In the MIAA, need-based financial aid is "endorsed" but not required - schools that provide financial aid for reasons other than need simply need to report aid given:

"e) The Association endorses only need-based financial aid and recommends that assistance to students be granted only on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Any member school that awards financial assistance not based upon determined need to students who participate in Association contest is required annually to submit a disclosure statement of such assistance, detailing both the number of grants and the amount of aid granted, to the Executive Director for inclusion in the Annual Report of the Association."

Prior to the implementation of the above rule, there was a strict prohibition on aid solely for athletics. I'm fairly certain that Poggi led that charge to change the rules towards the end of his time at Gilman or when he started at SFA.