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 Welcome to the Web site of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Here you will find a little history and information about the Society, what services we have available for eligible recipients, where to find the nearest Society location, and information on how you can help us help those in need.

Founded in 1904, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is a private non-profit charitable organization. It is sponsored by the Department of the Navy and operates nearly 250 offices ashore and afloat at Navy and Marine Corps bases throughout the world. The Society was incorporated in the District of Columbia and has its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. It is managed by a Board of Directors whose members are active duty or retired members of the Naval Services, or spouses of active duty or retired members of the Naval Services.

The mission of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is to provide, in partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps, financial, educational, and other assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, eligible family members, and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.

The Society provides financial assistance to eligible recipients in the form of:

  • Interest-free loans and grants to meet emergency needs
  • Needs-based scholarships and interest-free loans for educational purposes.
    • In addition, the Society offers the following services:
  • Budget Counseling Services
  • Food Lockers at some locations
  • Infant Layettes - "junior seabags" and Budget for Baby Seminars
  • Thrift Shops
  • Visiting Nurse Services.

    • Our Vision: We are a private, non-profit, volunteer, service organization. As a Center of Excellence, we are committed to ensure that all available resources are used to assist personnel of the Naval Services - active, retired, and their eligible family members - to achieve financial self-sufficiency and find solutions to emergency needs.
    The Society can help:
    • Active duty and retired Navy and Marine Corps personnel
    • Eligible family members of the personnel listed above
    • Eligible family members of Navy and Marine Corps personnel who died on active duty or in a retired status
    • Reservists on extended active duty
    • Indigent mothers (65 years or older) of deceased servicemembers who have limited resources and no family to provide for their welfare
    • Ex-spouses "20-20-20" (unremarried former spouses whose marriage to a servicemember lasted for at least 20 years while the servicemember was on active duty)
    More than 3,000 trained Volunteers, both ashore and aboard ships, accomplish the major portion of the Society's work. They are supported by a small cadre of employees. The Society enjoys an active partnership with the Navy and Marine Corps and benefits extensively from the active involvement of the command structure at the bases where the Society maintains a presence. The commanders themselves, as well the senior enlisted leadership, chaplains, and family service center personnel, play an important role in the conduct of the Society's business.

    Although sponsored by the Department of the Navy, the Society is a non-profit organization whose programs are totally funded by charitable contributions. The work of the Society is supported by an annual fund drive conducted by the Navy and Marine Corps, and by a direct mail campaign of the Navy and Marine Corps retired community. Both fund drives are conducted under the auspices of the Secretary of the Navy. All contributions are returned to clients in the form of relief or educational assistance. Overhead expenses are covered by proceeds from the Reserve Fund established during World War II.

    Contributions to the Society are deductible under Section 170(b)(1)(a) of the IRS Code. The Society is exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code.

    For comments about this site, send e-mail to John.Alexander@nmcrs.org

    Updated: January 12, 2008

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