EAA Community Involvement Policy

EAA strives to be a strong community partner.  Some of the ways EAA supports the charitable and cultural efforts of northeast Wisconsin are by:

• Providing in-kind support (i.e., Museum passes, etc.) for local fundraising events.
• Partnering with other community non-profits to mutually strengthen fundraising efforts.
• Offering free community activities such as a regular speaker series that brings notable individuals to the Museum to highlight historical aviation events and milestones.
• Offering unique, interactive educational programs to local school groups that enhance classroom curricula.
• Serving as an educational tool for youth and adult organizations. 

In an effort to be more responsive to the needs of our community, and to be more purposeful in our approach to participating more actively, EAA designed a Community Involvement Policy to help coordinate and maximize our offerings in the following way:

• Provide a more defined approach to responding to requests for support of community events
• Develop a fair and easy process to identify, evaluate and support efforts of the non profit community
• Develop a process that allows for tracking and quantifying impact

To that end, EAA has pulled together a staff committee to support these goals.  It is envisioned that, as parameters for committee operation are developed, participation on the committee will be expanded to involve community leadership. 

The Committee will include representation from the following areas:

1. Public Relations
2. Sponsorship
3. Development
4. Museum
5. Advocacy

Committee duties will include the following:

A review of requests in three areas:

• Participation in raffles, auctions or other events through provision of EAA museum experiences, flight experiences, AirVenture experiences and other items/experiences that can help generate support and/or participation for other organizations.
• Use of EAA facilities – structures as well as outdoor grounds – for fund raising or other purposes by non-profit organizations.  Participation will range from free use of space to use of space at reduced rates, to co-sponsorship.
• Use of EAA goods and services – infrastructure – such as tables, chairs, or other items.

A review of the following;

• EAA’s participation at an organizational level in events sponsored by the broader aviation community.

Policy Guidelines

Offering #1 – Auctions, Raffles, Participation at an In-kind Level

EAA supports auctions, raffles and other fundraising events sponsored by non-profit organizations based primarily in the Fox Valley region by donating items, experiences, passes, and other tangible items based upon the following limits:

• Designated amount of EAA merchandise
• Maximum of 1,000 Museum passes annually.
• Maximum of 10 vintage flights from Pioneer Airport annually.
• Maximum of 10 EAA AirVenture credentials
• Maximum of 50 EAA AirVenture daily passes (one-day, any-day)
• Simulator passes (100)

Selection guidelines include:

• Applicant must be either a youth serving organization with an education focus, a general health/welfare organization, or an organization that provides community service programs.
• Applicant cannot be a lobbying, strictly religious, or an organization with a directive that implies that EAA has taken a stance on a controversial issue.
• Applicant must not have previously received a donation during EAA’s current fiscal  year (March 1 – February 28)
• Applicant organization must have support of EAA staff.

EAA will also support the auctions, raffles and other fundraising events of the aviation community at the discretion/decision of the Community Involvement Committee.  These donations will be tracked and quantified separately.

EAA will track and quantify the AirVenture passes requested from within the community, centralizing the both requests and the approval processes guiding the award of said passes. 

Offering #2 – Event Participation at a Financial Level

• EAA will create a fund not to exceed $5,000 to support community organizations seeking table/sponsor or underwriting support of a cash nature. Such requests will be reviewed by the established committee, using the following considerations:
• Impact of participation
• Significance of participation
• EAA level of participation

Note:  EAA will table any requests made after the fulfillment of the $5,000 contribution limit. 

• EAA will review the participation in aviation community events using the same parameters.  However, the fund noted above will not serve as the support for decisions to participate in such aviation related events at Sun N Fun and other higher profile events. 

 
Offering #3 – Facility and Infrastructure Use

EAA will respond to requests for use of both the indoor and outdoor facilities in the following way.  This process will be reviewed during the first year of implementation to determine our ability to support this effort going forward:

• Two “No-fee usages” of the Museum, selected conference rooms or other select areas of the EAA facility.  Organization will be responsible for set-up, clean-up and other event related costs.
• One “Reduced-fee” use of the Museum, selected conference rooms or other select areas of the EAA facility.  Specific arrangements related to set-up, clean-up and other event related costs will be determined as part of the negotiation. 
• One “No-fee” use of the outdoor grounds. Organization will be responsible for all incurred costs.
• One “Reduced-fee” use of the outdoor grounds.  Contract negotiations will detail specific areas and amount of reimbursement.
• Complimentary use of any EAA assets either on-site or transported to locations outside the EAA campus – decision to made on a case-by-case basis.  Decision point will include a review of the financial and liability impacts.

Such requests will be reviewed by the committee, with recommendations shared with the Senior Team.

