The Military Psychology Foundation supports initiatives and programs that advance the science and practice of military psychology and foster professional development of military psychologists. The Foundation enables Division 19: Society for Military Psychology to invest a portion of its assets in a foundation that will yield annual distributions in perpetuity. In addition, the Foundation solicits and accepts donations, which the Society cannot do.

The Military Psychology Foundation’s mission is to support initiatives and programs advancing military psychology and psychologists. Donations to the Foundation are invested to create an enduring source of funding. Presently, the Foundation financially supports Division 19 – Society for Military Psychology awards, development programs, and grants. Every donation, no matter the size, is important and welcome.

You can donate online via a secure website hosted by the San Diego Foundation, our host community foundation.

We welcome commitments to future donations through donor pledges, here. A pledge is a commitment to donate at a future date.

The main reason for establishing a Military Psychology Foundation is to improve the financial standing of Division 19, which will allow the Division to grow and better fund its various programs. Under current APA guidelines, the Division cannot accept donations of any kind, or engage in fundraising efforts. Having a Foundation will change that, and allow us to accept donations from individuals and agencies, and pursue various fundraising activities.

There are other benefits to having a Military Psychology Foundation. Currently, if Division 19 should ever be dis-established or forced to separate from APA, all Division funds would legally go to APA. In contrast, APA will have no claim or jurisdiction over our Foundation assets.

While Division 19 anticipates a continued cooperative relationship with APA, it is prudent to establish a greater degree of autonomy as an independent Society for Military Psychology that can serve the needs of all military psychologists, not just those who belong to APA.

There are a variety of ways to support the Foundation. If you are not ready to give now, you can make a pledge to contribute at a later date. Additionally, future gifts via estate planning and tax planning are welcome.

To discuss an organization partnership or corporate sponsorship, please contact foundation@militarypsych.org to discuss further. Drs. Kristin Saboe and Eric Surface, Foundation Trustees, serve as the primary contacts for large gifts and organization partnerships. We welcome forming new relationships to create a sustainable and impactful community for Military Psychology.

We work with a large community nonprofit, The San Diego Foundation, to advise and manage the Military Psychology Foundation’s governance, investments, and donor portal.

The San Diego Foundation is a community fund that serves as a depository for smaller foundations that align with its mission and values. A community foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit, public organization that pools the financial resources of individuals, families, and businesses to support effective nonprofits with common purposes, geographic locations, or communities. Community foundations, such as the San Diego Foundation, provide a variety of services to affiliated nonprofits such as facilitating with donor-advised funds, endowments, scholarships, grantmaking, and governance advisement. While San Diego Foundation is based in San Diego and serves the larger San Diego nonprofit community, it also includes a variety of nonprofits serving wider geographic areas that serve communities aligned with the values and missions to the San Diego Foundation’s core tenets of just, equitable, and resilient communities. For more information about the San Diego Foundation, go here.  

Yes! You are donating and contributing in a civilian capacity to a non-profit foundation, and your donations are tax-deductible.

Your donation supports the Military Psychology Foundation. The Foundation sponsors awards and monetary grants for Division 19: Society for Military Psychology.

Gifts provided in the first year will be recognized via the Division website and newsletter, as well as in the Foundation Annual Report. In addition, “Founding Donors” will receive an invitation to a reception at APA 2024. In 2024 and beyond, donor tiers based upon annual or cumulative giving will determine recognition of contributions to the Foundation.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees. Foundation officers serve three-to-five-year terms and are replaced as needed. Selection of Trustees is done in accordance with Foundation procedures and those of the parent community foundation.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) defines the respective roles and responsibilities of the Society for Military Psychology, American Psychological Association (APA) Division 19 and the Military Psychology Foundation. The MOU may be modified at any time as needed and agreed upon by both the Society (Executive Committee) and the Foundation (Board of Trustees).

The MOU stipulates the Foundation will:

• Provide a yearly distribution to the Society based on the return on investments from the previous year.
• Interface with the Society Awards Committee to coordinate which awards will be sponsored by the Foundation.
• Engage in fundraising efforts.
• Manage funds responsibly and assure the continued preservation of capital and growth of the endowment.
• Establish new awards and criteria as appropriate (e.g., major donors may wish to endow specialized awards).
• Organize and execute an annual Convention Awards ceremony and social event at the American Psychological Association convention in partnership with the Society.
• Organize and execute additional events supporting Foundation goals.
• Provide an Annual Report to the Society summarizing activities and financial status.

The MOU states that the Society will:

• Provide initial funding for establishment of the Foundation, as well as periodic contributions to build the capital of the Foundation, as the Society’s finances permit.
• Continue to manage the awards process for all existing awards, in consultation with the Foundation.
• Engage the Society’s Communications Committee to support the communications and social media needs of the Foundation.
• Assign a liaison officer to coordinate and communicate with the Foundation on all matters of mutual interest to include finances, awards, and events.
• The Society may make recommendations to the Foundation for establishing new awards.

Yes – you can include the Military Psychology Foundation through your estate plan, giving stocks, and through company matches. More information is available on the San Diego Foundation host site (estate plan; stocks).

Some employers offer matching gift programs, which means that they will match your donation to a qualified nonprofit organization. This can be a great way to double or even triple the impact of your donation. When an employee donates, the employee must request the matching gift from their employer. Once the employer verifies the donation, the employer will donate directly to the nonprofit.

For example, if an employee donates $100 to a charity, and their company matches donations at a 1:1 ratio, the company will donate another $100, for a total donation of $200.

Tax benefits for donating to charitable organizations vary depending on the type of donation and the taxpayer’s individual circumstances. By understanding the tax benefits of donating, you can make the most of your charitable giving. You should consult with a tax advisor to determine the specific tax benefits that you may be eligible for.

Federal Income tax benefits:

• Itemized deduction: If you itemize your deductions on your federal income tax return, you can deduct cash donations to qualified nonprofit organizations. The amount of the deduction is limited to a percentage of your adjusted gross income (AGI).
• Carryover: If your deduction for cash donations exceeds the limit, you can carry the excess amount over to future years.

State tax deductions: specific rules and regulations vary state-to-state.

Additionally, you should keep the following tips in mind when considering the tax benefits of donating to the Foundation:

• Itemize your deductions in order to claim a charitable deduction. If you take the standard deduction, you will not be able to claim a charitable deduction.
• The deduction must be for a qualified nonprofit organization. You can find a list of qualified nonprofit organizations on the IRS website.
• You must keep accurate records of your donations. This includes the date of the donation, the amount of the donation, and the name of the organization you donated to. You should keep these records for at least three years in case you are audited by the IRS.