Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Incorporated

The vision of the organization is: "Helping Our Own." Through partnerships with other assistance providers, we will deliver innovative financial assistance in response to emerging Coast Guard family needs. We will ensure that we are always ready and always there as a critical safety net to provide financial resilience.
While giving strong consideration to the financial limitations of the organization, CGMA will provide maximium assistance to the largest number of individuals, expanding and improving current programs, removing or easing restrictions and increasing limits of loans or grants.
Some of the organization's guiding principles are:
-- Fostering self respect and self worth
-- Confidentiality
-- Treating those applying for assistance tih honor and respect
-- Fair and equitable treatment to all those who apply for assistance
-- Merit based decision making

Four lines of effort are currently used as a strategic imperative to meet our vision of looking after our own:
-- Improving status and visibility
-- Review and sustain our investment
-- Renew and establish relationships
-- Grow philanthropic giving and professionalize development

A balanced scorecard has been approved that assigns measures and activies to:
-- Mission delivery
-- Client perspective
-- Business perspective
-- Financial perspective

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance has a small paid staff of ten personnel, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The backbone of its work in program delivery is accomplished through the 400 Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Representatives at 96 units, and 38 ships in 32 states and territories of the United States. We also rely on the thousands of donations, from $1 to over $10,000 each and every year to ensure we can fulfill our missions, quickly and securely.

A strategic plan was approved in 2018. With a new Chief Executive Officer, a refresh of the old strategy was done by the staff, with the four lines of effort as described above. This is being worked with the Board, a stakeholder outreach will occur, and partnerships renewed or established to improve the organization by making it "Even Better."

A substantial ($15 million) gift by USAA in 2019 during the Department of Homeland Security Lapse in Appropriations is provided to live in perpetuity to provide assistance to all of our clients so they may meet unexpected needs or assist with their financial resilience and education goals. The organization provided a record $8.4 million to over 6200 clients in zero interest loans in just 35 days during the government shutdown.

In 2020, CGMA responded to the needs of the client base during the pandemic. Through the creation of six COVID specific programs, they helped with spouse unemployment, quarantine and testing needs, education equipment for children schooling at home, in person and online tutoring grants, among other needs. The total support provided was over $9.2 million including a record $5.5 million in grants.