With the enthusiastic encouragement of Clark Howell, The Leakey Foundation launched the F. Clark Howell Endowment Campaign in 2006 to increase the size of our endowment.

Clark served as Chairman Emeritus of the Foundation’s Scientific Executive Committee, and was a valued Trustee of the Board. This campaign is a lasting tribute to his unparalleled achievement in the field and classroom.

This special endowment-building initiative in memory of Clark will raise $7.5 million to benefit human origins research and learning.

THE FINAL PHASE

Since the launch of the F. Clark Howell Endowment Campaign, The Leakey Foundation has raised over $6 million. Clark assisted the Foundation in raising these funds, and until his passing in March 2007, was engaged, and willing to lend his voice or an idea to help make the campaign a success.

Now, we need your help with this final phase to reach our goal! Please make a thoughtful gift in honor of Clark’s life and work.

The Leakey Foundation understands that this type of gift may take great consideration and pause for thought. Your contribution may be paid over time, in installments, and will be matched 1:1 by Chairman Gordon Getty.

NOW IS THE TIME

Clark understood that the funding of research related to human origins would soon fall completely on the shoulders of a few sources, as universities and other major institutions cut back their financial support. He emphasized that these other resources would focus on more traditional, large-scale projects, which would leave little room for the younger, inspired field researcher.

As key sites throughout the world are quickly and quietly disappearing, Clark expressed the urgency to raise this money now to ensure that the discoveries yet to be made would not be lost forever.

A graphic example of how the increase of the endowment dramatically expands our grant capability; the $6.1 million already raised in pledges and cash, (assuming paid over five years and fully vested) will provide $60,000 more to grants the first year, $120,000 the second year, and so on.

CLOSING THE FUNDING GAP

At present, The Leakey Foundation is able to fund only a small number of the well qualified, promising proposals in its semi-annual Granting Sessions because the funds are simply not available. The organization’s endowment base has performed admirably, but is simply insufficient to meet the demands of today’s research and discovery.

Sadly, a funding gap of just a few thousand dollars for groundbreaking research is the difference between a remarkable discovery and the permanent loss of crucial knowledge.

By increasing the size of the Foundation’s endowment, we can provide more funds, faster.