag manufacturing partner supporting national flag initiatives.
• Lamar AdvertisingmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvertising partner supporting Light to Unite visibility across the country.
• International Association of Fire ChiefsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting Light to Unite and national flag initiatives.
• Council of CarpentersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLabor union partner supporting national unity initiatives.
• AMVETSmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran organization partner supporting flag initiatives and Light to Unite.
• Paralyzed Veterans of AmericamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran organization partner supporting national flag initiatives.
• Vietnam Veterans of AmericamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran organization partner supporting Light to Unite.
• American Gold Star MothersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization honoring fallen service members, partner in national initiatives.
• National League of CitiesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCivic organization partner supporting Light to Unite across American cities.
• Disabled American VeteransmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran organization partner in national flag initiatives.
• Military Order of the Purple HeartmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVeteran organization partner supporting flag initiatives.
• International Association of Fire FightersmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirefighter union partner supporting Light to Unite initiatives.
• United States Capitol Historical SocietymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHistorical organization partner in national commemorations.
• Rotary Club of PittsburghsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCivic organization partner in Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn.
• Senator John Heinz History CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPittsburgh historical institution partner in regional commemorations.
• Fort LigoniermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical site partner for Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn 'America Begins Here' event.
• Fort Pitt MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorical museum partner for Pittsburgh Regional Sojourn 'Confluence, Conflict, Renewal' event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): Major congressionally chartered veterans organization. Comparable as a NFF partner on flag retirement and national unity initiatives, with overlapping veteran/patriotic programming but a much broader member services scope.
• Mount Vernon Ladies' Association: Private nonprofit established in 1858 to preserve George Washington's estate. Comparable as a long-running heritage/educational nonprofit with national reach, donor-supported programming, and a flagship civic-identity mission.
• American Legion: The largest U.S. wartime veterans service organization. Comparable as a NFF core partner conducting flag ceremonies, retirement events, and patriotic community programming — but operating at vastly greater scale across many more programmatic verticals.
• Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: Nonprofit operating the world's largest living-history museum focused on American Revolutionary-era heritage. Comparable as a heritage/educational nonprofit with donation-driven programming, national visitor engagement, and civic-education content.
• Stars and Stripes (publication): Editorially independent U.S. military news publication. Comparable only thematically as a nationally distributed institution connected to American military and flag identity, though operating in journalism rather than education.

Emerging players

• Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation: Nonprofit preserving Medal of Honor recipients' stories and conducting patriotic education. Comparable as a smaller nonprofit focused specifically on patriotic-character education and veteran storytelling.

Direct peers

• National Civic League: Nonpartisan nonprofit advancing democratic governance and civic engagement. Comparable as a civic-education nonprofit serving schools and community organizations with curricular resources — directly adjacent to NFF's patriotic civic-education mission.
• American Battlefield Trust: Nonprofit dedicated to preserving American Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields. Comparable as a heritage/patriotic nonprofit using donations and partner coalitions to advance public engagement with foundational American history.
• National Constitution Center: Nonprofit chartered by Congress to educate Americans about the Constitution. Comparable mission as a civic-education nonprofit addressing public knowledge gaps in foundational American history and symbols — directly applicable as NFF builds out its educational content.
• America250: The U.S. Semiquincentennial commission coordinating America's 250th birthday programming. Directly comparable because NFF led Sojourn 250 as part of America250's America Waves program — both organizations run civic/patriotic commemorative programming around the same national milestone.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalFlagFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalflagfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-flag-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Flag Foundation