The annual appeal helps support gesneriad research and education by ensuring that grant money is available for students and researchers.  We ask you to consider a generous tax-deductible donation to one or both of the following funds:

The Elvin McDonald Research Endowment Fund  (EMREF) supports gesneriad research. In 2011 Cassandra L. Coleman received a grant for her work on pollinators in the genus Gasteranthus.

The Nellie D. Sleeth Scholarship Endowment Fund (NDSSEF) supports the education of students interested in the Gesneriaceae. Laura Clavijo Romero was the Sleeth Scholar for 2011 with a grant for her work on the genus Drymonia.

These two Endowment Funds receive no money from membership dues – they are supported solely by donations. Your donation will ensure that these funds remain healthy and growing as we continue to award grants and scholarships to deserving students and researchers.

Previous recipients of research and scholarship funds include John L. Clark, Ph.D., Marcela Mora, John R. Clark, Ph.D., Jermey Keene, Vincent Woo, Eric Roalson, and Bruce Holst.