Financial Need

Financial Assistance

WAC offers financial assistance so that a family’s income doesn’t decide whether a child can swim. Assistance is funded by fundraising, including the WAC Family Fund, and never by other families’ dues.

Who qualifies

A household qualifies if it is currently enrolled in a need-based government program: SNAP, Medicaid or FAMIS (Cardinal Care), WIC, or free or reduced-price school meals.

What to send

• The Financial Assistance Application, one per household, listing every swimmer
• Your most recently filed federal income tax return (Form 1040)
• A current letter or notice showing enrollment in one of those programs, dated within the last 12 months. A benefits card isn’t enough, because it doesn’t show current enrollment. You can download a current notice from CommonHelp or request one from Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282.

Please black out Social Security numbers on every document before you send it. We don’t need them and won’t keep them.

We may ask for additional information to help inform our decision, or for a clearer or more current copy of a document.

What assistance covers

• Up to 50% of program fees for each swimmer, for the fall–spring season, up to $2,500 per household. Any multi-swimmer discount is applied first.
• Not covered: summer fees, USA Swimming registration, meet entry fees, travel and equipment.
• Assistance lasts one season. To renew, apply again each year with current documents.
• Awards are made on a rolling basis while the season’s funds last. Applying doesn’t guarantee an award.

What we ask of every family

Families receiving assistance do what every WAC family does: Team Experience volunteer jobs at the meets their swimmers attend, good standing under our Codes of Conduct, and paying the remaining balance through monthly billing.

Privacy
Applications are kept strictly confidential and reviewed by the President and Treasurer only. The rest of the board sees totals, never names. We keep a record of the decision and the amount, and delete your tax return and enrollment documents once the decision is made.

How to apply

Email the application and all required documents to treasurer@swimwac.com