S r Vice Commander & Quartermaster Conference

1. Sr Vice Commander & Quartermaster Conference By Richard Potter April 6, 2019

2. VFW Foundation VFW is a 501(c)19 organization – special IRS designation “for organizations that benefit veterans of the United States Armed Forces” • Policy and by-laws of many grant-making organizations may restrict their support to 501(c)3s. These may include: • Corporate gifts, foundation grants • Combined Federal Campaign, United Way • Donor Advised Funds • Other fundraising tools: Text-to-Give, car donations, “AmazonSmile,” etc.

3. VFW Foundation VFW Foundation established in 1996 as the Official 501(c)3 of the VFW • Accept gifts and grants on behalf of VFW • “Pass Through” 501(c)3 for VFW Posts, Auxiliaries, Departments, etc: 100% of funds pass through to you (no administrative fee) • Grant writing and fundraising assistance (telephone counsel, National Convention workshops) • Corporate grant applications process (e.g. Home Depot Community Impact Grant)

4. VFW Foundation • Primary focus: Corporate Relations • Numerous VFW touch points • Membership: VFW & Auxiliary • Member benefits • National Convention • VFW Magazine • VFW Programs • VFW Foundation

5. VFW Foundation • Corporate Relationships • Collaboration is key: holistic, strategic partnerships • Determine mutual benefits • Connect corporate objectives to VFW mission • Positive outcomes that matter to corporate stakeholders • Positive impact on veterans, service members, their families and communities

6. VFW Foundation • Corporate Relationships • Department and local level connections • Burger King: Unmet Needs fundraising • Sport Clips: “Help A Hero” fundraising • Humana: Uniting to Combat Hunger • Ace Hardware: million flag giveaway

7. VFW Foundation • Corporate Relationships • Help us reframe the conversation at Department, District, and Post levels • Old paradigm: • “What are you going to give me?” • New paradigm: • “How can we collaborate to benefit veterans, military families, and our community?”

8. VFW Foundation • Burger King • Unmet Needs fundraising campaign with participating franchisees • Nearly $6 Million raised since 2007

9. VFW Foundation • Burger King • Adding new franchisees every year • Really helps when VFW Departments support the relationship

10. VFW Foundation • Burger King • 2019 #ThankBK Appreciation Week • Begins May 12, runs through Armed Forces Day, May 18, 2019 • Buy a meal at your local Burger King; take your friends and family • Expanded incentive program • $2,000 Community Support Grants • 10 VFW Posts/Auxiliaries • Watch for communications, share with District, Post leadership

11. VFW Foundation Burger KingLocations: www.unmetneeds.com July 2018 stores November 2018 stores

12. VFW Foundation • Sport Clips Haircuts • “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” • Record-breaking donations totaling $1.35 million in 2018 • Awarded over $5.5 million in scholarships since 2014 • Assisted 1,300+ veterans and service members

13. VFW Foundation • Sport Clips Haircuts • Introducing #SportClipsSalute, week of September 17 • Birthdate of Sport Clips Founder, VFW Life Member, and VFW Foundation Board Member Gordon Logan • Similar to #ThankBK Appreciation Week • Watch for details following National Convention

14. VFW Foundation • Humana • VFW Member Benefits Partner since 2012 • Exclusive provider of Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Medicare PDP for VFW members • 2017, ‘18, ‘19: National Convention Health Fair Sponsor • 2018, ‘19: NVS Training Sponsor

15. VFW Foundation Humana & VFW: Uniting to Combat Hunger

16. VFW Foundation • Humana & VFW: Uniting to Combat Hunger • 2018 and ‘19 National Convention service projects • Local initiatives • Jackson MS VAMC Food Pantry • Food drives in North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky

17. VFW Foundation Ace Hardware • Newer partnership • 2018 “Million Flag Giveaway” • VFW Posts near participating Ace stores (approximately 2,500) • 200 flags/Post for local cemeteries • Ace Hardware dedicated web page • Social media exposure, media relations

18. VFW Foundation Ace Hardware St. Juvin Post 1336 (near Joliet, Illinois) Life Member Vernon (Pete) Dolan presents the VFW’s Certificate of Patriotic Service to Matteson Ace Hardware’s Assistant Manager Chuck Sorenson. Pete has been a part time employee of Matteson’s for over twenty years. Coal City’s National Honor Society members placed flags on the graves of veterans resting at Braceville-Gardner Cemetery, (near Joliet, Illinois).

