ACTION SHOOTING ATHLETE GOES FOR GOLD AT JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

BLAINE REALLY DOES OWE ALL HIS SUCCESS TO THE SSSF AND SASP PROGRAMS.

LORI SIMPSON, SASP PARENT

BLAINE AND HIS TWIN BROTHER AARON BEGAN SHOOTING IN THE SCHOLASTIC ACTION SHOOTING PROGRAM AS SIXTH GRADERS, FORMIMG THE SHOOTING TEAM, TWO2SHOOT. NOW WITH TWO GOLD MEDALS UNDER HIS BELT FROM THE 2023 JUNIOR OLYMPIC PISTOL CHAMPIONSHIPS, BLAINE HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND JUNIOR WORLD CUP TEAMS FOR SPORT PISTOL.

“In the beginning they couldn’t have had any success without Scott and Lisa Poet-the Michigan State Directors,” said Blaine’s mother, Lori Simpson. “They held our hands and showed us the way, and really set Aaron and Blaine up for the success that followed.  Aaron and Blaine usually compete for the top spot at the SASP National Championships in Iron & Optic Rifle, and have continued to be the Ohio State Rifle Cup Champions year-after-year.  Aaron and Blaine shot 3-position air rifle for a while in the winter months, and then a year ago at the SASP National Championships Rick Leach-SASP Director, introduced Blaine to Vladimir Chichkov, and precision air pistol.  With the support of SASP, Rick Leach, James Hall and Jim Henderson, Blaine started competing in air pistol. James Hall, SASP Director of Development, made sure Blaine had a pistol to get started, and has been a constant resource to Blaine. Jim Henderson-Director Cardinal Shooting Center, introduced Blaine to an electronic target and let Blaine shoot an electronic target once a week at the Cardinal Center.  Blaine now has a primitive air range set up in the basement and he has everyone on speed dial when he needs coaching tips, encouragement and moral support.”

“When SASP started our international disciplines just under 2 years ago, we were met with some naysayers, said SASP National Director, Rick Leach. “We were told just because our athletes can shoot fast, doesn’t mean they will be able to shoot accurately and with precision. Our response was we have extremely talented athletes with a lot of drive and determination, and they can do anything they put their minds to. They love pressing triggers and competing and we need to open as many doors as we can to provide opportunities for our athletes to be successful.”

“I have had the great opportunity to mentor Blaine, said James Hall, Olympian and SASP Director of Development. “He’s a very attentive athlete and has focused on his goals and made significant improvements in the last year.  I tease that one of my goals for him and other rising SASP athletes is to replace me on the podium!”

“The competitive shooting community has truly become his shooting family,” said Lori Simpson. “SASP has encouraged Blaine and Aaron to pursue their goals and dream big!  Blaine has made so many lifelong friendships, and everyone is always rooting for one another.  The shooting community wants success for youth athletes both on and off the range.  We are so proud of his success.  Blaine hopes his most recent two Gold Medals at the 2023 Junior Olympic Pistol Championships, and being named to the Junior World Championship teams is just the beginning.  He can’t wait to represent the United States on an international stage.”

Collector’s Firearm Estate to Benefit Youth Shooting Sports

In 2022, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation was gifted a large estate of firearms and other military collector's pieces with the intention to be auctioned off, with proceeds to provide scholarship funds for SASP and SCTP athletes. Now being prepared for auction, these items will be available for live online auction, as well as the opportunity to bid in-person on April 22, 23, 29, 30th and May 13 & 14th 2023.

Over 250 items are available as part of the auction, including Military Guns, Pistols, Long Arms, Colt, Remington, Springfield, Ruger, Walther, Luger, M1 Garands, Tanker, 100s of American & Foreign Bayonets, Reloading Supplies, Tooling and Reloading Tools, Ammo and much more!

Click the auction flyer below for more details and online bidding links! Online bidding is currently underway and will set the prices for the day of auction!

Making a charitable gift through your will or estate plans is a simple and impactful way to support our youth of tomorrow. There are many ways to support Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation in your will, ranging from bequests, to gift annuities, to gifts, and retirement plan assets. Each gift supports getting more kids out participating in shooting sports. For more information on planned giving, please visit our website: https://sssfonline.org/donate/

SSSF Seeks Foundation Director

Job Description – Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation

Job Title: Foundation Director

Location: Remote, Contiguous USA

Full-time position, Salary:  $125K-$135K a year with competitive benefits

Reports to the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation Board of Directors

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) seeks a visionary nonprofit business leader skilled in driving organizational success.

