USAA Foundation Partnership

Potential

$100,000–$500,000 for first award; multi-year commitments possible for strategic partners.

Timeline

Invitation-only. Target cultivation Q4 2025–Q2 2026. Aim to submit a proposal by September 30 2026 if invited.

Effort & Priority

Effort: 8 | Priority: Must Pursue
Success probability: Medium (relationship driven).

Match

No formal match; USAA often invests in multi-year initiatives with strong data.

Why USAA

USAA Foundation focuses on military family resiliency, financial readiness, and education—precisely where FOH operates. Securing USAA’s support would deliver transformational funding, validate FOH as a top-tier partner, and open doors with other corporate foundations that track USAA’s philanthropy.

Relationship Game Plan

Key contacts: Justin Schmitt (AVP Corporate Responsibility), Lori Hall (Director, Military Family Resilience), general inbox corporateresponsibility@usaa.com.
Cultivation tactics: Leverage FOH board/donor network for warm introductions; engage via San Antonio military affairs events; share tailored briefing deck and impact data.
Target timeline: Intro meeting by year-end 2025, concept memo in Q1 2026, site visit or virtual showcase in Q2, formal proposal in Q3 once invited.

Proposal Focus

Pitch a multi-year investment that scales scholarships for families of fallen or disabled service members in USAA’s core geographies (San Antonio, Dallas, Tampa, Colorado Springs, Phoenix, Chesapeake). Tie outcomes to financial readiness—reduced debt, increased earning potential, improved wellbeing.

Include enhancements beyond tuition (career coaching, mentorship) to show holistic impact, aligning with USAA’s Face the Fight initiative on resilience and economic stability.

Success Factors

Present rigorous data: scholarship demand, award rates, graduation outcomes, and longitudinal impact on family finances.
Highlight collaborations with organizations USAA already supports (e.g., Travis Manion Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project) to demonstrate ecosystem alignment.
Offer storytelling that resonates with USAA members—spotlight families in San Antonio or other hub markets.
Outline stewardship plan: co-branded scholarships, employee engagement opportunities, transparent reporting cadence.

Risks & Mitigation

Invitation-only barrier: Persistent, high-value cultivation is mandatory. Use board champions to open doors and follow up with compelling data.
Data expectations: Invest in evaluation infrastructure (surveying alumni, tracking degree completion) before submitting the proposal.
Focus drift: Keep proposal squarely on military families; first responder work is valuable but secondary for USAA funding.

ROI & Tasks

A conservative $200K award for 40 hours of combined cultivation and proposal work equates to $5,000/hour. Multi-year commitments exponentially increase value.

Identify and confirm USAA champions by November 30.
Deliver a tailored briefing packet (impact data + testimonials) to the Corporate Responsibility team in December.
Develop a concept note outlining a $100K–$250K pilot program for submission once invited.
Plan a site visit or virtual showcase in Q2 2026 featuring scholarship recipients from USAA hubs.