Midwest Honor Flight-IA & SD
One Final Tour with Honor
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill.
Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation—and as a culturally diverse, free society. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day. Our time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Missions
Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill.
Of all of the wars in recent memory, it was World War II that truly threatened our very existence as a nation—and as a culturally diverse, free society. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, an estimated 640 WWII veterans die each day. Our time to express our thanks to these brave men and women is running out.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of Veterans who receive their Final Tour with Honor with an all expense paid trip to our Nation's Capital.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Veterans
Related Program
Missions
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of Veterans flown, per year, out to Washington, D.C. *2020 flights were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The American Veteran is one of our greatest treasures, those men and women who answered our nation's call, especially in times of great need. Our mission is to honor and thank those veterans – especially our WWII veterans – by bringing them to Washington DC, for trip of honor – AT NO COST TO THEM. Please join us in sending them to experience their memorial built 60 years after they came home. Volunteer or send support, it all makes the difference for a group that gave so much and asked for so little.
We are the Midwest hub of Honor Flight Network. We are part of a national network that is flying WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans to their memorials in Washington, D.C. Our desire is to fly as many veterans from Northwest Iowa, Southeast South Dakota, and Southwest Minnesota to Washington, D.C. as we can find – at no cost to the veteran. Top priority is given to WWII, Korean War Veterans, and terminally ill veterans from all wars. Trips are simply not possible without public support. Prior to Honor Flight Network, our veterans had given up all hope of ever seeing the World War II Memorial. Now they have hope… but time is not on our side. The time to act is NOW! This program operates on donations from organizations and individuals. Midwest Honor Flight is is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit.
Please contribute to our mission, in support of our American Heroes! It costs $753 to sponsor each veteran and they pay nothing out of pocket. This includes their flights, food, and transportation in DC as well as a banquet meal the night before. All donations are tax deductible.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
The trip begins with a celebratory send-off, including a presentation of the colors, and volunteers cheering and waving flags. The men and women who comprise the veteran group wear their Midwest Honor Flight shirts and hats, often with their war medals pinned to them. They board a commercial jet and head to D.C. for a one day trip they will talk about for the rest of their lives.
All veterans will visit Arlington National Cemetery to witness the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. One of the stops will be the WWII Memorial, which opened in 2004 when the youngest of the WWII veterans were in their late seventies. The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. The tour will also include visits to the Korean, Vietnam, and Lincoln memorials.
Then we return to the airport to depart back to Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Sioux Falls Regional Airport). Community members and family are invited to the welcome home celebration.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Our team of volunteers are dedicated to our veterans to ensure they see their memorials free of charge, safely.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Midwest Honor Flight has successfully flown 6 Missions over the first three years of our organization being established. Over these flights, we flew more than 520 Veterans to see their memorials. More than 800 Veterans are waiting for this opportunity to travel to their memorials. More information on these Missions can be found at www.midwesthonorflight.org.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We act on the feedback we receive
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Midwest Honor Flight-IA & SD
Board of directorsas of 12/05/2023
Mr. Aaron Van Beek
Sioux Center Community Schools
Term: 2017 - 2025
Chris Van Beek
Mercy Home Care
Elaine Leusink
Premier Communications
Russell Wentz
City of Sioux Falls
Greg Miner
Appleton Care Facility
Michelle Pomrenke
Sioux Center Chiropractic
Kim Thome
South Dakota National Guard
Kristi Brantsen
CorTrust Mortgage
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data