13/12/2025
Most people think charity money goes straight to the cause. This story complicates that belief.
Friends, every December, Wreaths Across America places millions of wreaths on veterans’ graves across the United States. Arlington. Local cemeteries. Snow. Silence. It looks like pure respect. And for many volunteers, it is. The nonprofit behind it, Wreaths Across America, is a registered 501(c)(3), founded in Maine, raising donations nationwide to honor fallen service members.
Here’s the part most donors don’t hear up front.
The nonprofit buys nearly all of its wreaths from a for-profit company called Worcester Wreath Company, also known through Worcester Resources. That company is owned and operated by the same family that founded and runs the nonprofit. Millions of dollars in donations flow from the charity directly to that family’s business each year to pay for wreath production and logistics.
Now, to be fair, this arrangement is disclosed in public filings. The nonprofit says it follows conflict-of-interest policies. Family members recuse themselves. Competitive pricing is claimed. And the wreaths do get delivered. Graves are covered. Volunteers still show up.
But here’s the turn that changes how people feel about it.
In the nonprofit world, even legal arrangements can still raise ethical questions. Charity watchdogs have flagged this setup because donor money doesn’t just honor veterans. It also sustains a private business tied to the same leadership.
This isn’t about calling volunteers fake or grief performative. It’s about transparency. Because when people give in the name of service, they deserve to know exactly where their money goes.
Sometimes honoring sacrifice also means asking harder questions.