SSSF is 501(c)(3) public charity responsible for all aspects of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) across the United States. SCTP and SASP are youth development programs in which adult coaches and other volunteers use shooting sports to teach and to demonstrate sportsmanship, responsibility, honesty, ethics, integrity, teamwork, and other positive life skills.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Executive Leadership and Organizational Management

Provide thoughtful and visionary executive leadership that is inclusive, transparent, and empowering in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission as defined by the Board of Directors. The Foundation and the Programs have collective revenues exceeding $4 million and 17 employees dispersed across the United States with corporate headquarters based in San Antonio, Texas. A successful candidate will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Foundation and ensure its overall successful long-term operations and mission success. The Foundation Director will interface regularly with the National Directors of programs to ensure critical administrative support is adequate. They will evolve the strategic plan and drive its implementation. A successful candidate will have the skills to manage and motivate foundation staff, overseeing processes such as human resources, ongoing staff development, performance management, compensation, and benefits. The individual will have overall administrative management responsibility for the Foundation and two administrative direct reports. The Foundation Director will work alongside two National Directors and will support critical administrative support functions for SCTP and SASP.

Board Governance

· Maintain regular, ongoing communication to build a supportive relationship with the Board.

· Communicate effectively with the Board by providing members with all information necessary to make informed decisions in a timely and accurate manner.

· Attend all Board meetings and provide reports and updates on staff as well as project timelines and organizational progress.

· Implement Board policies and procedures.

· Inform the Board and its committees of any risks, issues, as well as successes.

Development and Fundraising Oversight

· Drive donor development through relationship building and fundraising in collaboration with the National Directors, leveraging the Board as needed. Work with fundraising vendors to ensure success.

· Ensure collaboration with the National Directors and the Board to ensure organizational financial stability and sustainability by maintaining healthy cash flow and adequate reserves.

Financial Management and Administration Responsibilities

· Provide strategic leadership and hands-on management for the Foundation and work closely with National Directors to ensure critical administrative and operational functions of the organization are in accordance with the mission, objectives, and policies.

· Prudently direct resources and manage all financials within budget guidelines and according to current laws and regulations.

· Monitor board-approved budget and collaborate regarding daily financial operations to ensure maximum utilization of resources and optimum financial positioning for the organization.

· Build and administer the organization’s budget. Work with National Directors on SCTP and SASP budgets and finalize with Board approval.

· Oversee any external accounting and audit resources and coordinate as needed with National Directors.

· Support the Foundation Board and designated Board committee operations; develop agendas, related documentation, and minutes for meetings.

· Develop, recommend, and administer policies, procedures, and processes in support of the Foundation goals and operations, in accordance with relevant legal parameters, and implements and monitors compliance with approved policies, procedures and processes.

· Oversee contracts and due diligence for all critical vendors.

· Ensure high visibility to potential donors and the public and build interest in engaged philanthropy.

· Manage all aspects of the Foundation’s marketing and public relations and coordinate and assist with the same for the programs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Candidates may emerge from nonprofit, foundation, government, academic, or other complimentary industry backgrounds and should possess the following:

· 7-10 years serving in a significant strategic nonprofit role is desired or a Masters Degree is preferred in any of the following fields: business administration, nonprofit management, finance, marketing, and communications.

· Five years of prior experience as a senior or executive leader with an emphasis in operations, finance, and people management.

· Strong business and financial acumen to work with auditing firms for annual audits and 990 prep and a history of providing visionary leadership at a senior level.

· Proven experience working with and leading a nonprofit Board and working with diverse groups of people including board members, employees, and donors.

· Familiarity with diverse business functions such as Public Relations, Human Resources, Marketing, Risk Management, Compliance, Grant Writing and Fundraising, etc.

· Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills; a persuasive and passionate communicator with strong interpersonal and multidisciplinary project management skills.

· Desire to explore innovative approaches and new ideas to solving problems.

· Expertise on issues relevant to the organization within the area of youth shooting sports are a plus.

· Strength in interpreting and applying applicable laws, rules and regulations.

· Position requires some travel, as well as some nights and weekends for board meetings and special events.

· Proficiency in use of QuickBooks and Excel, and remainder Microsoft Office Suite is essential.

HOW TO APPLY:

For immediate consideration please send your resume, cover letter, and salary requirements in a PDF format to Board Chair, Ed Fitzgerald at hr@sssfonline.com Attn: Ed Fitzgerald, SSSF Board Chairman.

