The Power of Giving
For generations, the United States Naval Academy has prepared leaders to serve with honor, courage and commitment. This legacy is strengthened by the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F)—and by the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends who believe in the power of leadership and service.
While federal funding provides the foundation, private philanthropy fuels the Margin of Excellence—elevating academics, leadership training, global experiences, and athletics. Your support empowers midshipmen to push the limits of excellence.
Discover how your generosity shapes the next generation of leaders—and explore the many ways to give.
How to Give
Supporting the U.S. Naval Academy and the Brigade of Midshipmen
Federal funding establishes the baseline. Private support advances excellence.
Why Private Support Matters
The U.S. Naval Academy is primarily funded through federal appropriations, which provide the baseline resources required to operate the institution and deliver core instruction and training. Private support plays a critical role in advancing the Academy beyond that baseline—ensuring midshipmen are prepared not only to meet requirements, but to excel as leaders in an increasingly complex world.
This additional support—often referred to as the Margin of Excellence—helps strengthen academic programs, leadership development, athletics, facilities, and the overall midshipman experience. Philanthropy also provides agility, allowing the Academy to respond to emerging needs, invest in innovation, and sustain excellence in ways appropriated funding alone cannot. Every private gift contributes to the long-term strength of the Academy and the success of its midshipmen.
Start With What You Care About
Many donors begin by reflecting on what mattered most during their own time at the Academy—or what they believe is most important to the development of today’s midshipmen. Some are drawn to academics or leadership development, others to athletics, character formation, or the broader midshipman experience. There is no single path to making an impact.
Private support allows donors to align their giving with their personal interests and values while contributing meaningfully to the Academy’s mission. Whether support is directed to a specific area or applied more broadly, each gift plays a role in preparing midshipmen to lead with integrity, resilience, and purpose.
4,300
More than 4,300 midshipmen each year benefit from donor-funded academic enrichment, leadership programming, and experiential learning opportunities.
$54M
Private philanthropy generated more than $54 million in FY25 in support for programs and initiatives, allowing the Academy to strengthen existing priorities and pilot new opportunities that would not otherwise be possible.
Explore Our Recognition Societies
Recognition societies honor donors whose sustained support strengthens the Academy and its midshipmen. These societies reflect a shared commitment to service, leadership, and excellence, and offer meaningful opportunities for engagement and connection.
26
Over the past 26 years, private support has enabled significant investment in leadership development, academic excellence, and the midshipman experience—areas critical to preparing officers for service.
Donors interested in learning more about recognition opportunities may explore the Foundation’s recognition societies to understand how continued support is acknowledged and celebrated. Please visit: usna.com/ recognition-societies.
HOW YOUR SUPPORT MAKES AN IMPACT
The Naval Academy Fund
The Naval Academy Fund provides flexible, unrestricted support that allows Academy leadership to address the most pressing needs as they arise. Gifts to this fund offer the greatest latitude in strengthening the Margin of Excellence, supporting priority initiatives, and responding quickly to opportunities or challenges that cannot be anticipated in advance. Because these resources are not limited to a single program
or purpose, they can be applied where they will have the greatest impact—whether that means enhancing academic programs, investing in leadership development, supporting midshipman life, or addressing emerging needs across the Academy. Unrestricted support ensures the Academy can remain responsive, forwardlooking, and focused on preparing midshipmen to lead in an evolving global environment.
Supporting the Moral, Mental & Physical Mission
Private philanthropy supports the Academy’s holistic approach to developing midshipmen across all dimensions of leadership:
Leadership
Experiential leadership opportunities, ethical leadership education, and real-world decision-making experiences.
Academics
Academic enrichment, research opportunities, innovative instruction, and advanced learning environments.
Athletics
Programs that foster discipline, teamwork, resilience, and competitive excellence.
Midshipman Experience
Enrichment activities, student-led initiatives, and programs that support growth beyond the classroom.
Our Recognition Societies
Recognition societies honor individuals whose philanthropic support reflects a sustained commitment to the U.S. Naval Academy and its midshipmen. These societies recognize generosity over time and provide opportunities for engagement, connection, and appreciation among those who share a dedication to the Academy’s mission.
Our giving societies recognize generosity in its many facets— annually, lifetime support and legacy commitments.
President’s Circle
Our recognition societies are based on cumulative or annual giving levels and reflects the impact of continued support. Donors participate at the level that aligns with their interests and capacity, and all gifts—whether unrestricted or designated—contribute meaningfully to the strength of the Academy.
The President’s Circle recognizes donors whose annual giving of $2,500 or more ($1,000 for Young Alumni who have graduated within 15 years) demonstrates a commitment to advancing the mission of the Academy. Our President’s Circle plays an important role in sustaining programs and initiatives that strengthen the Margin of Excellence and support midshipmen across academic, leadership, athletic, and experiential areas.
Through their generosity, President’s Circle donors help ensure the Academy is able to address the immediate needs of the Brigade and is well positioned to evolve with today’s ever changing landscape.
Recognition societies
honor sustained commitment to the Academy and its midshipmen.
Superintendent’s Society
The Superintendent’s Society honors donors whose cumulative philanthropy over $1M reflects a long-term investment in the Academy and its future. Donors in this society are recognized for their sustained support over time and the enduring impact of generosity across generations of midshipmen.
Donors recognized through the Superintendent’s Society exemplify a lasting commitment to leadership development, excellence, and service—values central to the Academy’s mission.
