Patriotism, at its best, is a verb. Across the country, nonprofits put love of country into daily practice: educating citizens, serving veterans, comforting military families, and caring for the flag itself. Here are ten organizations doing that work well, what each one actually does, and how to help. We begin, with full disclosure, at home.
1. National Flag Foundation
Founded in Pittsburgh in 1968, the National Flag Foundation is one of the longest-serving organizations in America devoted entirely to the flag: its history, its meaning, and its proper care under the U.S. Flag Code. For the nation's 250th, NFF is leading Sojourn 250, a year-long journey of one historic flag to every state, territory, and American military cemetery overseas, and Light to Unite, a call for every American to fly the flag on July 4, 2026. This is our own foundation, so judge us by the work.
2. The American Legion
Chartered by Congress in 1919, the Legion is the nation's largest wartime veterans organization, with posts in nearly every American community. Beyond veteran advocacy and youth programs, Legion posts are the backbone of everyday flag stewardship: they conduct dignified flag retirement ceremonies, and the American Legion Riders are escorting the official Sojourn 250 Flag on the final miles of its journey to Washington, D.C.
3. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Tracing its roots to 1899, the VFW serves veterans who deployed overseas, fighting for benefits, funding scholarships, and staffing service officers who help veterans claim what they have earned. VFW posts, like Legion posts, accept worn flags for proper retirement year-round.
4. USO
Since 1941, the USO has kept service members connected to home: airport lounges for traveling troops, care packages, entertainment tours, and family programs at bases worldwide. It is entirely funded by donors, not by the Department of Defense.
5. Folds of Honor
Named for the thirteen folds of a memorial flag, Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members, and has extended its mission to the families of fallen first responders. The connection between the folded flag and the family left behind could not be more direct; we tell the story of those folds in the 13 folds of the flag.
6. Wreaths Across America
What began with one wreath-maker's surplus in 1992 is now a December tradition at Arlington and thousands of cemeteries nationwide: a live wreath laid on every veteran's grave, with each name spoken aloud. Volunteers and donated wreaths make it happen each National Wreaths Across America Day.
7. Honor Flight Network
Honor Flight flies veterans, at no cost to them, to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials built in their honor, with priority for the oldest and terminally ill. For many World War II and Korea veterans, the trip is the first time the country has formally said thank you in person.
8. Tunnel to Towers Foundation
Founded in memory of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in full gear to reach the Twin Towers on September 11, the foundation pays off mortgages for the families of fallen first responders and service members, and builds smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans.
9. TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors offers around-the-clock grief support to anyone mourning a military death: peer mentors, a 24/7 helpline, survivor seminars, and Good Grief Camps for children. It is the quiet safety net under every folded flag handed to a family.
10. Team Red, White & Blue
Team RWB tackles the hardest part of coming home: connection. Through local chapters and fitness-based community events, it brings veterans and their neighbors together around physical activity and shared purpose, the kind of everyday patriotism that never makes headlines.
How to choose where to give
All ten organizations above are established 501(c)(3) nonprofits with long public track records. Before giving to any charity, patriotic or otherwise, a few minutes of diligence goes a long way: check the organization on a charity evaluator, read its latest annual report, and favor groups that show their work. Better yet, give time as well as money. Every organization on this list runs on volunteers.
And the simplest patriotic act of all is free: fly the flag, and fly it correctly. Here is everything you need to know.