Review of applicants will begin immediately and will continue on a confidential basis until a candidate selection is made.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity and equity in all facets of the organization’s work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other protected class.

Dallas Safari Club Awards Grant to SSSF 

The Dallas Safari Club (DSC), a continued supporter of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) has awarded the youth development organization a grant totaling over $24,000. This support comes from multiple chapters, including DSC Great Lakes, DSC Heartland, DSC Oklahoma, and DSC Charleston.

The DSC’s mission is to ensure the conservation of wildlife through public engagement, education and advocacy for well-regulated hunting and sustainable use. Every year DSC raises funds through an annual convention, which go toward grants that directly support our mission of conservation, education, and advocacy. Through outreach efforts and informational content that introduces shooting and science-based wildlife management to growing demographics, DSC is ensuring a legacy of well-informed future sportsmen, sportswomen and conservationists. The SSSF is humbled to accept this large grant amount in support of youth development through its Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP).

"As a non-profit we realize how much effort fundraising takes," said SASP National Director, Rick Leach. "The fact that these four DSC chapters are willing to donate their hard-earned funds in recognition of our mission of youth development is greatly appreciated. The Dallas Safari Club has been a supporter of our programs for a number of years and the continued vote of confidence from multiple DSC chapters is humbling."

"Both of SSSF's youth programs are very fortunate to have support throughout the outdoor industry," said SCTP National Director, Tom Wondrash. "The Dallas Safari Club continues to invest in our youth, who will be the next generation of hunters and conservationists. Through our youth development programs, we aim to shape those next generations into the best possible citizens they can be. The grant funding from multiple DSC chapters is an incredible gesture and we hope to continue our work with the support of the DSC for years to come."

With a year-round season, this funding is put to immediate use for the SSSF's youth programs. Conducting its largest National Championship event to date with over 10,000 event entries, the SSSF looks to continue its mission to facilitate youth development through its team-based clay target, action shooting, and international disciplines. As the official youth feeder program for USA Shooting, the scope of athlete success can be realized at the highest levels through the SCTP and SASP. Athletes can begin their shooting sports journey at a young age and continue through college, which is encouraged and supported by scholarships offered by both of the SSSF's youth development programs.

Athlete safety and support is critical to the SSSF's mission. In 2020, the foundation launched its modernized coach education programs to help expand the nationwide network of youth shooting sports adult volunteers. With new teams being activated through programs such as the SCTP and SASP every day, the need for a simple, efficient and comprehensive path to coach certification is realized as the SSSF Basic Coach Certification Program. With the DSC grant support, the SSSF plans to expand its training offerings with advanced coach curriculum and focused training for international disciplines of skeet, bunker trap, air pistol/rifle, and sport pistol.

SCTP/SASP alumni assist in rescue of two men clinging to capsized boat

The focus of the SSSF and its youth development programs is just that: to produce high quality citizens for our country and communities. We are proud of former Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Action Shooting Program athlete, Talo Marston. Talo stepped up in a situation when needed most!

"Definitely just immediately ready to help," Marston said. "I mean, you know I'm definitely not gonna say no to helping those guys out, because fellow duck hunters, we're a big community and we gotta help each other out."

Nonresident Iowa Whitetail Tag Auction To Benefit SCTP

Iowa is considered by many to be one of the premier white-tailed deer hunting destinations in the United States. Dreams come true in the Hawkeye State every year as hunters consistently harvest mature, corn fed bucks that reach well over 200". Getting a tag, however, is easier said than done. Now you can guarantee your tag and promote state and local conservation efforts through the Iowa Scholastic Clay Target Program Non-Resident Deer Tag Auction, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

This auction is for One Iowa Special Non-Resident Deer Tag, good Statewide for Archery, Gun season one, Gun season two, or the Late Muzzleloader season during either 2022 or 2023 Iowa deer season (hunter's choice). The deer tag includes 1 'any sex' deer and 1 'antlerless' deer. For seasons and hunting information, go to: http://www.iowadnr.gov/

The auction showroom is currently open for preregistration and the auction officially opens on August 1 at 12:00PM CST and ends on Friday, August 12 at 6:00PM CST. 

The winner of the auction receives a tag that includes 1 any-sex deer and 1 antlerless deer. This non-resident deer tag is good statewide; however, Landowner Permission is required before hunting on private land. The winner of the auction is required to purchase an Iowa nonresident hunting license and pay the non-resident habitat fee.

