2023
ANNUAL REPORT
A Message From
Kim Frank
President, The Folded Flag Foundation
Thank you to everyone who helped make 2024 a great year for The Folded Flag Foundation. With the support from generous donors like you, we raised $4.75 million for our nation’s Gold Star families and awarded 1073 scholarships for the 2024-25 school year.
Over the years, we’ve been privileged to assist numerous spouses and children of fallen service members in achieving their educational aspirations. Through scholarships and grants, we’ve made a positive impact on their lives. To sustain this vital support for deserving recipients, we depend on the generosity of the public. And thanks to our underwriting sponsors – Fidelity National Financial, FIS, and ServiceLink – 100 percent of all donations go directly to the spouses and children.
On behalf of The Folded Flag Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Operating Staff, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support for our organization and our nation’s military. It is because of your continuous support that we are able to deliver impactful assistance to Gold Star spouses and children.
Thank you,
Kim Frank
THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR 2024
IS AS FOLLOWS:
2024 RECAP
Since opening our doors in 2014, Folded Flag has provided more than $20 million in educational scholarships to more than 1000 individuals from across the nation. You can read more about last year’s results below.
SCHOLARSHIPS
| YEAR | NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS | SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT |
| 2024 | 1073 | $4,793,667 |
| 2023 | 887 | $4,263,252 |
| 2022 | 754 | $3,319,353 |
| 2021 | 678 | $3,050,000 |
| 2020 | 359 | $1,557,007 |
| 2019 | 350 | $2,537,420 |
| 2018 | 205 | $1,888,359 |
| 2017 | 160 | $1,054,927 |
| 2016 | 50 | $387,171 |
| 2015 | 12 | $137,300 |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| New Students | 261 | 220 | 332 |
| Returning Students | 809 | 667 | 422 |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| Surviving Children | 969 | 807 | 694 |
| Surviving Spouses | 101 | 80 | 60 |
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| K-12 | 377 | 518 | 263 |
| College/Trade School | 281 | 278 | 254 |
| Graduate School | 59 | 91 | 37 |
| Breakdown of Applicants by Fallen Branch | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| Army | 662 | 529 | 490 |
| Navy | 145 | 115 | 75 |
| Air Force | 140 | 102 | 68 |
| Marines | 113 | 131 | 106 |
| Coast Guard | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Government | 4 | 10 | 8 |
TOP 5 STATES BY NUMBER OF GRANT RECIPIENTS
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Texas | 136 | 64 |
| North Carolina | 89 | 55 |
| California | 78 | 38 |
| Virginia | 74 | 47 |
| Florida | 71 | 50 |
THANKS TO OUR UNDERWRITING SPONSORS
100 percent of all public donations are able to go directly to providing these scholarships.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2025 AND BEYOND
As recently as 2003, the benefits paid to eligible survivors of military personnel killed in the line of duty was a one-time payment of $6,000. Since then, the death benefit has increased but still does not provide the necessary support for Gold Star family members.
Our goal is to not only help supplement the current death benefits, but to also provide a strong community for the spouses and children of fallen service members to connect with others who are going through the same hardships.
The Folded Flag Foundation has identified more than 5,000 spouses and children who will need educational funding over the next 20 years. It is our mission to help every single one of them.
If you would like to contribute to our mission and help our nation’s Gold Star spouses, please consider making a donation.