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Veterans Charities That Won’t Use Your Donations For Up to 17 Years!

    Nov 11, 2021

There are some veterans and military charities that use their donations efficiently, but may not need your money for any programs they are currently conducting. In fact, at current annual spending levels, some may not be able to use your contribution to help a veteran or military member for 10 to 17 years or more! If you want your donation to make an impact in the near future, donating to an organization that needs money to fund current programs may be a better option for you. 

Air Force Aid Society:

In 2019 Air Force Aid Society spent 84% of its cash budget on programs and 16% on overhead. It cost the charity $14 to raise each $100 in cash support. At 2019 spending levels, this charity would not be able to use your donation for more than 17 years, or until the year 2036.

Efficiency Rating: A

Downgraded High Asset Rating: F

Army Emergency Relief:

In 2019 Army Emergency Relief spent 92% of its cash budget on programs and 8% on overhead. It costs the charity $7 to raise each $100 in cash support. At 2019 spending levels, this charity would not be able to use your donation for over 10 years, or until the year 2029.

Efficiency Rating: A+

Downgraded High Asset Rating: F

Special Operations Warrior Foundation:

In 2019 Special Operations Warrior Foundation spent 85% of its cash budget on programs and 15% on overhead. It cost the charity $9 to raise each $100 in cash support. At 2019 spending levels, this charity would not be able to use your donation for 9.8 years, or until the year 2028.

Efficiency Rating: A

Downgraded High Asset Rating: F

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

In 2020 this charity spent 82% of its cash budget on programs and 18% on overhead. It cost the charity $5 to raise each $100 in cash support. At 2020 spending levels, this charity would not be able to use your donation for 4.7 years, or until the year 2024.

Efficiency Rating: A

Downgraded High Asset Rating: C

Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation 

In fiscal 2020 this charity spent 67% of its cash budget on programs and 33% on overhead. It cost the charity $21 to raise each $100 in cash support. At fiscal 2020 spending levels, this charity would not be able to use your donation for 4.2 years, or until the year 2024.

Efficiency Rating: B-

Downgraded High Asset Rating: C-


In 2018 Navy Seal Foundation spent 91% of its cash budget on programs and 9% on overhead. It cost the charity $3 to raise each $100 in cash support. At 2018 spending levels, this charity would not be able to use your donation for 3.5 years, or until the year 2021.

Efficiency Rating: A+

Downgraded High Asset Rating: B-


Visit CharityWatch’s High Asset Charities for a complete list of charities whose grades have been reduced for having adjusted net assets equivalent to 3 years or more of their respective cash budgets. Visit Our Process for more information on how CharityWatch computes a charity’s years of available assets.


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