Donate to SVP

Theropod trackway, Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, Wyoming, photo credit: Thomas Holtz

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology is the premier global forum for vertebrate fossil research, preservation and advocacy. Your donations help us serve the global vertebrate paleontology community and are greatly appreciated.

Click here to access the online donation form. If you prefer to pay by check, checks (in US dollars only, please) may be mailed to:

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP)
1660 International Drive, Suite 600
McLean VA 22012
USA

Please make checks payable to "Society of Vertebrate Paleontology" or "SVP". Please indicate the name of the specific fund in the memo field of your check.

LEGACY LEAGUE FUND

Many of our activities, especially new initiatives, are supported by the Legacy League Fund, including our Diversity Meetup at the annual meeting and the Distinguished Lecturer Program in North America, South America, and Europe. New SVP initiatives supported by Legacy League funds include the Education and Outreach Fund and subsidies for childcare expenses to expand participation at our annual meetings.  Legacy League funds also support our many activities to protect fossil resources, including SVP Executive Committee members serving as expert witnesses in testimony to the U.S. Congress regarding cuts to national monuments, joining lawsuits against reductions to several fossil-rich national monuments, raising objections to the high-profile sales of significant vertebrate fossil specimens, and representing SVP on National Fossil Day with a table on the Mall in Washington, DC.  These activities strengthen our membership and raise our visibility with the broader scientific community and public, including lawmakers. We hope you agree that these activities are well worth supporting!

Donations to the following SVP funds will be used according to the terms of the fund unless otherwise noted:

COHEN AWARD FUND

The Steven Cohen Award for Student Research is to foster excellent student research in the study of vertebrate paleontology by making funds available to an exemplary student or students. The funds awarded may be used by students in support of field research, museum research, laboratory research or other academic research activities.  Particular consideration is given to proposals for research that is innovative, unpredictable, and unusual; research that has direct application to understanding and interpreting the vertebrate fossil record.

COLBERT PRIZE FUND

Established to recognize the best student poster presentation at the SVP Annual Meeting.

DAWSON GRANT FUND

The Mary R. Dawson Predoctoral Fellowship Grant recognizes and supports graduate student research excellence. This award recognizes research excellence and promote a successful career in Vertebrate Paleontology by supporting the recipient’s dissertation research travel, data collection and analyses.

ESTES MEMORIAL GRANT FUND

The Richard Estes Memorial Grant Fund was established to enhance graduate student research in non-mammalian vertebrate paleontology, with emphasis on systematics, morphology, biogeography and paleoecology.

FIELD TRAINING AWARD

The SVP Field Training Award is intended to support undergraduate and graduate students, early career paleontologists, preparators, land managers with responsibility for paleontological resources and others in vertebrate paleontology-related positions who can demonstrate a need for field training and the benefits of field training to their professional development in vertebrate paleontology.

GRAFF INTERNATIONAL PALEONTOLOGY AWARD FUND

This program was established to offer annual awards to promote opportunities for international scientists from nations with developing economies to present research at the SVP Annual Meeting. This program provides funding for travel expenses that prove to be an obstacle for scientists from developing nations.

HIX PREPARATORS' GRANT FUND

The Marvin and Beth Preparators' Grant Fund was established to further the field of vertebrate paleontology through preparation and study of methods and materials used to reveal and preserve fossil information. Preference is given to proposals for training and workshops — primarily travel expenses to learn or teach preparation.

JACKSON SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES STUDENT MEMBER TRAVEL GRANT FUND

Travel fund assistance awarded to selected Student Members whose abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the SVP Annual Meeting. Read more about the Jackson School of Geosciences Student Member Travel Grant.

LANZENDORF-NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PALEOART PRIZE FUND

The John J. Lanzendorf-National Geographic PaleoArt Prize was created to recognize outstanding achievements in art in vertebrate paleontology and is supported through the generosity of PaleoArt collector John J. Lanzendorf. Three awards are given in the categories of computer imaging and animation, two-dimensional art, three-dimensional art (sculpture), and scientific illustration.

PATTERSON MEMORIAL GRANT FUND

This award, named in honor of Dr. Bryan Patterson, supports innovative and venturesome student (undergraduate or graduate) field work in vertebrate paleontology. Particular consideration is given to proposals that are innovative rather than routine, venturesome rather than predictable, unusual rather than run of the mill.

ROMER PRIZE FUND

The Alfred Sherwood Romer Prize recognizes outstanding scientific contribution in vertebrate paleontology by a predoctoral student. It is awarded on the basis of the scientific value of the study and the quality of the oral presentation.

SKINNER AWARD FUND

The Morris F. Skinner Award honors outstanding and sustained contributions to scientific knowledge in the making of important collections of fossil vertebrates, or the encouragement, training and teaching of others in the field.

SVP FUTURES AWARD FUND

The SVP Futures Award is a new award supporting summer undergraduate research projects in vertebrate paleontology by students that identify as underrepresented ethnic minorities or people of color.  Funds will provide a competitive stipend and research costs, including travel for fieldwork.

WOOD AWARD FUND

The purpose of this award, named in honor of Dr. Albert E. Wood, is to support student research that involves museum or university vertebrate fossil or natural history collections.  Proposals must be for collection-based work on some aspect of vertebrate evolution, with special attention given to those that greatly enhance the value of fossil material already residing in collections.

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