What is an AWI Outpost?

A small local group that turns support for veterans and first responders into action right where they live. Not a chapter with dues and meetings. A handful of people asking one question: what does a veteran or first responder in our community need next, and how do we get it done. Donating funds the mission. An Outpost puts you in it.

Do I have to be a veteran to start or join one?

No. Outposts are for anyone who wants to serve those who served. Veterans, first responders, and civilians all lead and join them.

How do I start one?

Email the AWI exec team at awiexecteam@fairwaymc.com. There’s no cost to start. We’ll send a quick questionnaire to catch the vision for what you want to do and get your name and region. From there we build you some basic marketing and set up your fundraising page. You can start with just a few people, or even one, and grow from there.

What do I name my Outpost?

Keep it hyperlocal. Name it however people in your area would best know the place you’re serving. In a small town, that might just be the town. In a bigger city, focus on the specific suburb or area you’re serving. Locals should see the name and know it’s theirs.

What support does AWI give me?

You get the power of a national nonprofit behind you. We set you up with the basics of marketing to carry your vision, and a fundraising website that lets you take donations and get to work. From there we provide as much support as you need, and we’re here to help you take it as far as you want.

What do Outposts actually do?

Whatever their community needs. Building a fence for a veteran. Cleaning up a yard for a Gold Star family. Funding a service dog. Connecting a vet to a PTS support program. Running a local fundraiser. The best Outpost work is specific and hands-on.

What kinds of fundraisers do Outposts run?

Whatever fits your community and your crew. A table or booth at an event already drawing a crowd like an air show or fair, a restaurant give-back night, a golf tournament, a concert, a local gear drive. Start at whatever size your team can pull off and grow from there. You don’t need a gala to make a real difference.

How do we find veterans or first responders who need help?

Start with who’s already close. Local VFW and American Legion posts, county VA reps, police and fire departments, and veteran service organizations all know where the need is. Ask them one question: who near us needs a hand?

Where does the money go, and can we raise for a specific veteran?

The money you raise stays in your local area, and you decide how it’s distributed. AWI is a registered 501(c)(3), so donations are tax-deductible. You can raise for a specific local veteran. The one requirement is that the veteran is vetted by the AWI team first. We help with that, and we can often help you find a veteran in need since we keep waitlists in many areas.

Can donors get a tax receipt?

Yes. Donors get an emailed receipt automatically right after they give. If someone needs a year-end summary, they can email the AWI exec team and we’ll send it.

What’s the time commitment?

As much or as little as you can give. Some Outposts do one project a season. There’s no quota and there are no required meetings. You gather when there’s something to do.

We’re interested but not sure what to do first. Help?

Pick one need and one project. One veteran, one fence, one afternoon. Small and finished beats big and stalled every time. And you can always email the AWI exec team at awiexecteam@fairwaymc.com.

What is an AWREP event?

AWREP is AWI’s CE-certified course for real estate professionals. A three-hour morning that bridges the gap between military and civilian homebuyers and raises real funds for service dogs along the way.

Who is an AWREP event for?

Real estate professionals.

Who hosts an AWREP event?

A Fairway branch. It takes sign-off from a Fairway branch manager and a team of Fairway people to pull one together.

What does hosting involve, and what does AWI provide?

The host handles the local side: marketing the event to their realtor partners, filling the room, and securing the location and food. AWI handles the mission side: the teaching and the class itself, the special speaker, marketing materials for the event, video and photo of the day, and the CE connection. We help secure the AV, and we support you throughout the process.

Is there a cost to host one?

The best place for cost and logistics is the AWREP video above. That’s where the full picture lives.

Do attendees earn CE credit, and how much?

Two, three, or four hours of CE depending on the state. We’re licensed in most states, but reach out and we’ll confirm yours. If you want to host in a state where CE doesn’t apply, or run a shorter version, we can still teach the class and deliver the information without the CE credit.

How does an AWREP event raise money for service dogs?

Funds are raised on the day, largely through event t-shirt sales, and they go directly toward a service dog for a local veteran that same day. As with all our work, we vet the veteran through the AWI team first, and we can help find a veteran in need since we keep waitlists in many areas.

How far ahead do I need to plan?

At least six months. The important part is giving yourself enough runway to get people there. And if you haven’t been to an AWREP event before, come see one first. Find an event you can attend, watch how it runs, and it makes hosting your own far easier.

We want to run a golf tournament or concert. Is that AWREP or an Outpost?

That’s an Outpost. AWREP is the specific CE course above. Any local fundraiser you dream up, golf, concerts, dinners, lives under an Outpost. If you don’t have one yet, that’s a great reason to start one.