The USMS Endowment Fund is the charitable arm of U.S. Masters Swimming. Established in 1989, the fund provides grants to programs with a focus on medical and health research on the benefits of swimming, development assistance for new Masters programs, outreach to other adult fitness organizations, and education to improve leadership, address swimming and adult fitness issues and to help Masters programs with special needs.

Support the USMS Endowment Fund by mailing in a contribution (PDF form)
Apply for a USMS Endowment Fund grant (PDF info/form)

Projects the USMS Endowment Fund have supported include:

• SwimFest – An annual interactive coaching experience that includes pairing up mentor Masters coaches with aspiring Masters coaches. The SwimFest experience includes three parts: First, learning best practices on how to administer a Masters program; second, coaching on deck with mentor coaches in a pool environment; and third, coaching with mentor coaches in an open water/triathlon swim environment. Any registered USMS member may attend SwimFest for free in a coaching capacity. The Endowment Fund has provided grants and subsidized travel for Masters coaches to attend. SwimFest ‘09 was held at the Woodlands Masters Swim Team pool in Houston. More than 35 Masters coaches attended, along with 110 Masters swimmers. The coaches represented more than 10 states and took the lessons they learned at SwimFest ‘09 back to their home programs to improve Masters swimming in their areas.
• Indiana University Counsilman Center – There are very few adult groups who maintain an active lifestyle with the regularity that Masters swimmers do, leading to an observation that Masters swimmers may be biologically 10 to 15 years younger than their chronological age. Focus is now being placed upon obvious physiological mechanisms such as cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular well being. Because of the remarkable positive findings, benefits that appear to exist in the central nervous system in terms of the long-term maintenance of higher brain function are also being studied. The funds received from the USMS Foundation have allowed the Councilman Center to collect important information from a sample group.
• Masters Club Support – Grants have been provided to local Masters programs to help with administrative costs and pool rental fees so facilities can stay open and accommodate Masters swimming.
• USMS Sports Medicine – Honoraria for sports medicine presentations at USMS National Championships.
• Metropolitan Masters – A study on the benefits of Pilates, leading to enhanced training techniques for Masters swimming.
• Arizona State – Led by Bryan Morrison, this study focused on how our stroke changes as we age.
• Arcadia University – A study on the modifiable risk factors for shoulder pain in swimmers.
• Hurricane Katrina Relief – The USMS Endowment Fund provided direct cash support to USMS members who suffered catastrophic losses as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Ifyou would like to include U.S. Masters Swimming in your will or estate planning, please provide our business name, business address and business phone number to your accountant or attorney so they can designate U.S. Masters Swimming Endowment as a beneficiary.

Beneficiary Information
U.S. Masters Swimming Endowment
655 North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-256-8767

If you would like to discuss additional opportunities to contribute to the USMS Endowment Fund, I invite you to contact me directly via phone at 941-556-6270 or via email.

Your support is greatly appreciated,

Swimming for Life,

Rob Butcher
Executive Director
U.S. Masters Swimming
Member since 1996

* United States Masters Swimming is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are deductible.