Report of the Committee on Development
for the Year Ending June 30, 1998

Sigma Xi continues to make significant progress in its fund-raising, through a host of related activities. A large part of this year's development effort concentrated on the major gifts campaign for the Sigma Xi Center, which will have borne fruit by the time this report is presented to Delegates at the Annual Assembly. Because of these efforts, fiscal year 1999 promises to be the most successful fund-raising year on record for Sigma Xi.

Overall contributions to the Society in fiscal year 1998, which ended July 30, totaled more than $625,000, including donations of more than $196,000 from Sigma Xi members and friends in the Society's annual giving program. The annual giving program provides unrestricted funds to further the work of the Society and remains an important part of our development effort. The campaign to build the Sigma Xi Center received $116,424 during fiscal year 1998.

Funding for the Grants-in-Aid of Research program was also strong this year, with contributions of more than $206,000. This includes a gift of $55,000, the second payment from the bequest of the late Roland Queneau, a long-time member whose estate provided $250,000 to the Grants-in-Aid program during fiscal year 1997 along with an equal amount to the campaign to build the Sigma Xi Center. Volunteer contributions to the Grants-in-Aid of Research program continue to be important given the intense competition for research funds that many beginning scientists face.

Sigma Xi received $20,000 from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund in support of the 1997 Forum in Washington, D.C., on industrial innovation and the 1998 Forum on international cooperation in science and technology November 12-13 in Vancouver, British Columbia. We also received another grant of $25,000 from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to support an equipment and computer database update for the Media Resource Service. This will make the service more efficient in helping journalists locate experts in science and technology to interview for their news and feature stories. The work supported by the grant has continued into fiscal year 1999.

This year the Communities Foundation of Texas contributed $5,000 to the endowment for the John P. McGovern Award, which will allow us to increase the level of support for this annual Sigma Xi award. This was the latest in a series of gifts from the Foundation. The McGovern Lecture continues to be one of the highlights of our annual meeting.

Several strong communications efforts during the year have helped to further our fund-raising goals. The 1997 Annual Report offered one of the best overviews of the organization and its activities. This has proven to be a valuable publication to send to funding prospects, as well as a useful way to recognize those who have supported the Society during the year. Another publication celebrating 75 years of the Grants-in-Aid of Research program went out to all active Sigma Xi members during the year and has resulted in several large gifts for the program.

Many members of the staff of Sigma Xi were also among the Society's contributors in fiscal year 1998. I would like to express my appreciation again on behalf of the Society to them and to members of the Sigma Xi Board of Directors who have contributed during the year. This strong statement of support from the Society's leadership is important to our overall fund-raising efforts. The Committee on Development particularly appreciates those 56 members and friends who are part of the Companions Club, which recognizes donors of $500 or more during the fiscal year.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this report, fiscal 1998 represented a year of significant groundwork for our development efforts. The recent upgrade of the Society's computer and communications capabilities will be a big help in fund-raising as these efforts enter a more intense phase in fiscal 1999 and beyond. With the continued support of members and friends, Sigma Xi can look forward to building on its traditions and expanding its horizons in support of the research enterprise.

Lawrence Kushner, Chair, Committee on Development
George Buglairello
William F. Little
Raymond P. Lutz
Alan H. McGowan
F. Thomas Wooten