Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Gathering of Eagles Foundation (GOE)

The Gathering of Eagles Foundation is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization operating from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. Its core role is to preserve and celebrate the heritage of United States airpower while investing in the next generation of aviation and STEM leaders in the River Region around Montgomery. The foundation finances and enhances the Air Command and Staff College’s annual Gathering of Eagles program, which brings notable air, space and cyberspace pioneers (“Eagles”) to share their experiences with officers, students and the local community.

Role of the Gathering of Eagles Foundation in the funding ecosystem

The foundation provides financial support for GOE Week activities, including research, planning, promotion, Eagle guest travel, and associated social and educational events. In addition, it funds a portfolio of scholarships and sponsored educational experiences for youth and cadets. These include flight discovery experiences with the Red Tail Flight Academy, U.S. Space Camp programs in Huntsville, National Flight Academy participation, aviation and cyber academies, and other STEM-focused camps and initiatives.

Through these programs, the foundation covers or offsets program and camp costs for students, ROTC and JROTC cadets, and Civil Air Patrol members, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent participation in high-impact aviation and space education opportunities.

Target audiences and sectors supported

Funding is directed primarily toward:

• Air Force ROTC and JROTC cadets through the “Future Eagles” scholarships and other ROTC-focused awards.
• Youth aged roughly 9–18 in Alabama’s River Region, especially those interested in aviation, aerospace and STEM fields.
• Community partners and educational initiatives such as Civil Air Patrol, STARBASE and local school systems that promote STEM and airpower education.

The foundation partners with organizations like Montgomery Public Schools, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the National Flight Academy and the Red Tail Flight Academy Scholarship Foundation to deliver these funded experiences.

Publics accompanied and overall impact

Over many years, GOE-funded scholarships have supported hundreds of students and cadets, as evidenced by detailed lists of scholarship winners across multiple programs and years. Beyond direct financial aid, the foundation’s outreach activities—such as participation in STEAM festivals, robotics competitions and orientation flights for JROTC students—extend its impact by inspiring interest in flight, mathematics, engineering and military service.

By combining heritage programming with targeted educational funding, the Gathering of Eagles Foundation helps honor the legacy of past airpower pioneers while actively forging the futures of young people who may follow in their footsteps.