Foundation for American Veterans and Veteran's Charities

Got a call the other day from the Foundation for American Veterans (out of Southfield Michigan). The wife talked to them and they of course asked for a donation. She said she didn't give money over the phone but asked them to send something in the mail.

After looking around online it looks like they're not a scam but they're one of those crappy "charities" that only actually uses about 10% of the money they take in for their stated cause and the rest goes to "overhead expenses".

We won't be giving them any money. We usually give most of our money to our church, the Salvation Army and local food banks but thought that giving to a veteran's charity would be a good idea too.

So who do you guys recommend?

http://www.vfwfoundation.org/ is a great way to help. Their unmeet needs fund is top rated last time I checked.

I'll second the VFW as a great choice and also throw in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

The DAV has a financial rating of 97.5% and an Accountability & Transparency rating of 100% from charitynavigator.org. The DAV uses 95.8% of their income towards their stated mission programs. They serve as an advocate for disabled veterans with the VA and help disabled veterans find employment.

I was a volunteer driver of a DAV passenger van hauling disabled Vets to their hospital appointments. They were a great organization to work with/for. Sometimes the passengers, even though they couldn't afford their own wheels, would make cash donations to the DAV. The DAV has my support.

DAV for household goods.

Semper Fi Fund is my go-to for cash donations to vets. They just had a doubling day a few weeks ago.

Fisher House Foundation, American Legion, VFW, DAV are my go-tos for helping vets. There are a couple others I donate to but I can't remember their names right now.

For general assistance to the homeless, I donate to the Springs Rescue Mission and El Paso County Salvation Army.

DAV.