19. VFW Foundation • You can help sustain VFW corporate relationships: • When you need a haircut, go to Sport Clips • When you want a burger, go to Burger King • Medicare supplemental insurance, call Humana • For mobile phone service, consider Sprint • For footwear, go to Twisted X • Home maintenance/repair: Ace Hardware • Neighborhood drugstore, go to Walgreens • Encourage all VFW and Auxiliary members to do likewise

20. VFW Foundation • Community Support Grant • Up to $1,000 for qualifying outreach projects in your community • VFW Posts and Auxiliaries are eligible to apply (collaborative grant applications are encouraged) • New grant cycle began September 1, 2018

21. VFW Foundation Community Support Grant • $400,000 granted in FY18 • $168K to support local nonprofits (e.g. Boy Scouts, food banks, senior centers) • $132K to support direct service projects sponsor by Post/Auxiliary • $100K for Post repairs and renovations

22. VFW Foundation • Community Support Grant • Community service projects that involve a local branch or affiliate of a VFW National corporate supporter (e.g. Burger King, Sport Clips, Walgreens, Humana, Ace Hardware, etc.) may be eligible to receive up to $500 in additional support • New grant cycle began September 1, 2018 • $400,000 budgeted for FY2019 • As of 4/1/2019, approximately $75,000 still available

23. VFW Foundation • Community Support Grant • VFW Corporate Partner Collaboration Ideas • Invite Sport Clips to provide haircuts for homeless and unemployed veterans at community dinner • Invite Humana and/or Walgreens to provide health & wellness workshops at local Post • Partner with Humana & local Feeding America affiliate to conduct a local food drive • Invite Ace Hardware to provide grills and volunteers for community BBQ event

24. VFW Foundation • Community Support Grant • Humana-VFW collaboration, Jackson MS • December 4 Humana Community Walk-a-thon and Wellness Vendor Fair • Local veteran participation • Post invited to share VFW membership information • April 20 VFW Post 9832 “Community Health Initiative Obesity Fighters” (C.H.I.O.F.) • Combat obesity, heart disease, hypertension, cholesterol, etc. • Line dancing, nutrition seminars, related literature, healthy snacks

25. VFW Foundation • VFW Foundation Regular Grant • Grants typically range from $1,000 - $15,000 • VFW Posts, Post Auxiliaries, and qualifying nonprofits are eligible to apply • Projects must directly benefit veterans and/or active duty military personnel and their families • Special consideration given to projects that demonstrate • innovation in program design and service delivery • needs that are currently under-served • sustainability beyond grant period

26. VFW Foundation VFW Foundation Regular Grant • $100,000 granted in FY2018 • $80,000 for programs that support veterans • $13,500 for programs that support veteran/military families • $6,500 for programs that support active duty military

27. VFW Foundation • VFW Foundation Regular Grant • $100,000 budgeted for 2018-19 grant cycle • Only VFW Posts, Post Auxiliaries, and qualifying nonprofits are eligible to apply (Departments and Districts are not eligible) • 2018-19 funds expended as of 2/28/2019 • New grant cycle begins September 1, 2019

28. VFW Foundation • VFW Foundation Grants • Questions should be directed to: • Jason Couch • Grants Coordinator • jcouch@vfw.org • 816-968-1174

29. QUESTIONS? Richard Potter 816-968-1158 rpotter@vfw.org