Spirit of America (charity)

Last updated
Spirit of America
Formation2003
FounderJim Hake [1]
Type Non-governmental organization

Nonprofit organization

501(c)(3)
20-1687786
Headquarters3033 Wilson Blvd., Suite 700 Arlington, VA 22201
CEO
Jim Hake [2]
CFO
Kimberly Getz [3]
Revenue$50,573,155 (FYE December 2022) [4]
Website spiritofamerica.org

Spirit of America (SoA) is a US non-governmental and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works alongside American military personnel and diplomats to promote American values abroad by saving and improving lives. [5] The organization provides material goods, programs, and personnel to help the United States Government achieve its objectives. [6] Spirit of America was founded in 2003 by Los Angeles based venture capitalist, Jim Hake, who in the wake of the September 11th attacks sought to directly support conventional military and special operation teams performing reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. [7] The Charity Navigator gave Spirit of America an overall 4-star rating for 2019 fiscal year. [8]

Contents

History

Spirit of America was established in 2003 by Jim Hake in response to the September 11th terror attacks. Inspired by the efforts of an Army special operations team building positive relationships with Afghan villagers by teaching them the game of baseball, Jim Hake sought to create an organization that would allow donations from American citizens to directly support the efforts of servicemembers and diplomats on the ground. [9]

Current efforts

2010–2020

By 2010, the organization had evolved from resourcing mission essential items to military personnel in overseas into an organization with an institutional memory, a network of local partners, and a strategic vision on how to best assist American forces conducting civil-military operations. [10] Mr. Hake worked to formalize the ties between commanders in Afghanistan and his organization as a "Commander Support Program" (CSP) with support from senior Marine officers "who had developed a good working relationship with the group in Iraq". [11] This resulted in scrutiny from Pentagon lawyers, who argued that sending goods to commanders violated ethics rules. [11] With help from John Bellinger, Jeh Johnson, General Joe Dunford and General Jim Mattis, the rules were changed to allow the CSP to operate. [11]

In 2014 a report cited SoA's ability to get resources in the right military hands quickly due to its private non-bureaucratic nature and that the materials arrived quickly which was a relief after traditionally dealing with "hierarchical delays in seeking funding support" prior to SoA involvement in Afghanistan. [12]

Working with the US Embassy in Kyiv, in 2016 Spirit of America funded the establishment and optimization of Army FM, a Ukrainian Ministry of Defense radio station that provides information and entertainment to soldiers defending their country in eastern Ukraine, who are suffering from a barrage of Russian propaganda. [13]

In 2018, SoA was recognized by Congress through that year’s NDAA and approved by the Department of Defense to perform official work with the US Military abroad. [14]

SoA has provided needed aid to American efforts in Syria, Mongolia, [15] and Vietnam. [16] [17]

2020–present

Following the fall of Kabul to Taliban forces in August 2021, Spirit of America launched an Afghanistan Emergency Fund to support Afghan evacuees. SoA supported efforts to evacuate at-risk Afghan civilians, including interpreters and their families, in support of the US military’s Operation Allies Refuge. [18]

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Spirit of America provided humanitarian and non-lethal military assistance to the Ukrainian government, including issuing protective equipment to the Territorial Defense Forces. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Way</span> Nonprofit organization

United Way is an international network of over 1,800 local nonprofit fundraising affiliates. Prior to 2015, United Way was the largest nonprofit organization in the United States by donations from the public. Individual United Ways mobilize a single fundraising campaign to raise money for various nonprofits, with most donations coming through payroll deductions.

Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material gain; and with government endeavors that are public initiatives for public good, such as those that focus on the provision of public services. A person who practices philanthropy is a philanthropist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philanthropy Roundtable</span> Non-profit organization in the U.S.

The Philanthropy Roundtable is a nonprofit organization that advises conservative philanthropists and advocates for philanthropic freedom and donor privacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charitable organization</span> Nonprofit organization with charitable purpose

A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pew Charitable Trusts</span> American non-governmental organization

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an independent non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO), founded in 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Scouting overseas</span>

There have been American Scouts overseas since almost the inception of the movement, often for similar reasons as the present day. Within the Scouting America formerly the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), these expatriate Scouts are now served by two overseas local Councils. Within the Girl Scouts of the USA, the USAGSO serves such a purpose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Zinsmeister</span> American journalist

Walter Karl Zinsmeister American journalist, researcher, and consultant. From 2006 to 2009, he served in the White House as President George W. Bush's chief domestic policy adviser, and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. In 2016 he created the Almanac of American Philanthropy—the definitive reference on America's use of private resources to solve public problems—and is now an adviser and national authority on the power of voluntary action and civil society to spur innovation and social refinement in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John E. Herbst</span> American diplomat

