World Monuments Fund has completed an endowment campaign 18 months ahead of schedule, raising 62 million dollars for heritage preservation. The organization says the campaign tripled its endowment net assets. Its funding supports conservation training and research, field projects and responses to cultural heritage endangered by war and natural disasters, with separate funds for those activities.
World Monuments Fund, a New York organization that protects historic places worldwide, announced 62 million dollars in endowment fundraising. It completed the campaign 18 months ahead of schedule. The organization says the donations tripled its endowment net assets. Income from that fund will support conservation education and research, crisis response and preservation work in the field.[1], [2]
The fundraising began publicly less than a year ago during the organization’s anniversary celebrations. The Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, a charitable foundation, offered 50 cents for each dollar donated, covering up to 40 million dollars in donations. That made its maximum matching contribution 20 million dollars. Philanthropist Suzanne Deal Booth contributed another 10 million dollars toward the preservation institute bearing her name.[1]
The Suzanne Deal Booth Institute for Heritage Preservation secured 21 million dollars in endowed funds for training, research and professional development. A separate 1 million dollar gift supports the organization’s Crisis Response Program after war and natural disasters. Field projects received 4 million dollars, while a 2 million dollar endowment supports World Monuments Watch, the biennial programme identifying threatened heritage sites.[1]
