The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) asks Pennsylvanians to consider donating to programs that support the commonwealth's nearly 800,000 veterans, active military members, and their families. Monetary donations to these nonprofit, tax-deductible programs can be made by individuals, corporations and companies.

The DMVA administers four tax-deductible programs that honor veterans and provide them with aid. These programs rely on donations from the public. The four programs are the Military Family Relief Assistance Program (MFRAP), Veterans' Trust Fund (VTF), Residents' Welfare Funds, and Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial Trust Fund.

The MFRAP provides financial assistance, in the form of grants, to eligible Pennsylvania service members and their eligible family members who have an immediate financial need due to circumstances beyond their control. This program is made possible by donations from taxpayers who designate all or part of their Pennsylvania personal income tax refund to support Pennsylvania military personnel and their families and by those who donate online or privately by mail.

The VTF issues grants to statewide charitable organizations that assist veterans, veterans service organizations, and county directors of veterans affairs to help veterans in need of shelter and necessities of living. The VTF also issues temporary assistance grants to individual veterans who have qualifying financial needs. The grants are funded by Pennsylvanians who voluntarily make a donation when applying for or renewing their driver's license or photo identification card and renewing a motor vehicle registration, from proceeds generated by the sale of the Honoring Our Veterans and Honoring Our Women Veterans license plates, and through private donations by mail.

Residents' Welfare Funds at each of the DMVA's six veterans' homes help to keep the residents active and healthy by providing activities and entertainment. Donations are made online or through private donations by mail. The six Pennsylvania veterans' homes are Delaware Valley Veterans' Home in Philadelphia, Gino J. Merli Veterans' Center in Scranton, Hollidaysburg Veterans' Home, Pennsylvania Soldiers' & Sailors' Home in Erie, Southeastern Veterans' Center in Spring City, and Southwestern Veterans' Center in Pittsburgh.

Located at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County and maintained by the DMVA, the Pennsylvania Veterans' Memorial honors veterans of all eras from the Revolutionary War forward. Donations are accepted online or by mail to help fund the maintenance and repair of the memorial.

When an online donation is made, donors may choose to enter honoree information. A plaque for the honoree will be displayed on the Virtual Donor Wall. Online plaques will show that donations have been made in honor of, in memory of, or on behalf of someone.

To make a donation online or by mail for any of these tax-deductible programs or to learn more about each one, visit http://www.donate.dmva.pa.gov.