As we enter this holiday season, I again ask that you keep our friends, families and veterans in your thoughts and prayers. These are difficult times for many of us, and we need to be there for one another.
The BoD is pleased to announce that Run for the Wall received the GuideStar.org Platinum rating of transparency, the highest rating awarded to a charitable organization!!
During a recent exchange both on social media (A letter from the Chairman – Communication is the Key! – Run For The Wall® (rftw.us)) and during our recent Zoom Town Hall meeting (RFTW BoD Town Hall Zoom – Video Recording Now Available – Run For The Wall®), there were suggestions that the BoD publish an annual report and other financial information. So that we are clear, the BoD has, each year, submitted the required IRS Form 990, and those forms have been publicly available on the IRS site (Charities and Nonprofits | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)) for years (in case you need it, our EIN is 36-4125559). However, in the interest of being as transparent as possible, we have been working with both GuideStar.org and CharityNavigator.org to update our profiles. In September, Charity Navigator changed how it rates charitable organizations, and is now using data and information exclusively from GuideStar.org along with information on the IRS Form 990. This profile data change happened without notice to us. Fortunately, we were already working on our Charity Navigator profile and were able to adjust our efforts. As of this update, the data exchange between GuideStar and Charity Navigator has not yet happened. However, GuideStar published our new profile (Run for the Wall® – GuideStar Profile).
I encourage you to visit GuideStar.org and review our profile. The ability to drill down into detailed information is quite impressive, and there are IRS Form 990’s dating back to 2001.
Rest assured, with the end of our fiscal year, we are working on our latest IRS Form 990. The new 990 will contain updated information that we believe will significantly improve our Charity Navigator profile. While we do not know how long it will take Charity Navigator to perform either update (GuideStar data pull and the new 990), all indications are that it will be at least 3 months following completion of the new 990. In the meantime, please visit GuideStar.org, and review our profile (Run for the Wall® – GuideStar Profile). We encourage each of you to share this profile with all potential contributors. We posted the GuideStar seal and a link to our GuideStar profile on our donation page at https://rftw.us/donate.
While you are at it, it may be beneficial to review the profile of other charities with which you are familiar, both on GuideStar and Charity Navigator.
Did you know that Run for the Wall has an active Benevolence program? Each year, organizations that meet our criteria and select individuals are eligible to apply. For further information and online applications and submittal instructions, please visit https://rftw.us/benevolence-fund/. 31 December is the deadline for applications. Awards are reviewed and considered during the Face-to-face meeting typically held in February each year.
No one left behind is more than a standard we all live up to. It is a way of life. It is part of our Mission. If you or someone you know find themselves struggling with their mental health, please know you can contact the VA Veteran’s Crisis Line by dialing 988 then press 1 or text 838255 and speak or chat with a qualified responder.
Let us remember to keep our focus on the Mission. It is why we ride!
Say Their Names – Tell Their Stories – Never Forget.
Back to Basics. Back to the RFTW Mission.
Is it May yet?
John “Turkey” Staub
President, RFTW, Inc.
2011- CR FNG
2012 – CR Participant
2013 – CR Staging Team
2014 – 2015 – CR Staging Team Ass’t. Lead
2016-2017 – CR Staging Team Lead
2022 – CR Platoon Coordinator
2023 – CR and Sandbox Road Guard
2020 – Present – RFTW BoD member
