Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Shearwater Aviation Museum Foundation (SAMF)

The Shearwater Aviation Museum Foundation is a charitable foundation dedicated to supporting the Shearwater Aviation Museum and safeguarding the legacy of Canadian military maritime aviation. Working alongside the museum, the foundation mobilizes donations, memberships, sponsorships and other fundraising initiatives in order to channel financial resources toward the preservation, interpretation and promotion of this specialized area of Canadian history.

Beyond general operating support for the museum, the foundation explicitly notes that it assists with funding for the development of products and educational opportunities for organizations. This includes supporting educational projects, interpretive tools and programming that share the stories of the maritime aviation community with families, schools and the broader public.

The foundation’s support is focused on initiatives that protect and promote the heritage of Canadian military maritime aviation. Typical uses of funds include conservation and presentation of collections, development of exhibits, educational materials and programs, and storytelling projects that highlight the community’s shared history. By raising money through memberships, donations, commemorative wall tiles, raffles and an online store, the foundation is able to redistribute resources to the museum and related educational partners.

The Shearwater Aviation Museum Foundation primarily serves the Shearwater Aviation Museum but, through that relationship, benefits veterans, serving personnel, their families, local communities, researchers and visitors from across Canada. Its funding contributes to a high-quality visitor experience at the museum and helps ensure that artifacts, archives and stories connected to Canadian naval and maritime aviation are preserved for future generations.

The foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors elected annually at the Annual General Meeting, reinforcing its community-based nature and accountability to supporters. It actively invites individuals to become members, donors or volunteers, and offers recognition opportunities such as personalized “Wall of Honour” tiles. Through these mechanisms, the foundation sustains a network of supporters whose contributions are transformed into tangible financial support for museum projects and educational outreach.