John Edward Herbst is a retired American diplomat who was the United States Ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2000 to 2003 and United States Ambassador to Ukraine from September 2003 to May 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Relations between the countries of Georgia and the United States continue to be very close and encompass multiple areas of bilateral cooperation. One of the key U.S. allies in Eastern Europe, Georgia was the third largest troop contributor in the Iraq War and the largest per-capita contributor to the U.S. led mission in Afghanistan. The United States for its part is actively assisting Georgia in strengthening its state institutions in face of increasing pressure from its northern neighbor Russia and has provided the country with financial assistance in excess of three billion dollars since 1991. Since 2009, Georgian–American relations are streamlined by the U.S.–Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, which created four bilateral working groups on priority areas of democracy; defense and security; economic, trade, energy issues, people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolia–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations between Mongolia and the United States formalized in 1987 with the establishment of diplomatic relations. Since then, the United States has become a key third neighbor to Mongolia, and in 2019 this relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership. Ties focus on education, development assistance, and defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russia–United Arab Emirates relations</span> Bilateral relations

The relationship between the Russian Federation and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stretches back to December 1971, when the Soviet Union and UAE established diplomatic relations. Relations between the two countries have been described as close and a "somewhat strategic partnership", with the countries cooperating closely in Iraq, Egypt and Libya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongolia–Russia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Mongolia–Russia relations have been traditionally strong since the Communist era, when the Soviet Union supported the Mongolian People's Republic. Mongolia and Russia remain allies in the post-communist era. Russia has an embassy in Ulaanbaatar and two consulates general. Mongolia has an embassy in Moscow, three consulates general, and a branch in Yekaterinburg. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UJA-Federation of New York</span> Philanthropic organization

UJA-Federation of New York is the largest local philanthropy in the world. Headquartered in New York City, the organization raises and allocates funds annually to fulfill a mission to “care for Jews everywhere and New Yorkers of all backgrounds, respond to crises close to home and far away, and shape our Jewish future.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Qatar)</span> Qatari ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the ministry responsible for the Qatar's foreign relations. It is led by the minister of foreign affairs, currently Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who serves as the nation's principal representative abroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of NATO</span> Overview of multilateral relations

NATO maintains foreign relations with many non-member countries across the globe. NATO runs a number of programs which provide a framework for the partnerships between itself and these non-member nations, typically based on that country's location. These include the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the Partnership for Peace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Almanac of American Philanthropy</span> Reference book

The Almanac of American Philanthropy is a reference book published by the nonprofit Philanthropy Roundtable in 2016 to capture the history, purpose, effects, and modern direction of private philanthropy in the United States. Philanthropy in the U.S. is a major part of the economy with $360 billion given every year and 8 billion hours of time volunteered. Philanthropy is a major cultural force in the U.S., handling many social responsibilities, thanks to individual giving levels that are two to twenty times higher than in other comparable nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zagoriy Foundation</span>

Zagoriy Foundation is a Ukrainian charitable foundation that develops the culture of charitable giving in Ukraine and provides support to non-profit organizations. Other areas of the Foundation's operation are educational and research projects aimed at improving the efficiency of the charity sector.

On 15 August 2021, the city of Kabul, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, was captured by Taliban forces during the 2021 Taliban offensive, concluding the War in Afghanistan that began in 2001. The fall of Kabul provoked a range of reactions across the globe, including debates on whether to recognize the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan, on the humanitarian situation in the country, on the outcome of the War, and the role of military interventionism in world affairs.

References

  1. "Jim Hake".
  2. "Jim Hake".
  3. "Kimberly Getz".
  4. "Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax - Spirit of America Worldwide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-12-07.
  5. "About". Spirit of America. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  6. Griswold, Eliza (2014-12-04). "Radio-Free Syria". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  7. Henninger, Daniel (2014-11-28). "How a Venture Capitalist Went to War". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  8. "Charity Navigator - Rating for Spirit of America". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  9. Henninger, Daniel (2014-11-28). "How a Venture Capitalist Went to War". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  10. Zinsmeister, Karl. "National Security Philanthropy". Philanthropy Roundtable. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  11. 1 2 3 Henninger, Daniel (January 20, 2011). "Will Afghanistan Be a Forgotten War?". The Wall Street Journal .
  12. "Spirit of America in Afghanistan: Helping US troops create something out of nothing". DVIDS. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  13. Welna, David (August 1, 2016). "American Charity Backs Military Radio Station In Ukraine". NPR.
  14. Zinsmeister, Karl. "National Security Philanthropy". Philanthropy Roundtable. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  15. Ulaanbaatar, U. S. Embassy (2024-05-17). "U.S. Embassy and Mongolian Society of Emergency Medicine Lead Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and Medical First Responder Training". U.S. Embassy in Mongolia. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  16. Feulner, Edwin J. "Fulfilling the True "Spirit of America"". The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  17. "Spirit of America takes Soldier history to public". www.army.mil. 2010-08-24. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  18. "Afghanistan. Urgent: What you can do. - Spirit of America | Small Wars Journal". smallwarsjournal.com. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  19. "Ukrainian civilians were in need of gear as Russia attacked. A U.S. nonprofit delivered". www.cbsnews.com. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-02.