Fostering Engineering Leadership for the Nation
Founded in 1920, the Society of American Military Engineers, through the lasting contributions of its members, partners, and stakeholders, has played a critical role at every phase of progress in the engineering, architecture, and construction fields over the last century. In 2016, with a vision to strengthen and expand our philanthropic efforts, the SAME Foundation was established to foster engineering leadership for the nation.
The first meeting of the SAME Foundation Board of Directors was held on January 26, 2017. Establishing the SAME Foundation was a major step toward achieving the goals and objectives of the 2020 SAME Strategic Plan. As we advance the 2025 SAME Strategic Plan, the SAME Foundation has an enormous opportunity to support the development of the next generation of military, government civilian, and A/E/C industry leaders.
The SAME Foundation supports programs that introduce youth to STEM, develop emerging leaders with our membership, and increase the number of veterans transitioning into the engineering and construction workforce. The SAME Foundation also provides a secure and beneficial repository for charitable and other bequeaths from members of the Society and the public at large.
We are fortunate to have an extraordinary group of individuals who have stepped up to lead the SAME Foundation, including several past Society Presidents. The Foundation is chaired by Rear Adm. Dave Nash, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.), USN (Ret.).
Thanks to everyone who generously supported the SAME Foundation’s 2022 fundraising campaign and the YPs/Fellows Challenge, especially our $5K Matching Donors, for your investment in fostering engineering leadership for our nation and supporting critical efforts like the SAME Leader Development Program, Camps Mentoring Program, and Indigenous STEM Program. America’s future is bright. Thanks to all of you, we can help make it even brighter.
SAME Foundation Board of Directors
| Rear Adm. Dave Nash, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.), USN (Ret.)* – Board Chair | Col. Sal Nodjomian, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.), USAF (Ret.)* |
| Capt. Mike Blount, P.E., F.SAME, USN (Ret.)* | Jane Penny, P.E., F.SAME (Dist.)* |
| Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, F.SAME, USAF (Ret.)* | Sally Riker, F.SAME |
| Mercedes Enrique, F.SAME | Capt. Bob Schlesinger, P.E., F.SAME, USN (Ret.) |
| Rear Adm. Randall Gardner, P.E., F.SAME, USPHS (Ret.) | Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, P.E., F.SAME, USA (Ret.) |
| The Honorable John Henderson, P.E., F.SAME | Rear Adm. Ron Silva, P.E., F.SAME, USCG (Ret.) |
| Maj. Gen. Ed Jackson, P.E., USA (Ret.) | Susan Thames, F.SAME |
Ways to Support the SAME Foundation
Individual Donations
A significant portion of the SAME Foundation’s raised funds comes from annual donations by individuals. Make a contribution today and support the nation’s future engineering leaders.
Planned Giving
You can include SAME Foundation in your planned giving such as bequest through wills, creating a permanent legacy for yourself within SAME. Contact Kathy Off with questions.
Corporate Campaign
Corporations and businesses, including Sustaining Members firms, may donate to the success of the SAME Foundation and future leaders, with perpetual recognition for your company.
Developing Future Engineering Leaders
The SAME Foundation engages the philanthropic community by identifying impactful Society leader development initiatives. Program outcomes present a diversity of impact that ensures the Society endures for the next 100 years.
Leader Development Program
Through support from the SAME Foundation, in 2019 SAME launched the Leader Development Program to identify and cultivate talent from within the Society’s membership to address the nation’s grand challenges. The program supports the development of the next generation of world-class military, government, and industry leaders through a curriculum of hands-on training, study, utilization projects and active engagement in new opportunities.
Engineering & Construction Camps
Working with the network of Posts, volunteers, and sponsors, and support from the SAME Foundation, the Society develops, maintains, and grows a variety of camps to provide in-person experiences to students interested in exploring STEM-related skills and careers. The net outcome is more technical professionals available to meet the nation’s needs
Camp Alumni Scholarships
The SAME Foundation has supported a scholarship program for Engineering & Construction camp alumni. Qualified applicants must have attended an SAME Engineering & Construction Camp, are currently high school seniors preparing to enter college, and will major in engineering, architecture, or an engineering-related field. Learn more about these scholarships.
