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Frequently Asked Questions
What does USO stand for?
USO stands for United Service Organizations. Find out about the origins of the name.
Is the USO an agency of the U.S. government?
The USO is a nonprofit, charitable corporation chartered by Congress that relies on donations from individuals, organizations and corporations to support its programs. It is not an agency of the U.S. government. However, every president has been the Honorary Chairman of the USO since 1941. Learn more about the history of the USO.
What programs and services does the USO offer?
The USO offers a variety of programs and services designed to support our service members and their families. Download the USO mobile app or visit the following pages to learn more about what we do for Deployed Service Members, Military Families, Transitioning Troops, Families of the Fallen and Wounded, Ill and Injured Service Members.
How can I find out about USO programs and services in my area?
The USO currently operates more than 250 locations around the world. The fastest way to find USO programs and services in your area is the USO mobile app. Find out more about programs and services offered in your area.
How can I volunteer for the USO?
Volunteers play a crucial role at the USO. Volunteers provide hundreds of thousands of hours of service, from welcoming home deployed service members to providing support for individual service members and their families at USO centers. Find out more information about how to get involved.
How can I contribute to the USO?
Your donation makes it possible for the USO to support service members and their families: From the moment they join, through their assignments and deployments, and as they transition back to their communities, your donation ensures the USO is always by their side. Donate now.
Honor someone special by making a gift to the USO in their name. An honor gift is a meaningful way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, holiday or the memory of a loved one. Make an honor gift.
Tax-deductible donations to the USO can be made online via a secure server or by calling 1-800-876-7469. If you prefer to mail your donation, please send a check or money order made payable to “USO” to:
USO
Department WS
PO Box 96860
Washington, DC 20090-6860
I’ve been approached by someone asking for donations on behalf of the USO. How do I know I am talking to an actual USO representative?
You may see our dedicated and enthusiastic fundraisers on busy streets or outside businesses in your communities. Here’s how you’ll know you’re talking with an authorized USO fundraiser:
- They are wearing a USO branded vest or shirt and are posted at a USO branded kiosk.
- They have a badge prominently displayed with their name and photo identifying them as a professional fundraiser with one of our partners: Ascenta Group or GlobalFaces Direct.
- They have other USO gear and materials.
- They have a tablet to securely collect payment information electronically.
- They will not accept cash or check donations.
The USO’s face-to-face fundraising program is a team of professional, knowledgeable, and highly trained fundraisers who aim to start conversations about the critical work of the USO and provide the opportunity to make an immediate difference for service members. Our current and past locations include San Diego, Philadelphia, Nashville, Tampa, and Houston. Look for them in your community!
If you have any questions about our fundraisers, please call 1-888-484-3876.
My corporation is interested in getting involved with the USO. Who should I contact with additional questions?
There are many different ways corporations rally around our service members and show support. To learn more about becoming a partner, contact Corporate Alliances at 703-908-6400 or by email.
Can I donate items instead of money?
The USO can only accept items that are purchased directly from or donated by the manufacturer.
Is my contribution tax-deductible?
Yes. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowable by federal law.
How can I support our deployed service members?
You can read about the programs that are most popular with our service members in our programs website section and make a contribution today.
Can I order a USO Care Package for an individual service member?
The USO does not have names or addresses of individuals serving overseas. Care Packages are sent to units in the field, at departure locations, and through some USO centers. Visit us at USO Wishbook, our alternative giving catalog. The gifts you purchase from the USO Wishbook allow you to recognize a special occasion while directly benefiting service members and their families.
How can I find out which performers are on a USO entertainment tour?
Download the USO mobile app to find entertainment tours and events in your area.
Who can attend USO celebrity entertainment performances?
All USO events are free and open to U.S. military ID card holders and their families, both stateside and overseas.
I am stationed on a base in the United States. How can we get a USO tour?
The USO supports many global entertainment programs – please send us a request here for consideration and include a request on letterhead from your Command. Once this information has been submitted, a representative from the USO will be in touch regarding next steps. We try to fulfill as many requests as possible but cannot guarantee any specific performances or performers.
I am stationed overseas. How can we get a USO tour?
If you have a suggestion for a tour to come to your base, contact your Base Services representative or Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) representative and ask them to contact us. Please note the USO recruits talent for tours but does not determine the location of those tours. We do work in close partnership with the Department of Defense and share the requests we get from the field with them.
Where can I find a roster of USO entertainers from the past?
Learn more about entertainers who have toured for the USO and the history of the USO. The USO does not have detailed files on each person who toured for our organization. If you are specifically interested in a list of people who toured with Bob Hope, his official website houses not only his biography and history, but also some of his USO tour information.
My family member toured with the USO a while ago. Can you provide pictures or detailed information on his/her tours?
The USO does not have detailed information on each individual who toured for service members and military families. We recommend contacting the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress.
I have a question that is not addressed in the FAQ section. Who can I contact?
Submit any other general inquiries through the Contact the USO form.