Notes from the Executive Director
January 2023
Hello DSF Family!
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that 2023 is already off to a great start for you all. This past year proved to be a very bumpy ride due to higher operational expenses brought on by inflation combined with volatile stock market performance. I am sure that most of you have experienced the same with your personal expenses and household maintenance costs.
Thanks to all the DSF supporters, including submarine spouse groups, and both individual and corporate supporters, we have been able to sustain a robust scholarship program that benefits the children and spouses of the submarine community. Some highlights of the support we have received in 2022 from the people and organizations that share the DSF mission and vision include the endowment of three administered scholarships that will serve the crew and families of USS Delaware (SSN 791) and USS Oregon (SSN 793), one fully endowed Dolphin Scholarship, and an anonymous grant that will allow us to increase each Dolphin Scholarship award amount by $500 over a two-year period!
Although we saw an increase in our overhead expenses, we were still able to keep them at less than 20% of our total expenditures. However, as our scholarship program expands, the cost of doing business increases, and it becomes more and more difficult to maintain low overhead costs that include office supplies and equipment, software upgrades, postage, fundraising expenses, rent and utilities, staff training, and staff compensation. For example, between 2016 and 2018, we made a much-needed upgrade to our donor management system and online scholarship application by installing new software programs that required an initial outlay of $28,000. The annual maintenance costs for these programs are slightly over $10,000. In 2022, the foundation launched an IT Infrastructure capital campaign that raised over $15,000 that was used to replace a 12-year-old server. The remaining funds are being utilized to replace aged computers for the foundation staff. These upgrades were made possible by the general (unrestricted) donations made by our loyal supporters for which we are very grateful.
Restricted gifts to DSF made in direct support of the Dolphin Scholarship Program in the form of annual named scholarships and full scholarship endowments are an integral part of the DSF mission, but also, unrestricted capacity gifts that maintain the solid infrastructure that supports our scholarship program and allows us to carry out the day-to-day operations of the foundation are of equal importance. Please bear that in mind when considering a donation to DSF.
As we steam ahead to our 63rd anniversary this year, we are grateful for your continued partnership with DSF and for believing in our mission of assisting the children and spouses of the submarine community in reaching their fullest potential through education.
Hooyah Submarine Force!!
Andrew Clark, MBA, CFRE
Executive Director
August 2022
Hello DSF Family!
I want to take a moment to address a perception that I have encountered from time to time when talking with fellow submariners and submarine community spouse groups. The perception that I am speaking of is that some members our community believe that the Dolphin Scholarship Program is only for or gives preference to the children and spouses of submarine officers. I want to officially go on the record as saying that it could not be further from the truth, and if it were true, this retired senior chief submariner would have no part of it.
The only role that sponsors serve in the Dolphin Scholarship application process, whether they be officer or enlisted, is to establish eligibility for the applicant to apply for the scholarship. The scholar selection process is blind. Once the scholarship application is complete it is redacted of the names of the applicant and his/her sponsor, and any other identifying information before presentation to the scholar selection committee for scoring. Scholarship applications are evaluated in the areas of academic performance, references, essay, extracurricular activities, work experience, and community involvement.
For many years now, our scholar selection committees have included active-duty senior enlisted leaders throughout the submarine community. I am sure that they can attest to my claim, and I urge them to assist me in busting this myth by getting the word out to the enlisted submarine community. Although the ratio of officer versus enlisted sponsored scholarship recipients varies from year to year, data compiled over the last 38 years reflect a nearly fifty/fifty split between officer and enlisted sponsored scholarship recipients. The 2022 Dolphin Scholar Selection Profile on the following page is reflective of this.
I am speaking directly to the enlisted submarine community when I say do not let false rumors discourage you from applying for the Dolphin Scholarship. Doing so would only deprive your children or spouse of a fantastic opportunity to achieve their educational goals with less financial burden.
The Dolphin Scholarship Foundation is here to serve the “entire” submarine community. The Dolphin Scholarship online application opens on October 1 and closes on March 15 each year. October is only a few months away, so now is the time to start gathering the information needed to apply such as the sponsor’s history of duty assignments for a minimum 8-year period, or 10-year period for non-submarine designated personnel who served in submarine support assignments, copy 4 of the DD214, proof of dependency, and high school/college transcripts etc. For additional scholarship information please visit the DSF website at https://dolphinscholarship.org/scholarships/
Please help spread the word about the Dolphin Scholarship Program. I wish you all the best!
Hooyah Submarine Force!!
Andrew Clark, MBA, CFRE
Executive Director