Posted on December 29, 2025.
Special gifts are creating a legacy for our conservation programs in Madagascar
The Duke Lemur Center is delighted to share exciting news: Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Charles Welch and Andrea Katz Fund has crossed a major milestone—total gifts and pledges now exceed $300,000!
This achievement brings us closer to an important goal: Once all pledges are fulfilled over the next four years, the fund will meet Duke University’s minimum threshold for a restricted endowment and officially become The Charles Welch and Andrea Katz Conservation Fund. From that point forward, the endowment’s earnings will provide permanent support for the Duke Lemur Center’s conservation work in Madagascar—creating a lasting impact for generations to come.
“We hope this fund will continue to grow and become a reliable source of support for our work in Madagascar,” shared Greg Dye, Executive Director. “For donors who are deeply committed to community-led conservation and protecting Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, the Welch and Katz Fund offers a meaningful option for special* gifts.”
Malagasy students help reforestation efforts led by the DLC-SAVA Conservation Team. Learn more about our restoration work in our latest conservation newsletter by clicking on the photo above.
The Charles Welch and Andrea Katz Fund
This endowment honors Andrea Katz and Charlie Welch’s extraordinary contributions to our conservation programs in Madagascar and offers donors a powerful way to make a lasting difference—whether through gifts today or future bequests.
Progress as of December 29, 2025
Total Pledges and Gift Payments Received: $307,108.23
Next Steps
Continue to promote and invite special* gifts to strengthen and grow this fund as a vital and enduring resource for the Duke Lemur Center’s Madagascar conservation work
How to contribute to the fund
To provide a special gift* or pledge toward the Charles Welch and Andrea Katz Fund, you can give or pledge online.
Alternatively, you may write a check to “Duke University.” Please include “Welch + Katz Fund #6119150” in the memo section and/or on an attached note/letter and mail it to:
Duke Lemur Center
c/o Office of Gift Records
Box 90581
Durham, NC 27708-0581
If you wish to make or update an existing legacy gift commitment to designate The Charles Welch and Andrea Katz Fund as the designated purpose for all or part of your eventual gift, complete a new legacy gift commitment form and mail it to the address on the form, or email it as a digital file to Mary Paisley at mary.paisley@duke.edu.
Questions about the Charles Welch and Andrea Katz Fund? Contact Mary Paisley, Duke Lemur Center Development Director, at mary.paisley@duke.edu or 919.401.7252
*Annual Gifts Still Matter! Gifts to our general fund remain our most urgent need as flexible, dependable support to keep the Duke Lemur Center running—ensuring that our mission continues even when other funding fluctuates.
