Donations

There are a variety of ways that interested individuals can support SSAR’s efforts. Please consider donating to the special projects and restricted funds listed below or giving an unrestricted donation to support the general mission of SSAR.

To support the ongoing mission of the SSAR, consider donating directly and securely using PayPal:

Before you confirm your donation on PayPal, you may add special instructions to direct your gift to one of SSAR’s special funds if you so desire (described below), or give to where we need it most.

You can also donate directly to SSAR Endowments and Funds via the Truman Heartland Community Foundation or search for a specific SSAR fund here to donate.

SSAR Special Projects

Founders Fellowships are awarded to students who have not yet reached the college/university level and cover registration costs for the students and their chaperones (if needed) to attend the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists or SSAR conferences.

The Conference Mentorship program pairs students with professional herpetologists or more advanced students to help them navigate and network at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists or SSAR annual meeting. Former participants have enthusiastically shared comments about the benefits of the program.

“Thank you for doing this for us. As an aspiring herpetological researcher, I know my world was significantly expanded by this mentorship program.”

“I think it has been a great effort…to try to pair people with similar interest. That could be one of the keys for the future success of the program.”

“Overall, an amazing experience, the mentorship program only added to the entire thing. I definitely think you should keep this one going!”

SSAR Restricted Funds

The SSAR Restricted Funds support publications, student research grants, and student awards.

• The Bailey Endowment consists of proceeds from the sale of the Bailey library and is used to support book-length publications.
• The Roger Conant Grants in Herpetology Endow Fund was established with the proceeds from the sale of Roger Conant’s library and is used to support student research grants.
• The Marty Crump Endowment for Pre-College Students was established to support the pre-college student as part of the Founders Fellowship.
• The Contributions to Herpetology Fund is used to support the publication of books in the Contributions to Herpetology series.
• The Harold A. Dundee Endowment is used to support manuscript publications.
• The Carl Gans Traveling Fellowship Endowment provides funding to support attendance of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and exceptional undergraduates to attend JMIH events and separate meetings of any of the JMIH herpetological societies.
• The Robert E. Gordon Endowment is used to support book-length publications.
• The Victor H. Hutchison Endowment was established from the sale of Victor Hutchison’s library and is used to support student poster awards.
• The Kennedy Award Endowment supports the J. P. Kennedy Award for a significant student paper in the Journal of Herpetology.
• The Margarita Metallinou Endowment was established in memory of Dr. Margarita Metallinou to support postdoctoral travel to SSAR conferences.
• The Dean E. Metter Endowment is used to fund grants to support field research in herpetology.
• The Sherman A. Minton Endowment is used to support student travel to meetings.
• The Marion Preest Endowment for Pre-College Scholars was established to sponsor students in the Founder’s Fellows program and specifies that preference will be given to non-USA students.
•  The Henri C. Seibert and Ernest A. Liner Fund provides the monetary awards given to the Seibert Award winners for students talks at the meetings, and provides support for early career herpetologists.
• The Special Publication Reserve Fund supports book-length contributions.
• The Student Travel Fund is used to support student travel to the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists or SSAR conferences.
• The Richard Wahlgren Endowment was established to support publications in herpetological history and bibliography.
• The Weinkle Family Endowment for Pre-College Scholars was established to fund the Founders Fellowship pre-college scholars program, which provides mechanisms for pre-college students interested in herpetology to interact with peers and professional herpetologists and travel to annual meetings.

If you wish to make a specialized donation (for a specific purpose other than those listed above or as a bequest), then please contact the Treasurer in advance to discuss how your gift can be used. SSAR Financial Reports are available upon request (contact) and our most recent tax return is available. Please contact the Treasurer (treasurer@ssarherps.org) if you have any questions.

SSAR is a registered 501(c)3 organization and a letter documenting your donation for tax purposes may be requested by adding special instructions to your Paypal donation, contacting us, or contacting the Treasurer directly.

If you prefer to send a check, please make it out to SSAR, care of the Treasurer, and contact the Treasurer for mailing information (treasurer@ssarherps.org).