Generous AAAS Funders Reflect Support
for Advancing Science, Serving Society

Since January 1, AAAS has received hundreds of unrestricted gifts from generous funders around the country. These gifts to the AAAS Fund for Excellence give the Association the means to help bring scientific solutions to bear on pressing social issues.

"What all these donors have in common," says AAAS CEO Alan Leshner, "is that they recognize AAAS's effectiveness in addressing fundamental needs across the sciences. We are very grateful not only for their assistance, but also their votes of confidence."

This special kind of investment in the work of AAAS is epitomized by a $50,000 contribution from David and Beth Shaw. Shaw is the Association's treasurer. In giving an unrestricted gift to the fund, the Shaws have underwritten the broad spectrum of AAAS program areas, including science education, policy analysis, and sustainable development.

The most generous gift, announced in February, is a $5.25 million contribution from William T. Golden, a pivotal figure in the history of American science policy and treasurer-emeritus of AAAS. This gift establishes the William T. Golden Endowment Fund for Program Innovation, which will support creative new programs that focus on pressing issues outside of the Association's normal budget.

The Fund for Excellence also received:

• a bequest of $6,700 from the estate of Canadian member Browni Paquet, earmarked for use by Science;
• more than $7,200 to-date from alumni of the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships Program, who have established the Teachers' Enrichment in Science and Technology Policy Fund to mark the program's 30th anniversary this year;
• $6,500 to-date from dozens of U.S. federal employees through AAAS's first year of participation in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC #9850); and
• numerous contributions, up to $1,000 each, from AAAS members and friends around the world through the Association's Web site (aaasdev.aaas.org/giving/donate.shtml).

Overall, unrestricted giving to AAAS has increased 146% in three years, while the number of participating donors has gone up 117%.

—Arnold Phifer

8 May 2003