Posted by Mary Paisley, DLC Development Director on October 2, 2025.
We’re thrilled to announce that this past week, we received a new gift of just over $24,000 from a 2019 Madagascar tour participant toward the Charles Welch and Andrea Katz Fund!
This gift, added to the 57 other gifts we’ve received toward the fund since it was created by five founding donors one year ago, brings total payments thus far to $171,988.72. This marks a significant step toward our goal in celebration of the lifelong conservation work of Charlie Welch and Andrea Katz.
“We’re thrilled to see the progress of this new, special fund honoring the career and impact of Charlie Welch and Andrea Katz,” says Executive Director Greg Dye. “Thanks to everyone who has made it possible!”
The Welch and Katz Fund has already begun to generate revenues to support the Duke Lemur Center’s work in perpetuity. The fund will be formally named the Charles Welch and Andrea Katz Conservation Fund when it reaches $300,000 in payments/receipts, the current minimum funding level for a restricted endowment with Duke University. At that point, the revenues generated by this endowment fund will be formally dedicated specifically to the DLC’s Madagascar conservation work—in perpetuity.
So, drum-roll please…
Here is the grand total as of 10/2/2025 of pledges, pledge payments and single gifts toward the fund:
$121,008.23 from 48 single gift payments
$50,980.39 from 10 pledge payments
$91,519.61 in pledges from nine total donors, to be paid within 3-4 years
… Totaling $263,508.23 for gifts, pledge payments, and pending gifts from pledges.
We aim to raise $300,000, so we are at 87.8% of this goal with just $36,491.77 in gifts and pledges needed to reach and exceed surpass that goal!
Will you consider a special pledge or gift toward this fund?
While gifts to our general fund to support our current budget needs are our highest priority, we also welcome gifts to support our future through this special endowment fund, honoring Charlie and Andrea’s conservation legacy:
- A gift in honor of the animal/nature lover in your life
- IRA/QCD Qualified Charitable Distribution
- Stock gift
- A multi-year pledge
- A monthly gift
- Name the fund as a beneficiary of your IRA/fund/policy as a future gift – learn more
Join us in making history. This fund is more than a financial goal: It’s a tribute to two people whose work has shaped the future of lemur conservation. With your help, we can ensure their legacy continues to inspire and protect Madagascar’s incredible biodiversity for generations to come.
Learn more about the Welch and Katz Fund and how you can contribute. Questions? Contact Mary Paisley, DLC Development Director, at mary.paisley@duke.edu or (919) 401.7252.
