Leading the Way – Campaign for Cal Maritime

A Success!

Cadets on the Training Ship Golden Bear posing for the Leading the Way Campaign page

Four years ago, the Cal Maritime Academy Foundation set an ambitious goal to raise $40,000,000 to support the university with a campaign to deliver on Cal Maritime’s promise to maintain and grow our reputation for excellence.

We proudly announce that, thanks to many friends, alumni donors, and the Foundation Marine Development Committee Yacht Donation Program , the campaign raised $47,434,000.

This year, the Foundation:
  • Supported over $575,938 in scholarships.
  • Provided $1,060,000 in university-wide program support
  • Gave $1,900,000 to upgrade classroom technology
  • The Foundation is releasing $3.5 million from the Yacht Donation Program to match all donations during the Campaign to existing and new endowments while funds last.
  • $100,000 to support the Offshore Sailing program.

Gifts ensure our curriculum, training, and technology provide the education and workforce experience students and graduate students need for successful careers. Campaign gifts include scholarships, endowments, vessel donations, annual gifts, gifts in-kind, and estate gifts.

Gifts to Area of Greatest Need support Cal Maritime priorities:

Student Success – New students get help adjusting to life at Cal Maritime through the First Year Experience program, scholarships help them stay in school. Through the Academic support tutoring center, students with tutoring needs for any reason including lack of preparation from the past high school pandemic online learning environment, can get the help they need.  As the Maritime industry is increasingly global, we need to support study abroad experiences.

Research Support – Undergraduate research has high educational impact, gives students more experience and heightens their value to employers.

Training and program support - Technology needs constant updates to stay relevant. Students need opportunities for augmented reality that assist learning for autonomous vessels; deck and engine functions need investment.  Training is needed for instruction on autonomous vessels, augmented reality, virtual reality training, and preparation for the new training ship NSMV (National Security Multi-Mission Vessel) due to arrive in 2026.

Gifts to Specific Projects support:

Excellence in teaching – Endowed professorships attract top talent and support academic research and scholarly work.

Endowed Scholarships – You can set up a new scholarship or make a gift to an existing one. Your gift can help someone attend or stay in school.

For information in setting up an endowed scholarship, professorship, or program fund contact Janice Bross (707) 654-1790 or jbross@csum.edu.

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