THE FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS

The FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS has been established to provide annual financial support to all men’s and women’s varsity intercollegiate sports that compete under the umbrella of Massachusetts Maritime Academy Athletics. Central to our efforts on behalf of this endeavor is the underlying philosophy that intercollegiate athletics is a critical part of the overall co-curricular experience for student-athletes and the entire Academy community as a whole.

The FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS believe that education and athletics can help our student athletes achieve their highest goals. Massachusetts Maritime competes at the NCAA Division III level as a member of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC), the Little East Conference (LEC) and the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA). Division III programs do not award athletic scholarships, instead focusing on offering competitive opportunities that develop the student and the athlete. As an outgrowth of that philosophy the Academy has a long history of fielding programs that are comprised of cadets who are equally successful in the classroom, in competition and in the community.

Supporting the FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS not only enables student-athletes to pursue their love of sports but also to earn a college degree. Support of the Buccaneer Athletic Fund will concentrate on providing increased support for unrestricted gifts to a general fund and will also provide giving opportunities for restricted gifts directed toward all of our athletic programs. By increasing annual unrestricted support, we will be able to purchase new equipment, address specific program needs and travel expenses for our programs, coaches, administrators and staff.

 

GIFT OPPORTUNITIES

Annual Gifts

The FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS has been established as a way for alumni and supporters to give back to MMA Athletics on an annual basis.  Annual gifts to the FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS are used to supplement the overall operating budget of Massachusetts Maritime Academy Athletics. 

“Unrestricted gifts” made to the FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS are especially valuable because they provide Massachusetts Maritime Academy Athletics the opportunity to use funding where it is most needed.  Unrestricted gifts are primarily used for travel costs, equipment, uniforms, meals and other expenses for all 15 varsity sports.  

“Restricted gifts” made to individual teams are used specifically for the specified sport.  While most donors do not designate a preference, some do choose to identify a particular sport. If you wish to indicate a particular sport for your gift, please make a note on the memo line of your check.

 

Coaching Endowments

Coaching endowments make it possible to offer competitive compensation packages.  The payout from these funds is used to help pay the salaries of coaches and program directors.  This eases the burden on the Athletic Department's annual operating budget and ensures the longevity of specific programs by providing coaches' salaries in perpetuity.  The ability to offer prospective coaches an endowed position is a powerful recruiting and retention resource. A coaching endowment is a source of pride and prestige for the coach, and individuals who establish these endowments often develop unique friendships with the recipients and their programs.

 

Program Endowments

A program endowment is an endowed fund established to meet a specific programmatic need of a varsity intercollegiate sport in perpetuity.  Program endowments produce a permanent stream of income for a defined purpose and allow the sports they benefit to rely less on annual budgetary support from the Friends of Buccaneer Athletics and the Athletic Department.  The Athletic Department aims to establish program endowments for every varsity sport.

 

Facilities

Massachusetts Maritime has always made facilities a priority in building its programs and planning for the future.  It takes first-class facilities to produce a first-class athletic program. In the increasingly competitive world of intercollegiate sports, state-of-the-art facilities are necessary for student-athletes to keep their competitive edge.  Facilities also play a major role in drawing new talent to a program. Recruiting is significantly more successful when coaches can offer prospective student-athletes facilities that feature the latest innovations in technology and safety.  There are multiple naming opportunities for athletic facilities located on our campus. 

 

HOW TO MAKE A GIFT

There are a number of ways you can make your annual gift to the Friends of Buccaneer Athletics:

Give Online

To make a gift online, please use our secure online gift form at www.maritime.edu/give.  Please remember to designate your to FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS.  If you need additional assistance, please call the Office of Advancement at (508) 830-5029 or e-mail advancement@maritime.edu.

Credit Card

Credit card gifts are not only convenient, they entitle you to the same income-tax deduction as gifts of cash.  Consider making your giving an ongoing part of your life by selecting “monthly gift” on our online gift form. 

If you have any questions please call the Office of Advancement at (508) 830-5030 during business hours, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

U.S. Mail

Send a check or money order, made payable to the FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS.  For a gift designated for a specific sport, please make your check payable to FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS and make an additional notation of the sport (if necessary) in the memo field. Mail your gift to:

 

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Department of Athletics

101 Academy Drive

Buzzards Bay, MA 02532

 

Stock

Gifts of appreciated securities provide financial support to Massachusetts Maritime Academy, as well as tax benefits for the donor.  Please contact Executive Director of Advancement Kelley Lessard at (508) 830-5014 or email her at klessard@maritime.edu to inform the Academy a gift of stock is on the way to support FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS. 

 

Stock Transfer Instructions:

         DTC #015

         MMAF Account # 447-032686

         MMAF Taxpayer ID # 23-7025807

 

Wire Transfer

If you would like to make a gift via wire transfer, please contact Executive Director of Advancement Kelley Lessard at (508) 830-5014 or email her at klessard@maritime.eduu for wiring instructions. 

Matching Gifts

Double or even triple your gift's impact on the Academy through a matching gift! More than 1,000 companies offer some level of corporate match for their employees' philanthropic gifts. Best of all, you are recognized for the full amount of your own gift, plus any resulting corporate match.  To find out if your company has such a program, contact your human resources office.

Please contact The Office of Advancement at (508) 830-5030 with questions related to making your gift.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How will a gift to the FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS help me stay in contact with my favorite sport(s)?

Donors to the Friends of Buccaneer Athletics can provide their sport preferences at the time of their donation. Each of the varsity programs will then communicate with the Buccaneer Athletic Fund donors interested in their sport via e-mail, events, newsletters, and/or other special communications.

 

How will my Friends of Buccaneer Athletics gift financially benefit the sport(s) I support?

The money raised by the Friends of Buccaneer Athletics will provide program support to all 16 varsity sports programs. Program support includes, but is not limited to, providing funds for student-athlete recruiting, travel, team meals and equipment purchases.

 

Can I still give to my favorite sport(s)?

Gifts can be made to an individual sport, and like FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS donations, they will be applied to the budget of that sport in the year of the donation.  Gifts designated for a particular sport must designate that desired sport on the check, pledge form or in the designation field for on-line gifts. Individual sports programs also have the opportunity to generate revenue from events including, but not limited to, golf tournaments, clinics, and auctions.

 

If I attended a FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS event (i.e. Golf Tournament or Hall of Fame), will the payment count as part of my yearly contribution?

Golf outings and the MMA Athletics Hall of Fame events require a paid admission and are not counted as an annual gift and thus not eligible for tax deductions.  Any donations made over the admission cost or donations of auction items are tax deductible. 

 

My wife and I work at two different companies that have their own matching gift programs.  How will we be credited for our gift if we applied for matching funds from both?

If each company matches your gift to athletics, then you will receive FULL matching credit for the total contribution. As a result you can not only double your gift but you might be able to triple or even quadruple your gift depending on the company’s matching gift policy.  Please be sure to notify the Office of Advancement at (508) 830-5030 or e-mail advancement@maritime.edu if this is a possibility for proper credit.

 

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes, all donations to the FRIENDS OF BUCCANEER ATHLETICS are tax-deductible.  IRS Regulations require that the tax-deductible portion of your membership benefit be reduced by the total of the goods/services received in exchange for your donation.  Unless you indicate otherwise, these deductions will be automatically deducted from your gift as listed under membership benefits.

If you have any additional questions, please call (508) 830-5055 or e-mail us at mkelley@maritime.edu.  Thank you for your support of the Friends of Buccaneer Athletics!