Your charitable gifts to ESA contribute directly to our Society's ability to deliver on its promise of being an inclusive, equitable, and forward-looking scientific organization. Donations to the Fund for the Future contribute directly to the SEEDS (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability) program, and to students' ability to travel to the Annual Meeting under the Real/Brown Travel Grants. Your gifts may also go into the Opportunity Fund, which ESA uses
to take advantage of opportunities and support creative new efforts that could not be accomplished through our regular budget.
This year, ESA has the unique opportunity to make a statement with donor contributions. Gifts to the Opportunity Fund will be directed to the expansion of accessibility of 2019 Annual Meeting programming in Louisville, KY.
We hope to provide funding in support of travel to the meeting by those lacking institutional or grant support, including those affected by travel bans, and those who will bring diverse personal perspectives to the meeting theme of "Inclusion: an ecological imperative." Up to $30,000 of the funds raised for the Opportunity Fund will be directed to travel grants for the 2019 Annual Meeting. Finally, we will also be investing in new efforts to deliver as much virtual content from the Annual Meeting as possible, so as to include those who do not join us in Louisville.
Your generosity in support of these initiatives is greatly appreciated.
Laura Huenneke, President
