Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
501(c)(19) Donations tax-deductible
Only 57% goes to programs $47 to raise $100 Strong reserves
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a 501(c)(19) organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, registered in 1976, with $103,347,960 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it B, and it directs about 57% of spending to programs.
406 W 34th St, Kansas City, MO, 64111 EIN 44-0474290 Since 1976
Revenue (FY2024)
$103.3M
▲ 9.9% vs prior year
Expenses (FY2024)
$101.8M
Net assets
$145.9M
Employees
222
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
B
★★★★
Rated on 4 of 4 criteria.
Held down by its weakest criterion — a strong score on one criterion can't hide a weak one.
How the rating works →CProgram efficiency40% of the rating57% to programs · $47 to raise $100
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. For Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States: 57% to programs · $47 to raise $100 earns a C on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating17 mo reserves · +2% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States: 17 mo reserves · +2% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Transparency10% of the rating5 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States: 5 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Show this grade on your website
A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Mission
See schedule o.
What they do
Fraternal and member service activities - fraternal activities and member services are vital support components to the vfw national headquarters as it works to accomplish the vfw mission at state and local levels. this includes grants of $537,800 to support these activities and to provide training on leadership and administration with the information and incentives needed to mobilize volunteer efforts in local communities around the world. these efforts include patriotic activities, community projects, youth activities and support of active-duty military personnel, guard and reserves. the vfw national headquarters also provides dues processing services, fundraising services, and other administrative support to allow the vfw state and local levels to focus their resources on veteran service and community service activities. vfw provides a magazine and emblematic supplies to members and veterans to promote historical education, and commemoration and promotion of patriotic support and activities. the vfw magazine ensures members and the public remain apprised of legislative and administrative issues concerning veterans, health problems confronting veterans, historical and commemorative events and activities, support provided by members in support of vfw-sponsored programs in their local communities and other information to encourage members to take action.
Community service and public awareness - community service is a major priority of the vfw. this includes grants of $876,975 to support these activities around the world. the vfw's mission includes maintaining true allegiance to the government of the united states of america and fidelity to its constitution and laws, fostering true patriotism and love of country, and maintaining and extending the institutions of american freedom. to fulfill these objectives, the vfw has a comprehensive set of educational and informational programs, materials, and activities that reach out to every american virtually every day of the year. the major elements of vfw community service include community activities, citizenship education, safety programs, and youth activities. community activities include assistance in conducting blood drives, recycling programs, and neighborhood and highway beautification projects; aid to senior citizens, volunteering in hospitals and nursing homes, and assisting families in times of personal tragedy or illness; and assistance to churches and schools through volunteering and speaker programs. citizenship education, materials, and activities are geared to remind, educate, and inform citizens of their country's traditions, freedoms, and the need to preserve and protect them. key elements of citizenship education include publications and dissemination of information honoring the flag, proper flag display, the flag history, and the flag code as well as periodic distribution of free flags. support of citizenship education in schools through distribution of citizenship education materials and school folders containing copies of the declaration of independence, the constitution, and other important historical documents; publication and dissemination of information concerning official patriotic holidays such as memorial day, v-j day, veterans day, and d-day; celebration of patriotic holidays through participation in parades, presentations and assemblies; distribution of patriotic literature and emblematic materials to individuals, organizations and schools; and activities to support "get out the vote" campaigns and veterans in the classroom. the safety materials and activities in the overall community service category include pedestrian safety, drug awareness, recreational safety and home and fire safety. the vfw made grants of $631,000 to assist vfw posts and auxiliaries with outreach projects in their respective communities. for youth activities, the vfw supports america's youth athletic programs by encouraging local posts to sponsor teams and provide leadership and ment
Contact & location
- Address
- 406 W 34th St, Kansas City, MO, 64111
- City
- Kansas City
- State
- Missouri
- Category
- —
- Subcategory
- —
- Phone
- …
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $92.1M (FY2013) to $103.3M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $146.9MNet assets $145.9M
Operating margin
1.5%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$292.8M
Total liabilities
$146.9M
Net assets
$145.9M
Salaries & benefits
$18.7M
18% of expenses
Board members
62
56 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $103,347,960▲9.9% | $101,756,426▲7.9% | $145,939,957▲6.2% | $292,818,260▲9.0% | 990 |
| 2023 | $94,058,782▲5.9% | $94,324,551▲0.2% | $137,452,568▲14.1% | $268,531,810▲10.4% | 990 |
| 2022 | $88,856,752▼9.4% | $94,106,094▼1.7% | $120,489,003▼1.5% | $243,276,190▲0.4% | 990 |
| 2021 | $98,113,411▼8.8% | $95,748,868▲0.7% | $122,281,587▼15.7% | $242,275,685▼22.1% | 990 |
| 2020 | $107,587,258▲14.1% | $95,105,236▲6.7% | $145,129,015▲30.5% | $310,989,938▲18.6% | 990 |
| 2019 | $94,271,941▼3.2% | $89,096,166▼4.4% | $111,227,077▲12.3% | $262,275,633▲5.1% | 990 |
| 2018 | $97,371,550▼4.9% | $93,245,021▼6.1% | $99,033,122▼4.8% | $249,534,580▼14.5% | 990 |
| 2017 | $102,350,802▲11.9% | $99,261,258▲15.8% | $104,041,166▲12.6% | $291,763,327▲7.1% | 990 |
