The primary goal for the Grants Program is to increase the membership numbers of the NSSA. We do that by helping to offset the costs of programs that help to increase the desire to join the NSSA.
Requests will only be accepted from current active USA Water Ski & Wake Sports/NSSA affiliated teams or individuals.
How do the various programs rate in priority to each other.
1). The highest priority has & will be the Learn to Ski Program.
2). Next are the programs that are required by the NSSA Board, such as the Safety Clinic, and the Drivers testing clinics.
3). Division II National Show Ski Tournament, until it is filled annually.
4). If funds are still available then we may also look at other tournaments and "Acts" clinics.
To be considered on the first round of requests, your request must be filled out and submitted to the Grants Committee Chairperson via email, snail mail or fax if it is available no later than April 1.
A Maximum that can be requested for each Grant request is $1,000.
For "Learn to Ski" clinics, we will accept for requests, the cost of boat gas and advertising. For the advertising, we must receive a copy of the advertisement (if in print), or photos of posters that may have been used, or the information on the radio or TV ads that were used. These materials must be submitted with the receipts. We do NOT cover: refreshment supplies, equipment to be used, advertising in your own show program, or sanctioning fees.
For the "required Clinics" (Safety & Drivers) we will look at the instructor transportation costs, ether miles driven or flight costs, instructor lodging costs, instructor meals, facilities rental such as pool & classroom , as well as possibly Gas costs.
No matter what the forms say, the Grant Committee will use the per mile cost allowed for instructors mileage reimbursement for their travel. This will be what the IRS allows as of April 1st of the year of the request.
The Grants Committee does NOT cover any sanction fees.
The Grants Committee may reduce the amount awarded to a request to allow for more teams to be given a portion of the total amount of monies available for that year.
** A new requirement as of 2009 for all teams that are putting on a " Learn to Ski" clinic. In order to receive the funds approved, you MUST turn in a list of names & Address's of everyone going through the "Learn to Ski" clinic. That list needs to be sent to the Grants committee Chairperson to insure that the list is received and sent to USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Headquarters. **
Remember that this is a reimbursement program, which, means that NO request is paid out until the receipts have been turned into the Grants Committee Chairperson. If the receipts are less than the approved request, you will receive the reduced amount of the receipts. If the receipts are more, you will get the amount approved. However, you may receive more at the end of the summer after the committee reviews all of the requests during the October conference call and there is more money left at the end of the year.
If during the summer you hold a "Learn to Ski" clinic or hold a required clinic (Safety or Drivers), please turn in a request for that clinic, along with the receipts for that clinic before the end of September to be considered for a possible reimbursement grant. If you don't send the receipts with the request in September, you will not be considered.
After the October Grants Committee conference call and the NSSA Board meeting in November, the books are considered closed and any monies that might have been available are no longer considered available.
Again, expenses that are eligible for reimbursement includes: Instructor's travel costs, hotel and meal costs, boat gas, tournament officials costs (rooms), advertising, etc.
Expenses that are ineligible for reimbursement include: equipment, site improvements, professional fees, and all sanctioning and membership fees, etc,.
Always be as complete and descriptive of what you are planning to do. Include how your program will generate the added interest in Show Skiing, thus generating new members for your team and the NSSA, or how it will improve the safety of our sport.
Make sure that all of the contact information is listed on the form as well as your email address so that we can contact you if there are any questions we need answered.
The committee is comprised of one chair and 6 members all from different regions so that all 7 regions are represented.
No receipts will be accepted after November 1. This is to allow the Grants Committee to prepare the end of year report to be given to the NSSA Board at the November (Fall) meeting.
Attn.: NSSA Grant Applicants
General Instructions:
Be as complete and descriptive as possible. Include how your program will generate added interest in show skiing; how it will generate new members; how it will improve safety; etc.
Certain types of expenses are ineligible for reimbursement. For example: Equipment, Site improvements, USA Water Ski & Wake Sports sanction fees as well as membership fees and professional fees are all ineligible.
Expenses that are eligible include; clinic instructors travel, hotel, and meal costs, boat gas, tournament officials costs, advertising, etc.