October 26, 2009 
By Erin O’Neill
What Their Website Says…
“Founded in 1904, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society is a private non-profit charitable organization. It is sponsored by the Department of the Navy and operates nearly 250 offices ashore and afloat at Navy and Marine Corps bases throughout the world. The mission of the NMCRS is to provide financial, educational and other assistance to members of the Naval services of the United States, eligible family members and survivors when in need; and to receive and manage funds to administer these programs.”
The Gist
Basically, they distribute money (in the form of grants, loans and scholarships) to troops and their families in times of need. They’re one of the first places many service members turn for financial help when they have to travel on Emergency leave, or when they need a stop-gap loan (think car repair or medical expense, not vacation $$ or must-have shoes.)
Services
They also offer a variety of grants and scholarships for educational pursuits (for Veterans, service members and their dependents) and a number of interest free loans and grants for emergency circumstances. They also provide free budget and credit counseling services for members and their families, as well as a Food locker, Visiting Nurse Program and free infant formula and diapers for those in need.
Their Mission is….
“Our Vision: We are a private, non-profit, volunteer, service organization. As a Center of Excellence, we are committed to ensure that all available resources are used to assist personnel of the Naval Services - active, retired, and their eligible family members - to achieve financial self-sufficiency and find solutions to emergency needs.”
The Good
The Quick Assist loan—a relatively new service of NMCRS—was created as a much-needed alternative to predatory car title and payday loan enterprises. For qualified service members, it now takes just 15 minutes to apply for a 0% loan of up to $300, twice a year, no questions asked. Additionally, their Visiting Nurse Program reaches out to 35,000 people a year (especially new parents and chronically ill individuals) and their financial management counseling can free service members from cycles of debt and empower them to take control of their finances – for free.
NMCRS has received the highest rating from Charity Navigator, four stars, making it a good organization to donate to.
The Bad
Although Quick Assist loans can be lifesavers, they aren’t just free money. The loan does have to be paid back (usually by allotment), and after two are dispensed, budget counseling is required (along with the possibility of a call to your Command) in order to get a third. Also, the Quick Assist loans are ONLY available to active duty service members (not their dependents) and they aren’t available on-ship, so they can be trickier to receive while a service member is deployed. Additionally, some of the other services provided occasionally do involve Command involvement or referral, so it’s important to ask up front what will and will not be discussed with your Command, before and during your visit.
The Iffy
While NMCRS has unquestionably provided invaluable services, free of cost, to hundreds of thousands of service members over the years, some of their services do occasionally rely on Command involvement and referral, so it’s important to ask upfront what will and will not be discussed with your Command before and during your visit.
Overall Assessment
A great resource that really does live out its mission to empower Sailors and Marines to achieve a better quality of life.