Top fundraising departments in six categories of the USA 250 Challenge will receive special plaques on stage at national convention from National Commander Wiley.
There has been a change atop the leaderboard with about two months to go in the department fundraising competition for the USA 250 Challenge.
New Jersey has passed previous category leader North Carolina, which is just ahead of Massachusetts. As of May 1, the leading departments in each category are Indiana, California, Tennessee, New Jersey, New Mexico and France.
American Legion National Commander Dan K. Wiley is encouraging departments to finish strong and support his fundraising goal of $150,000 by the close of the campaign, July 4.
Wiley will present special plaques on stage at national convention to the departments with the highest fundraising totals at the conclusion of the challenge.
Fundraisers and donors can help their department win, while also contributing toward a worthwhile cause. Donations for the USA 250 Challenge go to the Veterans & Children Foundation, which benefits disabled veterans and military families in need.
The fundraising totals are so close in each category that any department could win, especially with department conventions approaching. The categories are:
Category 1: California, Florida, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Category 2: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Category 3: Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey and North Carolina.
Category 4: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and West Virginia.
Category 5: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Vermont.
Category 6: District of Columbia, France, Hawaii, Latin America, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Wyoming.
All funds raised from July 4, 2025, through July 4 of this year will count toward the department totals.
How to fundraise
We have simplified the fundraising process and also created reward tiers for fundraisers who achieve certain benchmarks.
To start your fundraising campaign, head to your participant account page and log in. From there, check out this handy FAQ that will walk you through a few steps to get started.
Rewards for fundraising participants
You can now earn special commemorative items by hitting various fundraising tiers. They are:
• Participants who raise at least $250, receive a USA 250 Challenge hat pin.
• Participants who raise at least $500, receive a USA 250 Challenge coin and a personalized certificate of appreciation.
• Participants who raise at least $2,500, receive a personalized plaque signed by National Commander Dan K. Wiley.
For assistance or questions, please email: donorservices@legion.org
- USA250 Challenge