Application Procedure

EAA will require that requesting organizations submit a letter detailing the use or purpose for the requested item or service.  Letter should include:

• Date, time and other pertinent information
• Verification of Charitable status
• Clear statement of the request
• If seeking facility use, the applicant must list the event/activity format, anticipated outcomes, dates, time, anticipated attendance and other specifics
• Particular special needs
• Organization mission and background
• Organization mission and background

Note:  An application form will be posted on EAA’s website; applicants are encouraged to prepare a formal letter of request to accompany the application.

Deadlines

We will accept requests for auction, raffle and other event assistance on an on-going basis.  A six-week advance request is required for all correspondence. 

About EAA

The Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. (EAA) was founded in 1953.  Under the leadership of Paul Poberezny, individuals came together in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to share their enthusiasm for and knowledge of personal flight.  A charismatic leader, Mr. Poberezny was able to launch individual chapters in every state of the nation, promoting a philosophy of perseverance, hard work, and high standards to ensure safe flight.

During its 50-year history, Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. (EAA) members and leadership have endeavored to not only promote access to the thrill and freedom of personal flight, but to also preserve aviation history and to use this history to inspire and educate young people.  EAA’s mission aims to serve the needs and interests of the membership, aviation and the public by:  1) Promoting access to the dream of flight; 2) Protecting the right to fly; 3) Preserving the heritage of aviation; and 4) Preparing the future of aviation. EAA fulfills this mission by providing opportunities for participation, representation in government and industry affairs, information resources and education programs.

Programs and Services

1. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh – More than 5,000 local, regional and national EAA members and volunteers coordinate the world's largest annual aviation convention.  AirVenture has evolved over fifty years into an impressive showcase of innovation and education. The event records approximately 500,000 visits over seven days, 10,000 aircraft, 700 exhibitors, and over 14 government agencies.  More than 3,000 youth daily participate in hands-on workshops and challenges, experiencing first-hand the magic, thrill, and principles of flight.  People travel from around the world to Oshkosh to experience the spirit, history, and to glimpse the future of aviation. 
2. AirVenture Museum - One of only nine aviation museums accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Museum displays pristine examples of experimental aircraft, homebuilts, WWII and vintage aircraft, ultralights, prototype aircraft, and many one-of-a-kind aircraft that cannot be viewed anywhere else in the world.  Other features include an aeronautical library, five movie theaters, and the KidVenture youth interactive gallery featuring unique flight simulation activities, Adjacent to the Museum is Pioneer Airport, featuring seven period style hangars, an operational grass runway, and a small number of airworthy vintage airplanes used for demonstration purposes. Other Museum programs include public lectures and presentations (webcast to viewers around the world), and a full range of youth programs. EAA’s Airventure Museum hosts approximately 150,000 member and non-member visitors annually. Approximately 4,500 adults and families annually participate in public programs at the Museum.
3. Youth Education - EAA offers local, regional and national youth education programs designed to help schools integrate aviation-based learning into the classroom.  EAA works to design curricula that are aligned with national math and science standards, provide educators with pre and post teaching materials to extend the learning process, and hands-on challenges to help strengthen student enthusiasm for learning.  EAA’s education programs reach over 7,000 regional youth each year, with approximately 5,000 school children served through guided or self-guided visits to the Museum.
4. Air Academy Lodge - EAA uses a freestanding resident education facility to accommodate groups of up to 50 youth for overnight educational experiences.   A summer aerospace camp, accredited by the American Camping Association attracts nearly 300 youths each year. Year-round, overnight experiences make it possible for schools groups, outside of a day’s drive to Oshkosh, to experience EAA’s unique educational offerings.  EAA has found that the impact of its formal programs is greatly enhanced by the mentoring provided during these experiences. 
5. Member Programs - EAA is a membership organization with 170,000 members and 1000 chapters worldwide.  EAA targets this group of aviation enthusiasts for its programs, activities, and training workshops.  All promote personal skills, innovative design and concepts, provide resources and support, and work to ensure that flying remains accessible.
6. Government Relations - EAA works with members and government liaisons to preserve the freedom and access to flight enjoyed by aviation enthusiasts worldwide. While not a lobbying group, EAA maintains a relationship with the FAA that enables dialogue, research, and opinion collection that supports legislation and regulation. 
7. Young Eagles Program – EAA’s signature outreach program, Young Eagles has provided an introductory flight experience to over 1,300,000 youths aged 8-17, since 1992.  The program is “field delivered” engaging thousands of volunteers in EAA’s Chapter nationwide and international network. Around 100,000 flights are given annually to youths of all backgrounds, and follow on activities are being developed to sustain interest beyond the first flight.

EAA has 225 paid staff, and 170 regular volunteers.