Our ultimate goal is that the new model Spirit of America has pioneered is understood and supported as the way America operates in the world — day in, day out. This means the power of the American people and private philanthropy is applied whenever, wherever, and at whatever scale needed to support the missions of our troops and diplomats and America’s role in the world. Every day, every commander, every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine, and every ambassador and foreign service officer will know they have the material support of the American people behind them — support that changes what is possible for them to achieve and that makes them safer and more successful in their difficult missions. Our belief is that together, we are America at its best. 

Only Spirit of America offers a direct way for Americans to impact the success of U.S. troops and diplomats engaged on the front lines. We are recognized by Congress and approved by the Department of Defense to work alongside deployed U.S. troops and provide private assistance at scale.

Our unprecedented agreement with the Department of Defense allows the military to collaborate with us, identify needs, receive and distribute our assistance, and provide us logistical support. No other nonprofit has such an agreement. Thus, every philanthropic dollar invested in Spirit of America builds on and leverages investments made by the U.S. government and military. That leverage — combined with our entrepreneurial, venture capital capability — provides philanthropic investments in Spirit of America with asymmetric impact and return on investment.

Spirit of America promotes patriotism without politics. We are expressly not neutral, meaning that we take America’s side. We only provide assistance in support of the missions of U.S. troops and diplomats and the local people and partners they seek to help. We are not a political or partisan organization. We take no stance on policy or politics. Rather, we believe that once America sends personnel overseas, our nation should support them in every way it can. 

We fill critical gaps that cannot be planned for or addressed before they appear. Government cannot anticipate everything that might happen in a conflict zone. Spirit of America steps in to provide help that increases our troops’ security by building local relationships.

America was founded on citizen service: ordinary Americans doing their part. Each effort we make together to build trust, make a child happy, a village secure, or a region stable brings our troops closer to peace and closer to home. We help private action create public good: security and stability that contributes to a safer, peaceful world.

Following the attacks of 9/11, Spirit of America’s founder was inspired by a simple idea: private citizens can support the missions of our troops by doing the things government can’t. Spirit of America is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported solely by private donations from Americans in all 50 states, including foundations, citizens, and corporations. We do not receive, and we would not accept, government funding. 

100% of every dollar donated to a specific project goes to the program expenses of implementing the project and providing the assistance. For restricted donations, Spirit of America’s fundraising, management, and general expenses are funded separately. Restricted donations in excess of a project’s need will be offered a refund.

Spirit of America is proud to be rated 4-stars by Charity Navigator, demonstrating our commitment to both accountability and transparency, and reflecting our strong financial health. We have also received a Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

We rely on the informed judgment of our troops and diplomats in the field, who reach out when they encounter challenges that cannot be addressed quickly through traditional government funding channels. We ask what they are trying to accomplish, what is needed, and how we can help. We then provide private philanthropic assistance to meet needs and help them solve problems.

Spirit of America projects create trusted relationships between troops, diplomats, and the local communities in which they work. We strengthen security and save American and local lives. 

When U.S. personnel see any need that our government can’t meet, we bring private-sector speed and flexibility to solve the problem at the scale that is needed. We don’t rubber-stamp solutions, so our projects rarely look the same across regions. Our entrepreneurial approach allows our majority-veteran field team to provide humanitarian, economic, and nonlethal security assistance that meets the urgent needs identified by our troops, diplomats, and local partners worldwide.

Over the years, this has included supporting thousands of displaced Afghans in six countries across the Middle East and Central Asia, rehabilitating old military trucks for the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces, helping the U.S. military train its Beninese army partners in essential medical skills, and helping the U.S. Embassy in Laos promote economic development by assisting local farmers and their families.

Everything we do supports national security objectives and the missions of U.S. troops and diplomats. Before we act, we always ensure government or others are not able to meet a need. We do not duplicate what others can do.

We do not provide funding to U.S. personnel or to any foreign government entities or personnel. We do not provide funding to foreign governments. We do not provide lethal assistance such as weapons or ammunition. All assistance provided is nonlethal.

Spirit of America’s field team has worked in 114 countries across the globe, on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Our regional directors are forward deployed in the regions they work in. We also deploy regional field managers to coordinate with U.S. troops and diplomats in the field. This ongoing presence allows Spirit of America to respond rapidly when crises erupt as well as to make long-term investments in stability.

No. Spirit of America is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives no funding from the government.

Yes. Spirit of America is proud to receive a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. The rating demonstrates our strong financial health and commitment to both accountability and transparency. We also were awarded a Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and met the stringent requirements to be included in the Combined Federal Campaign.