Imagine knowing that something as simple as a quick flight is the only thing standing in the way of the life-saving treatment you or a loved one needs. That’s the reality for many people in our community — neighbors, friends, and family members who are often elderly, disabled, or financially strained.
LifeLine Pilots believes that medical and compassionate care transportation should be accessible to everyone. We depend on donor support to make that happen. Continue reading to learn how your donations support our mission.
LifeLine Pilots: Flying Above and Beyond
LifeLine Pilots is a dedicated group of volunteer pilots who provide free flights for individuals requiring medical treatments far from home and for other humanitarian purposes. Founded in 1981, the organization has completed over 10,000 flights, covering over six million miles. LifeLine Pilots receives no government funding, relying on the generosity of individuals, businesses, and foundations to fund the facilitation of every flight.
The largest contributors are the pilots who fly our missions. They donate their time, expertise, and aircraft use and cover all the expenses necessary to ensure that people needing medical and humanitarian assistance are supported. These donations are significant, as the Federal Aviation Administration confirms that the operating costs of a small aircraft can range from $100 to $200 per hour. Their contributions make up nearly 85% of our overall budget.
The Impact of Donations on LifeLine Pilot Operations
Although the pilots cover all flight expenses, LifeLine Pilots must fundraise to cover the costs of flight coordination and outreach to pilots and passengers. Contributions make a difference in several key areas of our operations.
Administrative costs are a necessary part of any nonprofit organization. The behind-the-scenes world that goes into running an organization like LifeLine Pilots can be significant. It includes administrative tasks like fundraising, marketing, accounting, and coordinating communication between patients, pilots, and medical professionals.
Specifically, administrative costs include onboarding new pilots, passenger intake, flight coordination, flight communication, and passenger and pilot support. Outreach is another essential part of our administrative efforts. We share our mission with pilots encouraging them to join our team and promote our services to the community, including medical, social work, and human service organizations, to spread the word.
Finally, a small portion of the funds we raise cover general management expenses, which we strive to keep at a minimum.
The Life-Changing Impact of Donations
Every donation helps LifeLine Pilots continue its mission, providing life-saving transportation to those in need. Beyond the tangible benefits, donations contribute to creating profound, life-changing experiences for passengers and their families with stories of hope, resilience, and the power of a caring community.
How to Support LifeLine Pilots
The generous support of donors makes the work of LifeLine Pilots possible. Every donation contributes to the vital mission of providing free air transportation to those in need. We can all play a role by understanding the significant impact of donations.
If you want to support LifeLine Pilots (and we hope you do), there are many ways to contribute. One of the best ways is by donating money. You can do this through a one-time donation, a recurring donation, or by including LifeLine Pilots in your estate planning.
Another way to support LifeLine Pilots is by volunteering. If you’re a pilot, you could consider donating your time and skills to fly missions. If you’re not a pilot, there are still many ways you can help. For example, you could volunteer in an administrative or fundraising role. Whether you are able to donate pilot services, financial resources, or your time, there are many options to partner with LifeLine pilots in the way that works for you; reach out today!