We are extremely pleased to announce that an anonymous donor has established a special limited-time fund (called the Heard Island Expedition Angel Fund), designating up to $50,000 as matching gifts to benefit the Expedition. The fund is aimed at encouraging individuals and organizations not already part of the fundraising program to make significant contributions to the Project.

Although the donor wishes to remain anonymous, he has retained a professional financial manager as Administrator to oversee and manage the fund, and to ensure its legal and appropriate administration. The Administrator provided the following extract from the donor’s Letter of Authorization:

The Heard Island Expedition is particularly important for several reasons, including the opportunity to understand the effects of climate change, the dynamics of biological communities in extreme environments, and the worldwide interest in radio communications with this extraordinarily remote and very-seldom-visited location (the last expedition was more than a decade ago). Above all, it is the certainty of making significant scientific discoveries that excites our imagination and drives our efforts to find resources for the expedition.

The purpose of the Fund is to stimulate major donations to complete the projected funding of the Expedition ($800,000). Any qualified donation to the operating account of the Expedition will generate a matching amount from the Angel Fund. Success of the Fund will generate $100,000, which, together with the other assured sources of funds (e.g., participants fees, foundations, clubs, online donations, etc.), will be sufficient to ensure full funding of the Expedition.

The Angel Fund will be managed according to a set of rules stipulated by the donor, including:

Time Period: Dec. 21, 2014 – March 31, 2015

Eligibility: Any individual or organization not already listed in the Expedition balance sheet as expected revenue sources.

Minimum donation: $1000. Any group, such as a club, an employee group, or simply a group of friends, may collect smaller donations to meet the minimum, but the donation must be made under the name of the group.

All donations will be fully acknowledged in a special section of the website and other documents of record, and will be tax-deductible to the extent provided by the law for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Additions: Donations of $5000 or larger can elect to be added to the Angel Fund, thereby enabling further matching donations.

The donor makes it clear that, although his principal motivation is to ensure that the scientific projects of the expedition are funded, the Angel Fund will benefit the entire project:

“While I am personally motivated primarily by the spectacular opportunity to “Discover Life in the Extremes,” the other important activities of the Expedition, including the radio operations, real-time communications, documenting and summiting of the volcano, and outreach through images, films, and websites will benefit from the Angel Fund, since the fund is not activity-specific.”

The donor also offered special benefits to Angel Fund donors, including a live satellite phone call from Heard Island, signed photos from the Expedition, copies of books and other documents, private meetings with the team, and various similar benefits.

If you are interested in making a contribution under this matching gift program, or wish more information about the program, please contact the Administrator: Dr. Anders Jepsen atAJViking@aol.com.

21 Dec. 2014