The tag may be used either in the coming 2022-2023 season, or next year in the 2023-2024 season. The hunter must declare which year and one of the following standard seasons at the close of the auction and no later than September 25th, 2022.

2022-2023 season dates can be found at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/DeerHunting.aspx . 2023-2024 dates have not been confirmed at this time but will be similar to 2022-2023 dates.

Arizona SASP Team Educates Local Community

In an effort to engage with the public about firearm safety, the The Arizona WildGats, a Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) team, put on a "1st Shots" educational event. This National Shooting Sports Foundation | NSSF-sponsored program creates responsible new firearms owners via training received from experienced coaches and athletes currently participating in the SASP. This shows our mission of youth development through shooting sports reaches beyond our youth organizations and provides positive change in local communities.

Charitable Giving for Youth Shooting Sports

SUPPORT YOUTH SHOOTING SPORTS WHILE DEDUCTING 100% OF ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ONE-TIME OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2021 THROUGH EXTENSIONS OF THE 2020 CARES ACT.

DEDUCT UP TO 100% OF AGI

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY BY ITEMIZING DEDUCTIONS WITH GIFTS TO CHARITY. PRIOR TO THE CARES ACT, THE MAXIMUM DEDUCTION WAS 60% OF AGI

THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR 100% DEDUCTION OF AGI APPLIES TO CASH DONATIONS TO PUBLIC CHARITIES.

SOME DONORS REACH 100% OF AGI BY GIVING A PERCENTAGE OF AGI TO THEIR DONOR-ADVISED FUND AND THE REMAINING AS CASH DIRECT TO PUBLIC CHARITIES. PUBLICLY TRADED STOCK MAY ALSO BE UTILIZED TO REACH 100%, SOME DONORS MAY ELECT TO GIVE 100% CASH DIRECT TO PUBLIC CHARITIES.

EVEN IF YOU DON’T ITEMIZE, THE CARES ACT STILL PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAN DONATE $300 TO CHARITY AND RECEIVE THE CORRESPONDING BENEFIT. MARRIED COUPLES CAN DONATE $600 TO CHARITY AND GET THIS “ABOVE THE LINE” DEDUCTION. IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO SUPPORT YOUTH SHOOTING SPORTS.

STOCKS OR MUTUAL FUNDS.

BY ALLEVIATING YOUR CAPITAL GAINS TAX, THIS MAY BE A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS ASSET TO DONATE BASED ON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

DONOR-ADVISED FUND

YOU CAN ITEMIZE CONTRIBUTIONS TO A DONOR-ADVISED FUND, AND DESIGNATE A GIFT TO SUPPORT SCHOLASTIC SHOOTING SPORTS FOUNDATION

SIMPLE DONATION FROM A CHECKING ACCOUNT.

MONEY SAVED IN OTHER AREAS CAN SERVE AS A GIFT FROM YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT, WHICH PROVIDES IMMEDIATE, MEANINGFUL SUPPORT TO THE HEALTH OF YOUTH SHOOTING TEAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

IRA QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS

YOU CAN GIFT UP TO $100,000 ANNUALLY FROM YOUR IRA, CALLED A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION (QCD) AND ARE EXCLUDED FROM YOUR TAXABLE INCOME.

ANYONE AGE 72 OR OLDER AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021, MUST TAKE THEIR REQUIRED MINIMUM DEDUCTION (RMD) BY YEAR-END. THIS INCLUDES INHERITED IRAS. IF IT IS YOUR FIRST RMD, YOU HAVE UNTIL APRIL 1, 2022.

RMDS MAY ALSO BE TRANSFERRED TO A QUALIFIED CHARITY.

INDIVIDUALS 701⁄2 YEARS OLD AND UP TO DONATE UP TO $100,000 DIRECTLY TO CHARITIES OR A DESIGNATED FUND. THIS GIFT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO INCREASE THEIR GIVING WITHOUT INCREASING THEIR TAXABLE INCOME.

THOSE WHO ARE 591⁄2 YEARS OLD CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY BY TAKING A DISTRIBUTION FROM THEIR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT AND CONTRIBUTING CASH UP TO 100% OF AGI. THIS ALLOWS THE 100% OF AGI OPPORTUNITY TO BE ATTAINABLE FOR MANY PEOPLE.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.

© Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to providing shooting-sports education and opportunities to school-age youths around the United States to encourage young athlete personal growth and development.
Tax-ID number 20-8484121.