Scholarship Fund Update

The NHA Scholarship Always Has Two Things to Say: “Donate" and "Apply!”

By CAPT Arne Nelson, USN (Ret.) President

The Naval Helicopter Association Scholarship Fund (NHASF) is a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit corporation created in 1993.

Our Mission Statement: To award college scholarships to eligible, qualified members of the naval helicopter community and their families (USN, USMC, and USCG) to pursue their educational goals and to support the Naval Helicopter Association and its members.

Our Vision: Position NHASF to be a premier scholarship choice in Naval Aviation in 5 years (2025) by providing a sound, growing fund base to incrementally increase the dollar value of the fifteen annual awards total to reach $75K ($5000 each) by 2025. Our grants help undergraduate and graduate students defray the rising costs of higher education. NHASF awards 15 scholarships annually, many of them supporting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) curriculum.

Our 2022 Fundraising Goal: $60K target for fifteen $3500 scholarships ($52.5K // Admin $7.5K //

APPLY (1 Sep – 31 Jan) At Symposium, many of our shipmates said they weren’t interested in the NHA Scholarship Fund – their kids were still little. But the scholarships are not just for our children and grandchildren. We also offer undergraduate and graduate scholarships which range in value up to $3500, for spouses and active-duty personnel – pilots, aircrew, maintainers, and support staff. Among the 2021 awards were three enlisted scholarships (an aircrewman, a plane captain, and a yeoman).

- A first tour active-duty O-1 / O-2, who is a 2 Year "Nugget" Member of NHA, and his/her family are exempt from the three-year eligibility requirement. - Active duty Enlisted (E-6 and below), with a current or past helicopter affiliation (stationed in a helicopter or MV-22 squadron, or other helicopter aviation unit) and their family members, are exempt from the NHA membership requirement. A letter from his/her command is required confirming the Sponsor/Applicant is currently serving, or has previously served, in a USN, USMC, or USCG helicopter or MV-22 squadron or other helicopter aviation unit.

This year we’re adding a Gold Star Scholarship for spouses and students who lost their serving spouse, father or mother while the member was on active duty. If you have any questions about our Gold Star Scholarship, please call the NHA Scholarship Office.

Scholarships in Perpetuity: Our perennial scholarship funds now exceed $140,000, yielding at least $7,000 in annual grants. To establish a scholarship in perpetuity, a donor provides NHASF with at least $50,000 either in a lump-sum donation or pay over time. A $50,000 Scholarship yields a $2,500 grant, a $100,000 gift yields a $5000 annual grant for a named scholarship per year in perpetuity. Later, a donor may add funds to their portfolio whenever they chose to increase the annual grant yield for that scholarship from that year on.

Annual Pass-Through Scholarships: An annual or “passthrough” scholarship is funded by a payment of $3,500 or more each year to sponsor a named scholarship that year. Pass through scholarship donations can also be for more than $3,500, and they can change each year by donating more than $3,500.

Our scholarship awards use a combination of funds drawn from various sources. Our “Donation Options” are:

SPOT ONE: Individual donations. Two fundraising periods each year, Summer and Late Fall: goal of $25K/year.

SPOT TWO: Corporate sponsorships. Increasing present level of sponsorship by two each year with a goal of $25K/year.

SPOT THREE: Memorial gifts, Legacy/Heroes gifts (named or anonymous), honoring a shipmate’s contribution. Usually a one year named scholarship, but a lasting memorial could be made in perpetuity. Gold Star Family donations support scholarships for surviving spouses and children.

SPOT FOUR: Endowments/gifts in perpetuity. A named gift in perpetuity ($60-100K) with an annual 4-5% skim. We have four investment accounts that support three named scholarships and another that provides additional “round-up” funding in the various categories. This additional funding adds to the base donation each year to yield each annual grant at $5K/year.

Starboard Delta. Squadron / Wing Challenges. In work.

How to donate: • Mail a check to: NHA Scholarship Fund, P.O Box 180578 Coronado, California 92178-0578 • Use a credit card: https://www.nhascholarshipfund.org/donations/ • Make an Electronic Funds Transfer. Call to obtain the bank routing number and our EFT Account details. (619) 435-7139 Office (619) 607-0800 Cell • Donate through CFC: NHASF CFC # is 10800 • Use Amazon Smile. Set up an Amazon Smile account, then shop using Amazon Smile – you automatically donate 0.5% to the NHA Scholarship Fund

The NHA Scholarship Fund is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable California corporation: TAX ID # 33-0513766 Donate, and Apply. SAVE THE DATE: Giving Tuesday was the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving but you can donate any time.

www.nhascholarshipfund.org www.nhascholarshipfund.org/prescreening www.nhascholarshipfund.org/donations/

Captain Nelson said, “It is a great honor to accept this generous grant which will cover three scholarships for the upcoming scholarship season. This is a significant selection, signifying that we are maintaining USS Midway Museum’s confidence in our program. Thanks to Mac, Laura, the Board, and staff of the USS Midway Museum.”

Captain Arne Nelson, President of the NHA Scholarship Fund receives a $10,000 grant for the 2022 round of NHA scholarships from Laura White, USS Midway Museum Foundation President.

The NHA Scholarship Always Has Two Things to Say: “Donate" and "Apply!”