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Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
LtGen Robert Ruark, USMC (Ret.) serves as President and CEO of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, a nonprofit established in 1904 to provide financial...
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
LtGen Robert Ruark, USMC (Ret.) serves as President and CEO of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, a nonprofit established in 1904 to provide financial stability for Sailors, Marines, and their families. The Society operates from its Arlington, Virginia headquarters and delivers assistance through offices on Navy and Marine Corps installations worldwide, including locations in Italy, Japan, Spain, and Guam. NMCRS deploys its resources through interest-free loans, grants, and scholarships rather than traditional investment vehicles. Its programs cover emergency travel, disaster relief, basic living expenses, and education costs. The Society also runs the Budget for Baby® workshop and employs visiting nurses to support military families. Fundraising flows through an annual active-duty fund drive, thrift shops on military installations, and partnerships with entities such as the Marine Corps Exchange and Navy Federal Credit Union. In 2024, Charity Navigator maintained a 4-star rating on the Society, and Candid (GuideStar) awarded a Platinum Seal of Transparency. Named assistance programs include the Admiral Mike Boorda Loan Program, the Vice Admiral E.P. Travers Loan Program, and the Wellington T. Mara Scholarship Fund. The Society fields a volunteer corps alongside its professional staff, drawing on the retired Naval service community for operational capacity across its global office network. The Society functions as a direct-relief vehicle embedded within the US Navy and Marine Corps ecosystem — not as a typical investment endowment. Its assets take the form of loan receivables and programmatic funds rather than a conventional investment portfolio, which shapes its liquidity, risk posture, and operational tempo entirely around servicemember needs.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1904
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Arlington
Corporate office
875 N Randolph St Ste 225, Arlington, VA 22203, United States
Additional offices
Global network across US Navy and Marine Corps installations including Italy, Japan, Spain, and Guam
Principals
LtGen Robert Ruark, USMC (Ret.)
President and CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does NMCRS differ from a typical endowed foundation?
NMCRS operates as a direct financial assistance vehicle embedded within the active-duty military community. Instead of making grants to third-party nonprofits, it provides interest-free loans, grants, and scholarships directly to individual Sailors, Marines, and their families. Its assets are predominantly loan receivables and programmatic funds rather than a diversified investment portfolio.
Who runs the day-to-day operations of NMCRS?
Retired Lieutenant General Robert Ruark, USMC, serves as the President and CEO. The Society is governed by a board of directors and relies on a mix of professional staff and volunteers — many drawn from the retired Naval service community — to deliver assistance across its global network of offices on military installations.
Does NMCRS accept external co-investors or outside fund commitments?
No. NMCRS is not an investment fund. It raises money through individual donations, the annual Active Duty Fund Drive, thrift shop operations on military bases, and events such as its annual black-tie ball. There is no external LP or co-investor structure.
What types of financial assistance does the Society provide?
Assistance falls into several categories: interest-free loans and grants for basic living needs, emergency travel loans for service members on approved leave, disaster relief grants, and education scholarships and loans. The organization also offers the Budget for Baby® workshop and a visiting nurse program for families with newborns.
Where does NMCRS operate outside the United States?
The Society maintains a global office network on Navy and Marine Corps installations. Confirmed country locations include Italy, Japan, Spain, and Guam, reflecting the forward-deployed posture of the US Naval services.
How is NMCRS rated by charity evaluators?
The Society holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (GuideStar), indicating high marks for financial health, accountability, and public disclosure.
Is NMCRS affiliated with the US government?
NMCRS is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit and not a government agency, though it operates in close partnership with the US Navy and Marine Corps. Its offices are located on military installations, and it coordinates with commands to deliver assistance, but it is funded by private donations rather than appropriated government funds.
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