Membership in the VFW nationwide has declined over the past decade. In 1992, there were 2.1 million VFW members in the United States—in 2002, the organization had about 1.8 million regular members and about 700,000 members in its women's auxiliaries.

To aid in preserving the VFW motto of “honoring the dead by helping the living,” a plan to expand membership was launched. In August 2001, for the first time in its history, VFW members voted at a national convention to give posts the option of allowing men's auxiliaries.