Ways to Give...

Scholarship Donor Guide

The California Maritime Academy is among the best of all schools: small, prestigious, disciplined, hands-on, fundamental, affordable, and accessible.  One reason we are so successful is because of scholarship donors such as you.  Our scholarship recipients are among the best and brightest and they are truly appreciative of scholarships received. 

This guide will assist you or your organization in establishing a scholarship for students at Cal Maritime.


Why Establish a Scholarship?

It currently costs more than $16,000 each year for a California resident and more than $26,000 each year for a non-resident to attend Cal Maritime and reside on campus.

Hands-on training is higher priced than classroom training, but produces exceptional graduates.  Although financial aid is available, much of it is in the form of student loans.  Scholarships help reduce the amount of loans needed by our students. 

In addition, the Academic workload undertaken by our cadets each semester is quite rigorous (most students take more than 20 units).  Holding down a part-time job while juggling studies is quite difficult.  Scholarships allow our students to focus more of their attention on their studies.

 
Types of Scholarships

Scholarship funds donated to the California Maritime Academy can be earmarked for: 

•   Donor Recognized Scholarships
•   Endowments
•   Memorial Scholarship Fund 

A Donor Recognized Scholarship is a one-time gift or annual gift of at least $500.  The scholarship is named after the donor (or donor’s designee), and the donor has the opportunity to select any or all of the scholarship committee criteria including academics, need, and leadership.

The minimum amount for an Endowment is $25,000.  An endowed scholarship is awarded from annual interest realized from principal.  As with the Donor Recognized Scholarship, the scholarship is named after the donor (or donor’s designee), and the donor has the opportunity to select any or all of the scholarship committee criteria including academics, need, and leadership.

The Memorial Scholarship Fund at Cal Maritime was initially endowed by the Propeller Club of the U.S., Port of the Golden Gate.  Donations are accepted in memory of others at any time and in any amount.  Donations to this fund will be used for California Maritime Academy Memorial Scholarships.  A list of donors, donations, and individuals being remembered will be published by the Academy each year.

Things to Consider When Establishing Your Scholarship

1)      In order to have a scholarship awarded in your name, you need to donate at least $500. 

2)      You may ask that your scholarship be awarded based on academics, need, leadership, or a combination of these.  Or you may make the gift with “no restrictions.”  This gives the scholarship committee the most flexibility in distributing awards where needed. 

3)      Funds need to be received by March 1 to be awarded the next academic year.

Each year the scholarship committee collects scholarship applications from our new and continuing students.  The applications are then ranked according to a developed point system for academics, need, and leadership.

No Restrictions – The scholarship committee looks at academics, need, leadership, and various combinations when awarding unrestricted funds.  Unrestricted funds allow the scholarship committee to make sure that funds are being awarded equitably amongst the degree disciplines, class levels, and backgrounds. 

Academics – Academic scholarships require at least a 3.0 GPA.  Bonus points are given for grade point averages above 3.0.

Need – Points are given based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as determined by the U.S. Department of Education.  Points are also given for students who are disadvantaged because of their educational or environmental background.  Since academics are still important, we require our non-academic scholarship recipients to have at least a 2.5 GPA.

Leadership – Points are earned for leadership and extra-curricular activities (within the past four years) such as Student Government, Corps, Athletics, Color Guard, Honor Societies, Orientation Staffs, Resident Assistants, Volunteer Organizations, published Articles and Conference Attendance.

Case-by-case consideration may be given for donors specifying residence in certain geographical locations or study in specific fields.

California Maritime Academy reserves the right to modify criteria on any or all scholarships. 

Modifications may be necessary for administrative and legal reasons.

Confidentiality & Financial Aid

Federal law prohibits The California Maritime Academy from discussing applicants with you.  Additionally, once recipients are selected the same law prohibits us from telling you specific details about the recipient without the recipient’s written permission.

Students receiving federal or state financial aid cannot receive aid that exceeds their cost of attendance.  Scholarships are treated as a resource toward these costs and scholarships are always counted against any need.  The scholarships received reduce the need for students to take loans and not reduce their federal or state grants.
 

Tax Deductibility

All scholarships must be processed through the California Maritime Academy Foundation.  If Cal Maritime directly accepts funds, the funds can become state property.

The California Maritime Academy Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit corporation with the Internal Revenue Service status of a 501(c)(3) organization, therefore, all donations to Scholarship funds are fully tax deductible.  The Foundation will confirm the tax deductibility of your gift and supply documentation necessary for tax deductibility and exempt status.

 
Recognition

Donors are considered part of our campus community.  As a scholarship donor, you will have the chance to celebrate with our scholarship recipients at the annual scholarship dinner.

Donors are also recognized each year in Cal Maritime’s Annual Report.

How to Send Scholarship Funds

Checks should be made payable to:

California Maritime Academy Foundation or CMAF

And mailed to:

The California Maritime Academy Foundation
200 Maritime Academy Dr.
Vallejo, CA 94590

The scholarship committee meets in March of each year to award Donor Recognized Scholarships, Endowments, and Memorial Fund Scholarships.

Gifts need to be received by March 1 of each year to be awarded the next academic year.  For example, gifts need to be received March 1, 2005, to be awarded for the 2005-2006 academic year.

If you wish to establish a scholarship today, please call the Director of Development at (707) 654-1037.