MONTEREY BAY SWIM CLUB
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY
Effective Date: January 20, 2020
Approved by: MBSC Board of Directors
This policy is intended to regulate the granting of financial assistance in the form of fee reductions for individuals and families financially unable to pay the established program fee.
MBSC strongly believes that all children should have the opportunity to participate with a competitive swim team regardless of financial status.
Financial Assistance Program:
1. Shall be limited to the amount of money deemed available for the program by the Board of Directors each year.
2. Shall be awarded and reviewed annually
ELIGIBILITY
· Must be an MBSC year round team swimmer.
· To qualify for this scholarship, swimmers must demonstrate financial need through one of the following:
a. Applicant’s family must qualify for Free or Reduced Price lunches thru the USDA School Lunch Program or (NSLP).
b. Extenuating circumstance or a life changing event swimmer(s) family must receive assistance to continue in the swim program.
· Swimmers must attend at least 2/3 of all monthly practices for their assigned practice group.
· Monthly dues are always paid in advance. The financial aid will be applied to your account after you pay your portion of the dues. Failure to pay your portion by the 10th of each month may result in loss of assistance.
· Swimmers shall demonstrate a firm commitment to their own development as a swimmer as well as to the team.
· Swimmers and family members must fulfill ALL volunteer requirements over the course of the year. Swimmers and family members must work at home and away swim meets. Expectation is that all MBSC hosted meets will be worked; this includes mini meets, CVAL Champs and our annual Hartnell Meet (usually in November). In addition, recipients shall be expected to assist at any other fund raising event the team participates in (i.e. Big Sur Marathon, AT&T).
· Discounts will apply to swim team monthly dues only. Participants must pay USA Swimming annual registration fee ($89) and MBSC annual fee ($150). MBSC will not cover any costs associated with meet entry fees or required equipment
· Recipients will not be eligible for any other (family) discounts.
HOW TO APPLY
· A Letter from the appropriate school district verifying participation in the Free or Reduced Price NSLP for either the current or upcoming school year and letter to the MBSC Board of Directors stating how much financial assistance is required (as a % of dues or a dollar amount) OR
· A Letter to the MBSC Board of Directors explaining the extenuating circumstances and stating how much financial assistance is required (as a % of dues or a dollar amount), how the parent(s) have contributed to the team in the past and how much and in what fashion the parents plan to volunteer for the team during the current year, and acknowledgement of the practice attendance policy determined by each swimmer's coach.
GUIDELINES FOR APPROVAL/DENIAL
· The MBSC Board of Directors shall review the applications. All information provided shall be kept confidential. The application is confidential and will be handled by the Board of Directors to ensure your privacy. The fact that a family is receiving financial assistance will not be disclosed outside of the Board of Directors, Board Representatives and Team Administrator.
· All program participants granted financial assistance shall remain in good standing with MBSC. Unsportsmanlike conduct and/or conduct detrimental to the program by any family member shall be grounds for removal of all financial assistance present and future. Misconduct, as defined by the USA Swimming Code of Conduct, is grounds for loss of financial aid.
· This list shall not be considered all-inclusive, and MBSC reserves the right to refuse financial assistance to anyone.
