2021
ANNUAL REPORT
A Message From
Kim Frank
President, The Folded Flag Foundation
The past two years have been challenging for the nation – and world – as we navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to our generous donors, corporate partners and sponsors, The Folded Flag Foundation was able to continue our mission of providing educational scholarships to Gold Star spouses and children across the nation.
Last year, we had the opportunity to award $3 million in educational scholarships to 678 recipients from across the nation – nearly double the amount awarded the previous year.
Since forming our organization in 2014, we have helped hundreds of spouses and children of fallen service members obtain their educational dreams by providing them scholarships and grants. In order for us to continue providing this much-needed support to qualified recipients, we rely on generous support and donations from the public. And thanks to our underwriting sponsors – Black Knight, Inc., 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 thank each and every one of you for your continuous support for our organization and our nation’s military. We would not be able to deliver the impact to help Gold Star spouses and children without your unwavering support.
Thank you,
Kim Frank
THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR 2021
IS AS FOLLOWS:
2021 RECAP
In just seven years, Folded Flag has provided more than $10 million in educational scholarships to more than 500 individuals from across the nation. You can read more about last year’s results below.
SCHOLARSHIPS
| YEAR | NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS | SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT |
| 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 |
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| New Students | 324 | 201 | 170 |
| Returning Students | 354 | 158 | 180 |
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Surviving Children | 617 | 327 | 305 |
| Surviving Spouses | 61 | 32 | 45 |
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | |
| K-12 | 403 | 222 | 195 |
| College/Trade School | 238 | 131 | 127 |
| Graduate School | 37 | 6 | 28 |
| Breakdown of Applicants by Fallen Branch | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Army | 454 | 226 | 242 |
| Navy | 41 | 22 | 17 |
| Air Force | 68 | 36 | 23 |
| Marines | 108 | 75 | 63 |
| Government | 7 | 0 | 5 |
TOP 5 STATES BY NUMBER OF GRANT RECIPIENTS
| 2021 | |
| North Carolina | 43 |
| Florida | 34 |
| California | 33 |
| Texas | 28 |
| Virginia | 24 |
THANKS TO OUR UNDERWRITING SPONSORS
100 percent of all public donations are able to go directly to providing these scholarships.
LOOKING FORWARD TO 2022 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.