Veteran nonprofits are strapped, but a new fund is working to pump $30 million into the leading charities that support those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a nonprofit that has more than 200,000 members nationwide, announced its Veteran Support Fund Wednesday. Launched by three philanthropic families who altogether donated $1.1 million, the campaign aims to benefit five top-rated nonprofits that help veterans.
"Supporting veterans isn’t charity, it’s an absolute necessity and an investment in our country’s future,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff in a press release. “After ten years of war, our nation’s military families are strained, nonprofit services are maxed out and our veterans’ community is severely under-resourced.”
Through a centralized platform, donors can choose among five nonprofits ranked highly by Charity Navigator to help the 2.4 million vets of Iraq and Afghanistan. The beneficiaries of the fund include, IAVA, Operation Mend, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Operation Homefront and the National Military Family Association.
A key factor in changing the lives of those who have served is making sure to give to charities that have been inspected closely, according to Sandra Miniutti, vice president of marketing and chief financial officer for Charity Navigator.
"Supporting our troops, their families and the veterans are issues that tug at everyone’s heart strings," Miniutti told told the news outlet. "Oftentimes, donors give to these types of charities solely with their heart. They fail to stop and use their head too and vet the charities to ensure that they are financially healthy, accountable and transparent and produce real results."