USRowing Foundation

The USRowing Foundation is the official fundraising arm of the United States Rowing Association (USRowing) and the U.S. National Team.

Members of the USRowing Foundation will use their personal and professional contacts to grow the USRowing fundraising pipeline, providing opportunities for individuals, foundations, and corporations to support current and new USRowing initiatives and priorities through individual philanthropy and corporate sponsorships. 

With Foundation growth and expansion, the group will focus on supporting the key initiatives of USRowing including the national team, grassroots programming, and direct athlete support. 

All funds will go directly to USRowing to support key initiatives. Donors may also choose to direct donations as they see fit. The vision is to have no daylight between the NGB and the Foundation. 

We would like to start the Foundation Board with 30 members. This number could increase over time, but we’d like an active and engaged Foundation Board. 

Yes, the USRowing Foundation has been incorporated as separate 501(c)(3) from the United States Rowing Association.

This process is worked into the bylaws of the Foundation, but money will flow directly into USRowing from the Foundation and be managed internally by the CFO with oversight by the USRowing finance committee. A separate investment chair will be named when we get to that point of having money to invest. 

For most Foundation members, we are asking for a minimum $25k annual give/get. We will make exceptions if there is an important skill set or perspective that someone brings, but they are unable to personally meet the expected pledge. The Foundation Board is determining additional levels of support and engagement as it finalizes the membership structure. 

So far, goal setting has been a highly collaborative process. Together, we determine what funds we need to raise for the year as there’s a gap between what we receive from earned income and the USOPC and other funders, and what we need to support the national team and grassroots efforts. Once we’re all aligned on priorities, we make a case to the board with the annual budget and they sign off on it. 

We’ve already created the fundraising infrastructure of USRowing which is the development team. That team runs point on the development plan and generates funds through individuals, events, grants, and sponsorships. The Foundation is a key piece to bring it all together in terms of leadership. 

USRowing Development staff will do the work on the ground (running a gala, launching a fundraising campaign for United We Row, etc.), but at the end of the day, we need people on the Foundation who can donate to the work directly and/or connect us to their networks so we can build momentum on the fundraising side. We are counting on the Foundation board members to help us home in on who our champions will be. 

The intent of this Foundation is to steadily grow and begin an endowment which will support the organization and its programming, but for now, it will be the fundraising engine of the NGB to support annual operating expenses.