Get Involved

Lisa and George Schott
We have been dedicated to the Mission of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) for a long time. In fact, our involvement goes back to 1987, just 3 years after it was founded as the Mercury 7 Foundation. Lisa was among the earliest scholarship recipients, and we have remained involved in a variety of volunteer and leadership roles. Lisa began by volunteering her time, out of gratitude for the financial support that she received while studying at Georgia Tech. She is now the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Founder of the scholarship alumni group, the Astronaut Scholars Honor Society. George is a dedicated volunteer, attending events, helping wherever needed, and frequently winning live auction bids. We appreciate the opportunities that ASF has provided to us and are pleased to have the ability to create similar opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers.

When you reach the point in life where you begin thinking about the legacy that you want to leave behind, you tend to reflect on others who have impacted the world in a positive way. The Mercury 7 Astronauts and their colleagues Henri Landwirth and Dr. Bill Douglas, made a tremendous impression on us. Each of them achieved things in their careers beyond what most people even dream of; they truly reached the pinnacle of technical accomplishment. However, they decided that they did not want to rest on the laurels of their incredible accomplishments. They wanted to impact future generations by creating this scholarship foundation to support all frontiers of science and engineering and inspire future generations to ensure that America retains its world leadership in technology and innovation. Like the Mercury 7, we want to be remembered not only for our engineering career accomplishments but also for giving back.

This scholarship program is different from others, in that ASF establishes lifelong relationships with its beneficiaries. This creates an impact that goes far beyond financial assistance and creates a sense of urgency among the scholars to be among the best, make a significant difference, and set bigger goals. Joining the Mercury 7 Society allows us to ensure the vision of the original Mercury 7 astronauts and makes us feel a bit awestruck to be among such company. As Wally Schirra once said, “When all is said and done, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation may be our greatest legacy.”

Robert and Lynda Nowotny
In 2010, my nephew and his wife established and personally funded The Boundless Frontier Endowment (BFE) with the explicit goal of awarding cash prizes to the person or persons deemed to have made the most significant contributions in achieving three specific goals for the further exploration of space.

I was honored to be asked to serve on the Board of Directors for the BFE and it was through our efforts to find an organization which could administer this Foundation for many years to come that we learned about the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and its mission to award college scholarships to the very best and brightest students pursuing science, technology, engineering or math degrees. This seemed a perfect fit and now the Boundless Frontier Endowment has been established and gifted to the ASF.

There are literally hundreds of worthwhile nonprofit organizations, but the ability to help the ASF pursue the vision of the Mercury 7 astronauts and their successors in nurturing and promoting our country's continued leadership in science and technology is a uniquely rewarding endeavor which is why my wife and I also decided to leave a significant amount of our personal estate to the ASF. It is especially satisfying to know that ASF scholarship students will invariably be instrumental in achieving our family's initial goal of helping promote continued space exploration for decades into the future.

What is The Mercury 7 Society?
The Mercury 7 Society is our way of celebrating the generosity of friends who are providing for the future of the foundation through a planned gift. Your planned gift automatically makes you a member of The Mercury 7 Society. This society honors you and the legacy you are leaving. You can choose to be a named or anonymous member (your gift amount always remains confidential). Please know that being a named member helps inspire others to also think about and create their own legacy.

The Mercury 7 Society Annual Induction
The Mercury 7 Society Annual Induction Luncheon will be held in gratitude of your legacy gift and a chance to celebrate the new, current and family members of the Society.

How Do I Join The Mercury 7 Society?
Anyone who agrees to make a planned gift to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is entitled to membership in The Mercury 7 Society. No minimum amount is required. Membership is also open to those who provide to ASF through other planned giving instruments, such as life insurance or a charitable gift annuity. There is a simple form to complete and provide to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. All information will be held in the strictest confidence. The form is needed so that we can maintain an accurate record of who has taken this deeply significant step to leaving a legacy.

Here are practical, simple gift ideas and estate planning tips on getting your plans in order, relevant to your stage in life, to protect your family and support the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. The goal of estate planning is to provide peace of mind and financial support for yourself and your loved ones. After your family is taken care of, you can extend your support by including a gift to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation in your long-term plans.

Planning for Your Loved Ones

  Create your first will.
  Put a living will in place.
  Include a durable power of attorney.
  Take full advantage of your retirement plans.

Helping Others
  Include a gift to us in your will.
  Designate a percentage of your retirement plan assets to benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation after your lifetime.

Planning for Your Loved Ones

  Create your first will, or update an existing document.
  Put a living will in place.
  Include a durable power of attorney.
  Take full advantage of your retirement plans.

Helping Others
  Include a gift to us in your will.
  Designate a percentage of your retirement plan assets to benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation after your lifetime.
  Donate appreciated stock you have owned for more than one year.

Planning for Your Loved Ones

  Make sure your will is up-to-date.
  Plan for a financially secure retirement.

Helping Others
  Leave us a percentage of your assets through a gift in your will.
  Make a charitable gift to us and receive fixed payments for life.
  Designate a percentage of your retirement plan assets to benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation after your lifetime.
  Donate appreciated stock you have owned for more than one year.
  Donate your home or another piece of real estate.
  Arrange a charitable remainder trust to benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
  Set up a charitable lead trust that supports us and helps preserve your loved ones' inheritance.

Planning for Your Loved Ones

  Make sure your will is the best it can be.

Helping Others
  Leave us a percentage of your assets through a gift in your will.
  Make a charitable gift to us and receive fixed payments for life.
  Designate a percentage of your retirement plan assets to benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation after your lifetime.
  Make tax-free gifts from your IRA.
  Donate appreciated stock you have owned for more than one year.
  Give savings bonds as a charitable gift through your will.
  Donate your home or another piece of real estate.
  Arrange a charitable remainder trust to benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.
  Set up a charitable lead trust that supports us and helps preserve your loved ones' inheritance.

There are almost as many variations on ways to make a donation as there are needs to be met. Explore this section to discover new ways to make a gift that also take into consideration your personal circumstances and the needs of your heirs.

Gifts That Pay You Income

  Charitable Gift Annuities
  Charitable Remainder Trusts

Gifts You Make Today

  Charitable IRA Rollover
  Memorial and Honorary Gifts
  Charitable Lead Trusts
  Donor Advised Funds

Gifts That Make an Impact after Your Lifetime

  Bequests
  Beneficiary Designations
  Endowed Gifts
  Give My Home, But Live There for Life

What is a Planned Gift?

Planned gifts are gifts you plan today, to give in the future. They create extraordinary opportunities to support the Foundation and are a meaningful and powerful way to honor the heroes that had a vision. Examples of planned gifts are: Beneficiary through wills or trusts; Retirement plans such as IRA or 401(k); Gifts that pay you income: charitable trusts and annuities; Gifts of real estate or vacation homes.

How do I make a bequest?

A bequest is one of the easiest gifts to make. With the help of an advisor, you can include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation to use where most needed as part of your estate plan.

What are my options to bequest?

A bequest can be made in several ways including: You can gift a specific dollar amount or asset; You can gift a percentage of your estate; You can gift from the balance or residue of your estate; You can make a beneficiary designation of certain assets.

What language should I use to state my bequest?

Adding a bequest to your will or living trust can be as simple as adding a single sentence. Here's our preferred bequest language; take this to your attorney to use as a starting point. Contact us if you have any questions! I give the sum of $___ or ___% to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (Tax ID # 59-2448775) to be used or disposed of as its Board of Directors deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

Why should I inform you of my Planned Gift?

You have spent thoughtful time considering your legacy and we would like to be able to thank you in advance for your kind consideration.

Disclaimer

The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.