RSA Board Takes Action on Development Initiatives
At its November meeting in New Orleans, the RSA Board of Directors approved a couple of fundraising initiatives that were recommended by its new Development Council and that you will notice as you interact with RSA in the coming months. These efforts are meant to give members an opportunity to make charitable contributions to RSA that will enable the Society to serve its members more effectively.
First, the Board established two funds to which members may wish to contribute: the Corbett Fund for New Initiatives and the Lauer Fund for Graduate Student Support. The first, which honors former RSA President Edward P. J. Corbett (who was a founder of the Society and its leader for many years), will provide future RSA presidents with discretionary funding to seed and encourage new initiatives within RSA. The second, which honors RSA Fellow and Yoos Award winner Janice Lauer Rice (who has dedicated much of her career to graduate student education), will provide assistance to graduate students (e.g., as support for student chapters, or research support, or similar activities as determined by the Executive Director).
Both funds will become active when they reach a specific threshold—probably beyond $10,000. When they reach that amount, the income derived from investment of that endowment money will be devoted to the activities specified. Over time the income will, it is hoped, become substantial enough to make a significant difference. Both the Corbett and Lauer endowments have been initiated with some lead gifts, and the RSA Board has also pledged to match the first $10,000 contributed to each endowment with funds from RSA reserves.
Second, in the coming months and years, you will be invited to contribute to these funds (and perhaps to others that are now in the works); members may also contribute to the general revenues of the Society, if they wish. Most immediately you will see in your annual dues notice a way for you to give, and to specify where your gifts might go. In addition, you will soon see a place on the RSA web site where gifts may be made. You can expect to see other occasional solicitations as our Development Council continues its efforts, and you will receive regular reports about RSA endowments and how the income is used.
Of course all contributions to RSA are completely voluntary and are tax deductible.
In the coming months the Development Council will be looking at further possibilities for new endowments and working out ways to recognize those who give to RSA. Watch for additional announcements in RSA E-Bulletins.