ALCOAST 311/17 - OCT 2017 COAST GUARD FOUNDATION SHIPMATE FUND 2017-2018: STATUS REPORT AND GUIDANCE

R 181337 OCT 17
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCMS//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01710//
ALCOAST 311/17
COMDTNOTE 1710
SUBJ:  COAST GUARD FOUNDATION SHIPMATE FUND 2017-2018: STATUS REPORT AND GUIDANCE
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 311655 MAY 17/ALCOAST 175/17
B. Coast Guard Morale, Well-Being, and Recreation Manual, COMDTINST M1710.13 (series)
C. Coast Guard Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities (NAFI) Manual, COMDTINST
M7010.5 (series)
1. Field interest and submissions for the Shipmate Fund have generated significant
enthusiasm within the Coast Guard Foundation (the Foundation) to support requests
that provide significant benefits to Coast Guard members and their families.
REF (A) solicited a refreshed list of Shipmate Fund requests. A final list of items
totaling nearly $1.2 million was approved by the Vice Commandant and submitted to the
Foundation for consideration. The current approved, prioritized list may be found at:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/csc/MWR%20Docs/Forms/AllItems.aspx.
2. The Foundation is currently using this new list to generate additional donations
for Shipmate Fund requests.
3. Community Services Command (CSC) is actively working to distribute newly gifted
funds from the Foundation. Units whose projects are selected for funding will be
notified by email as funds become available throughout the year. Funds may be
directed to items or projects specified by donors, or may be provided to the Coast
Guard for broad application to the Shipmate Fund list. Not all items on this list
will be funded and funding may not necessarily follow the published prioritization
subject to donor desires.
4. It is the Foundation’s desire to provide immediate benefit to CG units, members
and families. To facilitate efficient procurements, Shipmate Funds will be
electronically transferred by the CSC to field MWR accounts using the regular MWR
funds distribution process. Shipmate Funds will be sent to the cognizant authority
for MWR purposes, as defined in REF (B), for further distribution as necessary.
Commands in receipt of funds for further distribution for procurement must act
expeditiously to ensure proper, but rapid acquisition of items. Units are encouraged
to consider using the Coast Guard Exchange System as a source for their Shipmate Fund
procurements as discounts are provided on morale fund purchases.
5. If the actual costs are more than approved, the unit must cover the additional
cost. Should the unit be unable to cover these costs, the Shipmate Funds must be
returned to the CSC. If the actual costs are less than funds received and the
difference is five percent or greater, the unit must return these funds to the CSC.
Substitution of items is not authorized. For example, a unit funded for a treadmill
may not procure a kayak. 
6. All procurements must be made in accordance with REF (C). Items that meet the
requirements for inclusion on the unit property records must be recorded in Oracle
FAM as required. Items procured with Shipmate Funds that meet this requirement will
be recorded as appropriated fund property. Units must retain copies of this ALCOAST,
the purchase request, and the invoice (marked received) in their MWR file. CSC or
the cognizant authority for MWR purpose may request copies of this documentation.
7. Members of the Foundation greatly enjoy seeing the benefits Coast Guard members
derive from their contributions. The Foundation also enjoys receiving pictures of
equipment being used. Benefiting units are strongly encouraged to promptly assemble
equipment and email at least one photo of unit personnel enjoying the item to the
following address: shipmate@cgfdn.org.
8. Unit Commanding Officers and Officers in Charge must promptly acknowledge their
donations. The Foundation can be reached at: Coast Guard Foundation, 394 Taugwonk Road,
Stonington, CT 06378-1807. The Foundation donors may wish to visit units to see the
benefits derived from their generosity. Benefitting units should make all efforts
to accommodate such requests. Commands are not authorized to contact the Foundation
regarding the status of their Shipmate Fund items. Any questions must be directed
to the appropriate cognizant authority for MWR purposes.
9. POC: CWO Raymond Eakes, (757) 842-4929 or Raymond.P.Eakes@uscg.mil.
10. VADM Sandra L. Stosz, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.