Camps Mentoring Program
The SAME Foundation supports the participation of members to serve as mentors at the Engineering & Construction Camps. Mentors play a vital role in providing a rigorous and supportive camp experience. By interacting with the campers, their guidance and advice, based on their own experience and education, creates strong bonds that last beyond the camps. Participants are no longer alone in their pursuit of a STEM degree. They know they have someone to count on and get answers or support. This relationship is extremely valuable to their academic and professional trajectory.
Indigenous STEM Program
Designed as a framework for SAME Posts to engage American Indian/Alaska Native communities in STEM, the “We Must Go to Them” project (created through the Leader Development Program) was selected for a grant from the United Engineering Foundation in 2021. The SAME Foundation has furthered its involvement in this important effort by underwriting the cost-match required to conduct pilot activities in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, and Florida.
Additional Resources & Information
Donating appreciated securities, including stocks or bonds, is an easy and tax-effective way for you to make a gift to the SAME Foundation.
Benefits of gifts of stocks and bonds
- Avoid paying capital gains tax on the sale of appreciated stock
- Receive a charitable income tax deduction
- Further our mission today
How to make a gift of stocks and bonds
By electronic transfer – Please contact us for instructions on how you can transfer stock or bonds from your brokerage or investment account to the SAME Foundation.
By certified mail – If you hold securities in certificate form, you will need to mail two envelopes separately to complete your gift. In the first envelope, place the unsigned stock certificate(s). In the other envelope, include a signed stock power for each certificate. You may obtain this power from your broker or bank. Please remember to use certified mail.
More on gifts of stocks and bonds
There are special rules for valuing a gift of stock. The value of a charitable gift of stock is determined by taking the mean between the high and low stock price on the date of the gift. Mutual fund shares are valued using the closing price for the fund on the date of the gift.
Contact us
If you have any questions about gifts of stocks and bonds, please contact the Foundation at samefoundation@same.org. We would be happy to assist you and answer any questions that you have.
The SAME Foundation engages the philanthropic community by identifying Society programs worthy of donor investment. Program outcomes present a diversity of impact that ensures the Society endures for the next 100 years.
Leader Development Program
Through support from the SAME Foundation, in 2019 SAME launched the Leader Development Program (LDP) to identify and cultivate talent from within SAME’s membership to address the nation’s grand challenges. The program supports the development of the next generation of world-class military, government, and industry leaders for the Society and our nation through a curriculum of hands-on training, study, and active engagement in new opportunities. The year-long program begins at JETC and concludes at the following JETC. Learn more about LDP.
Read about the program in the SAME Bricks and Clicks blog.
View the feature in the November/December TME issue to learn more about the LDP projects.
Engineering & Construction Camps
Working with the network of SAME Posts, volunteers, and sponsors, and support from the SAME Foundation, the Society of American Military Engineers develops, maintains, and grows a variety of camps to provide in-person experiences to students interested in exploring STEM-related skills and careers. The net outcome is more STEM professionals available to meet needs of our nation. Visit the camps webpage to learn more.
Camp Alumni Scholarships
The Foundation supports a scholarship program for Engineering & Construction camp alumni. Qualified applicants must have attended a SAME Engineering & Construction Camp, are currently high-school seniors preparing to enter college, and will major in engineering, architecture, or an engineering-related field.
Camps Mentoring Program
The Foundation supports the participation of SAME members to serve as mentors at the Engineering and Construction camps. Mentors play a vital role in providing a rigorous and supportive camp experience. By interacting with the campers, their guidance and advice, based on their own experience and education, creates strong bonds that last beyond our camps. Participants are no longer alone in their pursuit of a STEM degree. They know they have someone they can contact to get answers or support. This relationship is extremely valuable to their academic and professional trajectory.
Indigenous STEM Program
Designed as a framework for SAME Posts to engage American Indian/Alaska Native communities in STEM, the “We Must Go to Them” project (created through the Leader Development Program) was selected for a grant from the United Engineering Foundation in 2021. The SAME Foundation has furthered its involvement in this important effort by underwriting the cost-match required to conduct pilot activities in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, and Florida.
The Foundation closed the Foundation Donor Campaign on December 31, 2020. Thank you to all those who contributed to the campaign to continue the Foundation’s important work of fostering engineering leadership for the nation.
