Who We Are & Why We Exist
Military families move through systems they didn't design and often can't influence.
From housing and healthcare to education and employment, the policies shaping our lives are usually written without us, leaving families to patch together solutions in the gaps.
The Military Family Foundation exists to change that.
Military families deserve more than brochures and hashtags.
We're not trying to reinvent support but rather rebuild the community scaffolding that once made military life more bearable. What worked then still works now: trusted networks, shared knowledge, and collective advocacy rooted in real experience. We teach military spouses and community members how to advocate for policy change and highlight the people already working to improve these systems.
Whether you're trying to understand a new benefit or want to help fix what's broken, we provide the training and resources to make your voice heard effectively.
Committed to change for the better
Founded by military spouses who understand the challenges because we live them every day.
Maria Donnelly
Co-Founder, Military Family Foundation
Maria is an Army spouse, policy strategist, and advocate for military families navigating complex systems. She previously held roles at the Department of Defense and national security think tanks. Maria serves on the NC Governor's Veterans Affairs Commission and MOAA's Currently Serving Spouse Advisory Council. She has lived in three states and two countries as a military spouse and is raising twin daughters and a baby boy.
Katy Stevick
Co-Founder, Military Family Foundation
Katy is a financial planner, small business owner, and longtime advocate for military families. She is the founder of Align Financial Planning and co-owner of The MacPherson House, a boutique inn she opened during her husband's deployment. A former Fort Bragg Spouse of the Year, Katy has led multiple Family Readiness Groups and worked to expand employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for military spouses. She brings deep community roots, financial expertise, and lived experience as a military parent to this work.
Ready to build stronger military communities?
Join our community of military families working together to create meaningful policy change and build the support networks we all need.
JOIN OUR MISSION
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