Supporting veterans charities is generally considered a worthy cause, and hardly a single political speech goes by without a reference to supporting the troops. That being said, not all veterans charities are equal. A recent watchdog group found that about half of veterans charities do not use most of their funds to actually help veterans. With that in mind, here are the best veterans charities.
Fischer House Veterans Charity
The Fischer House Veterans Charity got an "A+" from the veterans charities watchdog group. Its main goal is to provide homes for families to stay at if they are visiting veterans receiving care at VA hospitals or military medical centers. This is extremely important, both for the veteran and for the family, because it eases the financial burden of visiting. Often, soldiers want nothing more than to see their family when they return home, and bridging that gap with houses for visiting families is a good cause. The Fischer House Veterans Charity also provides scholarships for children in military families.
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Veterans Charity
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Veterans Charity focuses on providing financial help to family members of soldiers who have returned home extremely wounded or disabled. This group, which also received an "A+" from the veterans charities watchdog group, makes sure 100% of its donations go to support veterans families. The administrative costs of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund Veterans Charity are paid for by the trustees of the organization.
VoteVets Veterans Charity
The VoteVets veterans charity was not rated by the watchdog organization. It serves as a political action committee dedicated to supporting politicians who support veterans and the armed forces, and defeating those politicians who vote against their interests. In 2006, the group ran a series of ads targeting Senators who voted against giving giving American troops serving in Iraq proper body armor. They've also targeted those who voted to slash veterans health care benefits and those who did not support the new G.I. bill in 2008.
Abuse of the non-profit system has allowed some inefficient and corrupt veterans charities to exist and misuse funds and donations. Fortunately, there are still some good charities out there, and this list details some of the best veterans charities. This is by no means a comprehensive list, however, there are many veterans charities that are worthwhile and deserve a charitable donation. It is always best, though, to do some research on an organization before deciding to donate any money.
 |
 |
 |
