Simply put, an unrestricted gift to the Naval Academy Foundation is a contribution upon which the donor places no restrictions. An unrestricted gift can be used at the sole discretion of the Foundation. The value of unrestricted gifts cannot be overstated. Donors of unrestricted gifts state their confidence in the Naval Academy leadership to apply their contributions where the need is greatest or when unexpected opportunities occur. Unrestricted gift support recognizes the changing nature of higher education over time and provides flexibility required to meet the Academy s goals.
Unrestricted gifts are valuable for a number of reasons.
Since not all the Naval Academy s needs can be met by federal appropriations, unrestricted gifts provide discretionary funds that allow the Academy to meet unexpected needs as they arise and utilize the funds in a timely and appropriate manner. Thousands of donors make gifts to the Naval Academy Foundation every year without specifying how their money should be spent. Most of these gifts are given through the Annual Fund, the Foundation s main repository for unrestricted gifts for current operations. Current unrestricted funds go to work immediately and where they are most needed, to support midshipmen, faculty and facilities that are inherently a part of the Naval Academy experience. An unrestricted gift dollar raised through the Annual Fund provides the same available income as that generated by approximately twenty dollars in endowment.