| 2016 | $91,462,880▼0.9% | $85,749,812▲1.9% | $92,368,006▲16.4% | $272,436,936▲0.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $92,282,292▼6.5% | $84,184,932▼5.5% | $79,368,709▲9.9% | $270,212,702▼0.8% | 990 |
| 2014 | $98,724,340▲7.3% | $89,099,521▲3.4% | $72,245,777▼6.3% | $272,508,580▼0.8% | 990 |
| 2013 | $92,050,664 | $86,190,833▲1.9% | $77,109,106▲18.1% | $274,572,983▲14.8% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $84,585,681▼7.6% | $65,290,840▲52.1% | $239,113,035▲18.2% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $91,554,781▲0.7% | $42,913,840▲1.1% | $202,307,340▲1.0% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $90,883,297▲7.3% | $42,455,569▲32.1% | $200,215,015▲6.9% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $84,696,940 | $32,145,597 | $187,239,672 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Dan West — $225,558 (0.22% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dan West | Adjutant General | 55 | $225,558 |
| Alfred J Lipphardt | Past Cic - Term Ended 8/25 | 55 | $221,515 |
| James Lierz | Chief Accounting Officer | 55 | $220,959 |
| John Muckelbauer | General Counsel | 55 | $218,797 |
| Ryan Gallucci | Exec Director, Washington Off. | 55 | $212,702 |
| Marc Garduno | Quartermaster General | 55 | $202,103 |
| Carol L Whitmore | Cic - Term Started 8/25 | 55 | $184,494 |
| Kelly Jones | Director, Development | 55 | $154,758 |
| David Prohaska | Director, Member Service Cntr. | 55 | $151,074 |
| Brian Walker | Assistant Adjuntant General | 55 | $145,204 |
| Timothy C Peters | Jr. Vice Cic - Term End 8/25 | 55 | $82,914 |
| Peter Mascetti | National Council Member | 5 | $10,564 |
| Jeff Carroll | National Council Member | 5 | $8,742 |
| Ronald H Schaedel Sr | National Council Member | 5 | $5,035 |
| Denise Perry | Ntl Council Mbr-term End 8/25 | 5 | $4,980 |
| David Greene | Ntl Council Mbr-term End 8/25 | 5 | $4,979 |
| Steven Sanpedros | Ntl Council Mbr-term End 8/25 | 5 | $4,917 |
| Glenn Umberger Jr | Jr. Vice Cic - Term Start 8/25 | 55 | $4,874 |
| Eric Segundo | Ntl Council Mbr-term End 8/25 | 5 | $4,857 |
| Gene Ratigliano | National Council Member | 5 | $4,847 |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Commerce Register Inc | Data Processing | $1,214,015 |
| Pep Response Systems LLC | Caging Services | $1,122,482 |
| Innovairre Studios Inc | Fundraising Services | $993,226 |
| Quad Graphics Printing Corp | Printing Services | $900,354 |
| Specialist Marketing Services | Digital Mktg Service | $678,162 |
Grants received · $179K total
10 grants to Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States totaling $179K, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America | General contribution | 2023 | $10,000 |
| Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America | General contribution | 2022 | $10,000 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of the annual national convention | 2019 | $50,000 |
| AARP | Sponsorship of the annual national convention | 2019 | $50,000 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2019 | $7,450 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2018 | $5,850 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Growth | 2017 | $2,400 |
| Delivering Good Inc | Poverty assistance | 2016 | $37,582 |
| Paypal Charitable Giving Fund | General support | 2015 | $5,155 |
| National Christian Charitable Foundation | Human services | 2015 | $100 |
Grants made · $8.5M in FY2024
96 grants totaling $8.5M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of California | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $651,660 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of Pennsylvania | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $466,473 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of Texas | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $449,872 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of Florida | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $380,868 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of New York | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $363,878 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Illinois | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $325,738 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of Ohio | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $311,262 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of Nc | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $290,893 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept of Michigan | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $283,052 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the Us Department of Nj | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $231,175 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of Washington | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $212,493 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of Wisconsin | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $208,975 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Dept of Virginia | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $198,368 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept of Minnesota | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $193,093 |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept of Missouri | Veterans service, community service, & fraternal activities | $192,216 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a 501(c)(19) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 44-0474290, based in Kansas City, Missouri. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States's EIN?
- Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 44-0474290.
- How much revenue does Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States report?
- Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States reported $103,347,960 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- How much of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States's spending goes to programs?
- Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States spends about 57% of its total expenses on programs, based on its latest IRS Form 990.
- What financial grade does Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States have?
- CharityIndex grades Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States B, based on program efficiency and fundraising cost.
- How much does Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States's latest Form 990 is $225,558, paid to Dan West (Adjutant General).
More nonprofits in Kansas City
Explore more
Data for Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (EIN 44-0474290) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.