Wise Giving Wednesday: Veterans Day Giving Tips for Supporting Military Charities

As Veterans Day approaches, many donors seek meaningful ways to honor those who served. To help you give wisely, we’ve compiled Veterans Day Giving Tips and a list of BBB Accredited Charities that support veterans and military families.

Why We Recognize Veterans Day on November 11

Every November 11 in the United States, we honor military veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. The significance of this date traces back to the formal end of World War I hostilities, in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

Wise Giving Tips for Supporting Veterans Charities

As we take a day to honor our veterans this November 11, we offer these Veterans Day Giving Tips for those considering donations to charities that support veterans, military service members, and their families this year.

• • Find Programs that match your interests. Veterans’ charities offer a wide range of services, including mental health support, job placement assistance, and housing programs, to name a few. Visit charity websites and look through annual reports to see which charities align with the programs you most want to support. You can learn more about the categories Veterans’ charities on our Veterans’ and Military Service cause page.
  • Avoid mistaken identity. With tens of thousands of charities serving our veterans, the military, and tier families, many of these organizations have similar names. Verify that you’re donating to the intended organization by confirming that the web address, physical address, and phone number match the information provided in any fundraising appeal you receive. We encourage you to always visit our alphabetical list of charities and search page to ensure you’re giving to trustworthy organizations.
  • Don’t be pressured into giving. If a charity pressures you into immediate giving, be cautious. This could be a red flag. Reputable charities should encourage you to take your time and learn about their work. Avoid making hasty giving decisions and take your time to give thoughtfully.
  • Ask how donated items will be used. If veterans’ groups solicit donated goods or clothing, often these items are resold, and the charity may receive a fraction of the proceeds. Before you give, ask how your in-kind gifts will benefit the organization.
  • Be careful with phone appeals. If not managed properly, some telemarketing campaigns for military or veterans organizations can be an expensive way to raise funds with very little going to the organization. If financial efficiency is important to you, look over charity materials on websites and in annual reports for that information.
  • Look up charities on BBB’s Give.org. Please visit Give.org to verify that soliciting veterans and military service charities meet our 20 Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e. a BBB Accredited Charity). Our comprehensive standards address issues from charity governance and finances to effectiveness and appeal accuracy, and go beyond what government agencies require. You can visit our list of nationally soliciting BBB Accredited Military and Veterans Charities below to help you get started.

BBB Accredited Veterans Charities You Can Trust

To help guide your giving, here is a selection of nationally soliciting BBB Accredited Charities that support veterans, military families, and service members. Each has been evaluated and met the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability.

---

Heart of Giving Podcast – Jeremy Kirshbaum on AskGive & Building Trust with AI

This week’s Heart of Giving Podcast features a conversation with Jeremy Kirshbaum, Founder of Handshake, and Ezra Vázquez-D’Amico, Director of Digital Partnerships & Strategy at BBB Wise Giving Alliance, about the creation of AskGive – Give.org’s AI Powered Donor Advisor designed to help donors make informed, trust-based giving decisions. Together, we explore how technology can strengthen rather than replace human judgment in philanthropy, what it takes to align AI with a charity’s mission and values, and how innovation can support greater transparency in giving. This episode is a must-listen for nonprofit leaders and donors curious about using AI responsibly to build donor trust and advance social good.  

---

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org or local BBBs to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:

• Helen Keller Intl
• Oxfam America
• Marathon Kids

Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.