Charitable giving at Battleship Cove.

The Endowment Fund provides a guaranteed source of revenue (a percent of the total fund’s earned income) in support of our mission. Our greatest challenge is the preservation of our ships, not only for the best possible public appreciation and education, but also for their long-term survivability. The costs involved can be staggering at times. Thus, the Endowment Fund is designed to ensure that our ships are maintained and preserved forever.

The Endowment Fund comprises two categories: the General Fund and Restricted Fund(s). The General Fund accepts unrestricted donations, providing the most flexibility in terms of the Board of Directors’ prioritizing preservation requirements. There is no minimum donation to the General Fund, yet the General Fund must grow to several millions of dollars within the next few years. A Restricted Fund allows a donor to adopt a specific project or program in perpetuity. For instance, a donor may wish his or her gift to solely benefit the curator’s position or the USS Lionfish; thus the proceeds from this gift is restricted for that purpose. A minimum of $25,000 is required to fund a Restricted Endowment. Naming opportunities are available for certain donations. Planned giving through the Bell Society is a common method of becoming involved.

The Board of Directors of the USS Massachusetts Memorial Committee Inc., a nonprofit corporation, is responsible for the Endowment Fund. Its Finance Committee oversees the administration of the Endowment Fund to include maintaining conservative investment and spending (a percent of the earned income) policies, selection and supervision of professional investment managers, and annual auditing and reporting. Copies of the Investment and Spending Policies are available to anyone interested in the management of our Endowment Fund.

To make a gift, contact Battleship Cove.

"We have a long road to go, and it's going to take a lot of money, a lot of dedication, and a lot of volunteers."

FORMER PRESIDENT SETS PRECEDENT WITH $100,000 GIFT: H. Lawrence Bourland pledged Battleship Cove's first six-figure gift, but he would be the first to show you that the bronze plaque he received in recognition of the act is not in honor of himself. Suspended from a bulkhead in the National PT Boat Museum on board USS Massachusetts, Bourland's plaque honors LCDR Joe Loveless, USNR, a PT Boater and veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

"This plaque is not about me," said Bourland. "It's about my father-in-law. Joe was one of those people Tom Brokaw wrote about in The Greatest Generation."

There are many who believe Bourland's own legacy is pretty remarkable. Former president, chairman of the museum's nominating committee, and chairman of the Bell Society, Bourland is one of the most progressive board members this organization has ever had.

Still, Bourland shuns the attention, which he casually defers to those before him. "The people who brought this battleship here - we should never forget them." Laying important groundwork for the Battleship Cove Endowment Fund, Bourland encouraged his colleagues to follow suit, urging, "We have a long road to go, and it's going to take a lot of money, a lot of dedication, and a lot of volunteers."

PLANNED GIVING: Endowment gifts of $10K or more entitle donors to membership in the exclusive Bell Society at Battleship Cove.

Bell Society members receive a custom-cast bronze replica of the USS Massachusetts bell, and permanent recognition of the Bell Society Honor Roll on Board BB59.

Click here for more details.

STARS & STRIPES: Join the elite ranks of the Stars & Stripes Commission and claim your handsome half-model of USS Massachusetts! Battleship Cove's most prestigious level of annual giving, Stars & Stripes enlists an exclusive group of...Ctd.

Teak deck on BB59: Restoring the teak deck on BB59 is a major project that requires your help.

Paint the T-28: Retired naval aviator W. Lincoln Mossop wouldn't let his T-28 look sloppy; this generous corporate member volunteered to fund the entire painting project!

Restore the Quonset Hut: This classic structure is home to PT 796, a National Historic Landmark, but she is rusting at the seams. Please help us give this building the TLC it so desperately needs.