Our USSVI organization is built on three basic premises:

Remembrance:

We remember and honor our departed submariner brothers who served in war and peace. We especially honor those who perished in the great struggle against evil and tyranny in WW II.

Fellowship:

We meet and participate in group activites to keep alive the spirit and bond of comradeship with our fellow 'brothers of the dolphin.'

Compassion:

To our submariner brothers we extend a helping hand and words of encouragement or solace when they are needed. Through our Charitable Fund we extend scholarships to members and their families, maintain memorials, honor our history through support of our Library fund and do other good works as the need and the opportunity arises.

Listed here are some of the questions that are frequently asked about our Charitable Foundation.

QUESTION:

What is the US Submarine Veterans Charitable Foundation (USSV-CF)?

ANSWER:

USSV-CF is a 501 (c) (3) Charitable Foundation. It is designed to allow submarine veterans and supporters to make tax -deductible donations. These gifts support charitable programs that benefit active submariners, submarine veterans and help to memorialize the glorious deeds and the awful sacrifices U.S. submariners have made throughout the past 100 years.

QUESTION:

Who runs the USSV-CF?

ANSWER:

A Board consisting of the members of the USSVI Board of Directors plus those other persons chosen by the Board Chairman.

QUESTION:

How much of the money contributed gets ‘skimmed’ off into salaries and expenses?

ANSWER:

All board members are non paid volunteers. The annual meetings are held at the same time and at the same place as the normal USSVI Board of Directors meetings, so there are no additional organization expenses and very little (less than 5% to date) in the way of ongoing operating expenses.

QUESTION:

How is the USSV-CF Foundation structured?

ANSWER:

At present there are five ‘funds’ and several sub-funds within the fund category.

As time and other needs come to the attention of the USSV-CF it is likely the funds will be expanded.

The current fund structure is as follows:

GENERAL FUND:   This fund receives any donations not specifically ‘earmarked’ to a particular ‘purpose’ fund.

MEMORIAL FUND:   This fund supports our officially recognized Memorials. A sub-category is the Memorial USN Museum Submarine fund. Monies received for this fund will be earmarked for support of the memorial submarines on exhibit around the US.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND:   Designed to benefit the USSVI member’s children and grandchildren with educational grants, this popular program grows every year.
For more information visit HERE

LIBRARY FUND:   In support of the USSVI National Library of Submarine Books, which is currently housed in the St. Mary’s Submarine Museum outside the Kings Bay, GA Submarine Base. This fund is designed to fund the LIBRARY and preserve the history to be found within.

BROTHERHOOD FUND:   This fund is set up to benefit both active service submariners and other worthy submarine veteran needs (as may come up from time to time). The DINNER FOR SAILORS (DFS) program is a sub category of this fund. The DFS program, started in 2000, is designed to provide holiday meals to struggling submariner families, working through the SUBLANT and SUBPAC CMCs.

QUESTION:

Does the USSV-CF have a fund raising amount as an annual goal?

ANSWER:

The USSV-CF is happy to accept gifts of any size and our current annual goal is to raise at least an average $ 10.00 per member.

If all members contributed just $10.00/yr, our fund would grow nearly $100,000 per year.

For those USSVI LIFE MEMBERS who contribute at least $ 50.00 to the Foundation, (upon request) the National Office will produce a customized LIFE MEMBER boat card featuring a picture of your “qual boat” or other sub as requested.

QUESTION:

What can I do to help?

ANSWER:

There are several ways to help.

Your Base probably will, from time to time, hold fund raising drives for the USSV-CF and may do some fund matching from the Base Treasury.

For those shipmates who wish to bequeath money (or books to our library) the USSVCF treasurer will work with your tax advisor to insure you accomplish whatever your charitable goals are.

Please understand that all donors of large gifts are encouraged to consult with your own tax advisor to insure that you receive maximum benefit for you donation under the current tax laws.

You can also send your tax deductible donation check, made to “USSV-CF”
directly to

USSV-CF
PO Box 3870
Silverdale, WA 98383-3870

If you wish to designate a particular fund, do so on the comment or memo line on your check.

Or, if you send your donation without a designation. Your donation will be deposited into the USSV CF General Fund and the Board will place it as the needs arise.

For more specific information about USSV-CF and will/estate planning matters, contact 1-877-542-DIVE or Email ussvi@telebyte.net

Fraternally

Patrick Householder, National Secretary