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No Greater Sacrifice

Our Impact

Gratitude, made real.

Since February 2008, No Greater Sacrifice has turned the nation's gratitude into degrees earned and futures chosen by the children of our fallen and severely wounded Service members. The proof is in the numbers — and in the 571 Scholars now leading the way.

130,000 children. One mission.

More than 130,000 children have been affected by the deaths, injuries, and service-connected illnesses of Service members since 9/11 — and those children are reaching college age now.

Over the next two decades, nearly 35,000 of them are expected to pursue higher education, at an estimated cost of $1.37 billion — the remaining share of a $2.31 billion need spanning 2001 through 2047. NGS first modeled this need in 2011 and updates it every year, so the country can see exactly what answering the nation's debt of gratitude will take.

A young man wearing a patch-covered denim jacket laughs as a woman in a pink blazer hugs him from behind during the 2024 NGS Boot Camp. The warm moment captures the close bond between scholars and their family members at the event.

The task is immense. But so is our resolve.

What your support has made possible. Every figure below is committed, counted, and stewarded — No Greater Sacrifice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 26-1572599) rated Platinum by Candid (formerly GuideStar), the highest standard of nonprofit transparency.

571Scholars supported since 2008
98%Scholar graduation rate
$30M+committed to post-high-school education benefits
95%of every dollar goes directly to the mission
350+colleges and universities Scholars attend this fall
PlatinumCandid (formerly GuideStar) transparency rating

Our Impact

Every figure is a person

Since 2008: 571 Scholars supported and $30M+ committed toward their education. This past May, the board selected 75 new Scholars — a $4.5 million investment in their futures — and this fall, Scholars are pursuing degrees at 350+ colleges and universities nationwide.

See the numbers
Six smiling scholars pose together in a bright hallway during the No Greater Sacrifice 2025 Bootcamp. The group wears a variety of college-branded shirts, reflecting the program's mission of supporting higher education for military families.
A smiling family of four poses in front of the NGS step-and-repeat backdrop decorated with red, white, and blue balloons at the 2025 No Greater Sacrifice BootCamp. A young woman in a blue PSC shirt stands in front, flanked by a woman, a teenage boy, and a tattooed man.

Our Impact

The people behind the numbers

Behind every number is a Scholar charting their own course — like Kelly Tanner, a recent Georgia Southern University graduate, or the Walding family, whose four children are all NGS Scholars. Many graduates come back, returning to BootCamp to coach the next class.

Meet the Scholars
A smiling woman in a red Nike shirt sits alongside a young girl wearing glasses at the 2014 Freedom Award Family Day outdoor event. Both wear red NGS shirts and are engaged watching the program alongside other attendees.

2024 Annual Impact Report

Freedom's Future.

Our Freedom's Future Impact & Donor Report is a first-of-its-kind effort to quantify the long-term educational needs of military families — and to show, transparently, the impact of every dollar given. NGS first published this analysis in 2011 and updates it every year. Enter your email to download the full report.

We'll send the PDF straight to your inbox. No spam — just the numbers.

Questions & answers

Frequently asked questions

Help write the next chapter.

Every Scholar, every degree, every number you've seen began with someone who chose to give. Your gift writes the next one — debt-free education for the children of our nation's fallen and severely wounded Service members.

Give now