Boot Campaign is a national 501 charitable organization with offices in Tyler and Dallas, Texas. Boot Campaign began when average Americans chose to outwardly express their gratitude for active duty service members, veterans and their families by lacing up one of the most visible signs of military service: combat boots. Boot Campaign is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and was selected as one of 26 national veteran and military service nonprofits that meet the 20 stringent standards. Boot Campaign continues a years-long Gold rating from GuideStar and has been named one of the nation’s Great Nonprofits. Since 2009, Boot Campaign has raised more than $22 million to give back directly to veteran and military families.
Mission
Boot Campaign's mission is to unite Americans to honor and restore the lives of veterans and military families through individualized, life-improving programs. #LaceUpAMERICA
Programs
Boot Campaign has vital programs to improve outcomes for our nation’s military, veterans, and their families. Boot Campaign restores wounded and ill veterans to health through customized, world-class multi-disciplinary care and is unique because of established partnerships with leading providers coupled with its commitment to providing comprehensive and careful case management over a long period of time. In 2019, Boot Campaign started more than 120 military families on the road to health and wellness, and its reach extended not only to 33 states in the nation, but also to an active duty family currently stationed overseas. Boot Campaign program participants represented every branch of the military, and were a part of operations from the Vietnam War through today’s present conflicts. Boot Campaign’s annual holiday campaign, Santa Boots, strives to facilitate an extra moment of joy, delivering specially curated gifts to veteran and active duty military families who are experiencing a particularly challenging time. Since 2015, Boot Campaign have served more than 347 military families. The program includes partnerships with national nonprofits – Armed Services YMCA, Fisher House Foundation and Operation Homefront.
#LaceUpAMERICA
Boot Campaign’s #LaceUpAMERICA initiative is an ongoing movement that encourages anyone and everyone to lace up a pair of Boot Campaign combat boots in support and solidarity for veterans and military families. More than 500 celebrities have laced up since Boot Campaign’s inception ten years ago, including country artists Dolly Parton, Kacey Musgraves and Joe Nichols and other stars like the cast of the hit CBS show SEAL Team, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, action sports athlete Travis Pastrana, Florida Georgia Line, Smokey Robinson, Nancy Grace, Kathie Lee Gifford, Shark Tank stars Mark Cuban and Daymond John and professional golfer Jordan Spieth.
Retail Sales
Beginning in 2011, Boot Campaign began selling combat boots as a way to further the mission and raise money to support veterans and military families. Retail sales of branded apparel soon followed, and today Boot Campaign maintains an online retail shop, where the organization sells combat boots, apparel, accessories, and branded gear.
Financials
In addition to required IRS financial filings, Boot Campaign voluntarily undergoes an annual independent financial audit by a third party agency to verify IRS and 501 compliance. Current 990tax filing information can be found on the Boot Campaign website, and updated tax information is released as available.
Recognition
Boot Campaign is listed in three charity monitoring websites: GuideStar, GreatNonprofits, and BBB Wise Giving Alliance. GuideStar first reviewed Boot Campaign in 2011, giving it a Gold rating for commitment to transparency. GreatNonprofits has named Boot Campaign a Top Rated charity annually since 2013, which requires an organization to earn at least 10 four-star reviews each year. Boot Campaign has more than 120 reviews with an overall average rating of five stars. BBB Wise Giving Alliance rates the organization as an "accredited" charity based on its 20 standards for recognition.
History
Tyler, Texas orthodontist Sherri Reuland read "Lone Survivor," Marcus Luttrell's account of Operation Red Wings, and was so moved by the story she recommended the book to four friends. Reuland, Ginger Giles, Heather Sholl, Leigh Ann Ranslem, and Mariae Bui borrowed combat boots for a photo project to show their support for troops and veterans asking Americans to "get their boots on" to show their support for the military.