Robert Means Thompson Society
The Robert Means Thompson Society recognizes individuals who have included the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation in their estate plans or made other forms of planned or legacy gifts. Recognition in RMTS reflects a forward-looking commitment to the Academy’s future and to the continued preparation of midshipmen for service.
Through planned giving, donors in the Robert Means Thompson Society help ensure the Academy’s mission endures for generations to come, providing stability and long-term support for programs that will benefit future midshipmen.
Our Giving Programs
The U.S. Naval Academy Foundation offers a variety of giving programs that allow donors to support the Academy in ways that reflect shared experiences, personal connections, and collective impact. These programs create opportunities for engagement across alumni, parents, organizations, and communities—strengthening the Academy through participation as well as philanthropy. Giving programs strengthen the Academy through collective engagement.
Giving programs connect donors to the Academy through shared experience, community, and purpose.
Class Giving
Class Giving allows alumni to support the Academy alongside classmates, strengthening bonds formed during their time at the Academy while contributing to shared goals. Through annual giving, reunions, and milestone efforts, Class Giving reflects the power of collective commitment and pride in class legacy.
The Parent Wardroom
The Parent Wardroom provides parents and families with a meaningful way to support the Academy and the midshipmen experience. Contributions, over $5,000, through the Parent Wardroom help enhance programs and resources that directly impact midshipmen during their time at the Academy, fostering a strong connection between families and the institution.
Corporate & Foundation Relations
Corporate and foundation partners play an important role in supporting innovation, academic excellence, and leadership development at the Academy. Through strategic partnerships, organizations can align their philanthropic priorities with initiatives that advance education, research, and service to the nation.
Tribute Gifts
Tribute Gifts offer a lasting way to honor individuals, commemorate milestones, or recognize meaningful connections to the Academy. These gifts celebrate service, achievement, and legacy while supporting the Academy’s mission.
Tribute giving opportunities include:
• Stadium Take-A-Seat Program
• Chapel Pew Program
• Honor Chair Program
Each program provides a tangible and enduring way to recognize those who have made a lasting impact.
Every giving option is designed to make supporting the Academy simple and meaningful.
Ways to Give
Cash Gifts
Cash gifts provide immediate support for the Academy’s priorities and may be directed to unrestricted or designated funds. These gifts can be made at any time and are a simple way to make an immediate impact.
Recurring Gifts
Recurring gifts—made monthly or annually—offer sustained support while allowing donors to spread their giving over time. This approach provides predictable funding for programs and initiatives that benefit midshipmen throughout the year.
Gifts of Securities
Donating appreciated stock or securities can be a tax-efficient way to support the Academy while advancing philanthropic goals. Gifts of securities may provide tax benefits while maximizing the impact of a contribution.
Donor Advised Funds
Our Foundation giving staff are available to help align giving methods with personal goals.
Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) allow donors to recommend grants to the Foundation from an established charitable account. This option provides flexibility and can be an effective way to support the Academy as part of a broader giving strategy.
Payroll Allotment
Payroll allotment offers a convenient way for eligible donors to provide ongoing support through automatic deductions. This method allows for consistent giving with minimal effort.
Matching Gifts
Planned Gifts
Many employers offer matching gift programs that can increase the impact of a donation. Donors are encouraged to check with their employer to determine eligibility and submit the necessary documentation to maximize their contribution.
Planned giving allows donors to support the Academy while balancing personal and family priorities. Options may include bequests, beneficiary designations, and other estate planning tools that create a lasting legacy of service and leadership.
Donors interested in planned giving are encouraged to contact the Foundation to explore options and learn more.
Tribute Gifts
Tribute gifts offer a meaningful way to honor or remember individuals, celebrate milestones, or recognize significant connections to the Academy. These gifts combine personal significance with lasting impact.
Where Support Goes
Federal funding provides the foundation for the U.S. Naval Academy’s core operations, while private philanthropy strengthens the Margin of Excellence that prepares midshipmen to lead in an increasingly complex world.
Donor support helps advance academics, leadership development, athletics, and the overall midshipman experience—and may be directed through a variety of pathways, including the Naval Academy Fund, the Naval Academy Athletic Foundation, Navy Athletics through the Naval Academy Athletic Association (NAAA), class giving, Special Interest Groups, and other designated excellence funds.
Explore how these sources of support work together and highlight ways you can align your giving with the areas you care about most.
WAYS TO SUPPORT THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
Federal appropriations support the core operations of the U.S. Naval Academy, providing the baseline resources for instruction, training and facilities that are requirements for graduation and commissioning.
PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY
Private support enhances and extends that foundation—strengthening academics, leadership development, athletics, and the midshipman experience beyond what appropriated funding alone can provide.
THE MARGIN OF EXCELLENCE
The additional resources that allow the Academy to go further—preparing midshipmen to excel, not just meet requirements.
Contact Us
The U.S. Naval Academy Foundation is committed to helping donors navigate giving opportunities with clarity and confidence. Donor Relations staff are available to answer questions, provide guidance, and help ensure each gift aligns with individual interests and philanthropic goals.
Donors are encouraged to reach out using the contact information below for assistance with general giving, planned gifts, recognition societies, or specific giving programs.
General Giving & Donor Support usna.com/development-team donorrelations@usna.com
Planned Giving plannedgiving@usna.com
Gift Processing & Questions About a Recent Gift giftadministration@usna.com (410) 295-4115
Matching Gifts
matchinggifts@usna.com (410) 295-4115
Recognition Societies donorrelations@usna.com
President’s Circle presidentscircle@usna.com
Parent Giving karen.hicks@usna.com 410-295-4119
