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Geological Society of America Foundation

The mission of the Geological Society of America Foundation is We are deeply appreciative
to develop and provide funds to support the goals and programs of of those who include the
the Geological Society of America. These funds are distributed Foundation in their estate plans;
according to the needs of the Society and in a manner consistent Legacy Circle gifts are vital to
with the desire of the donors. unrestricted funding. In Fiscal Year 2022, we received nearly
The responsibilities of the Foundation are twofold: (1) to support US$175,000 from bequests. While many annual contributions meet
GSA programs, and (2) to preserve the Foundation’s assets for an immediate need, these usually unrestricted legacy gifts can
the future. ensure support far beyond current needs and, often, on a larger
scale. They allow GSA leadership to plan for important priorities of
2021–2022 Highlights the Society or new initiatives that would not otherwise be possible.
In a second consecutive year of challenging, uncertain circum- Over the past year, we learned of eight additional donors who are
stances across the globe, donors to GSA through the Foundation con- including GSA, through the Foundation, in their planned giving.
tinued a robust showing of support: In FY2022, the GSA Foundation The GSA Foundation’s student giving circle,
received Annual Campaign contributions of more than US$1.25M Tektonikos – Building the Future, had another strong
from individual GSA members and corporations. There were 7,040 showing, with 1,350 donors from our student member-
separate gifts at all levels from over 5,700 donors (almost 30% of ship. We are eager to engage and encourage this group
members), a testament to the dedication of steadfast supporters. to remain involved as the future of the Society’s membership and
While it has been a fruitful last year, we are looking ahead leadership.
eagerly: We can make a still greater impact. With graphics like the Our spring mini-campaign supported On To the Future, bring-
one below, we aim to build awareness across all of GSA’s member- ing students from underrepresented groups to their first GSA
ship, beyond our current donors, about the value of giving back to meeting by covering registration, a year’s membership, a travel
the Society. Our loyal base of donors gives year after year. We hope stipend, and pairing with a one-to-one mentor. A longtime donor
to reach the remaining 70% of GSA’s membership with the message once again matched your contributions up to US$10,000, a chal-
that small gifts from many members make a big difference in what lenge this member has offered for a number of years to bolster this
GSA can offer. You will see more of these facts and figures in the important initiative.
year ahead, as we encourage every member to find their own fit in The GSA Foundation was able to provide funding for a record
service to GSA and support of the Foundation as we work together 30 J. David Lowell Field Camp Scholarships—10 more than when
to ensure the strength and presence of the geosciences. the program was solely funded by a corporate sponsor. This year-
end campaign kicked off on Giving Tuesday, including a donor’s
US$10,000 matching challenge to fellow supporters. Helping stu-
(Potential) dents obtain vital field experience remains a passion of our GSA
Support by the Numbers
members. Organizational partner Brunton upped their contribu-
tion to match this increase in scholarships by providing thirty
Of GSA members 6,128 donate to GSAF to support engraved Transit compasses to recipients.
programs that benefit
30.5% 20,075 members and beyond
If every member gave simply

the price of a coffee from a cafe, it would 50 On To the Future grants to
fund the cost of our Science Policy Fellow serve those from groups under-
represented in the geosciences
or it could provide...

If the members who have yet to contribute gave
just $5 each, 35 GSA student members could
receive scholarships toward a field camp of their
. choice—a hallmark of many geoscientists’ training
Did you know...
Just 313 gave
as part of GSA CARES during the
members $60,000 COVID pandemic, and that all but 8
were regular donors?
to help provide assistance to
836
student members
You get the point. Join your peers in helping your Stories like this and of many other GSA program recipients can
organization provide the very best. It doesn’t take a lot of $. be found on the Foundation’s News & Events page of our website
It just takes a lot of us.
https://gsa-foundation.org (https://gsa-foundation.org/news-events/).

26 Annual Program Report | FY 2022