Our History
Blue Star Families helps transform America’s understanding of military families, aiming to create a stronger foundation for the the All-Volunteer Force. Through groundbreaking research, modeling what right looks like, and mobilizing powerful coalitions of support, we are on a mission to change the way America supports its military.
When a diverse group of military family members created Blue Star Families in 2009, military families were rarely a footnote in policy conversations. In 2024, two-thirds of Americans say military families play a crucial role in the mission readiness of the U.S. military. That’s great news. We engage more than 1.5 million military family members every year through our free programs, and our superpower is strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors to create vibrant communities of mutual support.
Innovating Through Lived Experience
Creating a New Identity: The Blue Star Family
Grounding Solutions in Data
Mobilizing Cross-Sector Collaboratives
Managing Explosive Growth
Strengthening the Nation
Transformational Trust
Thousands have invested in our mission, but several gifts fundamentally enabled us to achieve it. Along the way, we’ve partnered with unusual donors who have their own aspirational visions for a better world. For many, Blue Star Families was an unknown entity or we were pitching a completely untested idea. They took the risk anyway. They trusted us to innovate, donated their time and expertise to co-create with us, and encouraged us to reach higher, move faster, and push farther than we ever would have without them. Without these gifts, our history would end here.
Retaining the Family
“Recruit the service member, retain the family,” is a common military adage, but one the military alone cannot achieve. That’s why Blue Star Families was founded. We listen to what military families want and need in order to thrive…and then we recruit private and community partners and do it. Our evidence-based programs directly support and strengthen military families, equipping them to navigate inevitable military life challenges. Meanwhile, we’re relentless advocates, elevating our research to change policies at all levels.
Strengthening Families and Making Friends
Fighting Economic Insecurity
Navigating Military Life’s Biggest Challenges
Activating a Global Volunteer Network
Harnessing the Power of Belonging
Our co-founders knew that despite having so many things working in their favor, military families were not okay. After years of iterative research, we discovered one of the most important (and unexpected) root causes: Lack of belonging to one’s civilian community. Today, we’re creating inclusive communities in-person and online, so that wherever military life takes a family, they belong.
Chapters and Outposts
The Neighborhood
Campaign for Inclusion
Mobilizing to Solve Big Problems
Collaboration is part of our DNA. While conducting research was the first thing we did as an organization, convening a group of cross-sector leaders to address the challenges our research uncovered was the second. From coordinating an unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to building a bulwark against attempts to politicize the military, Blue Star Families has built a trust-based network that is now critical to our military’s resilience.
The White Oak Collaborative
COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Thought Leadership
In Service of Our Democracy
Changing the Way America Supports Its Military
The All-Volunteer Force is the most capable military in history, but that status is at risk without changes to how America supports it. Our research shows that societal shifts are outpacing military families’ ability to adapt, and neither the federal government nor nonprofits alone can resolve these challenges. We have to think bigger. We are taking a two-pronged approach through our Do Your Part initiative and expanding Blue Star Chapters. Do Your Part combines a national call to action with data-backed solutions, activating communities and partnering with iconic brands to provide meaningful support. Our Chapter model connects local communities — individuals, businesses, libraries, and employers — around supporting military families, offering pathways for broader involvement and impact.
Activating Communities
Elevating Best Practices
Inspiring Iconic Brands
Advocating for Military Families
Beyond the Horizon
“As long as we have an active-duty military and an All Volunteer Force, they are going to need the resources and community that Blue Star Families brings to the table.”
- Ross Cohen, Blue Star Families Alum, Deputy Secretary with the Maryland Department of Veterans & Military Families
