A Home for ASOR—April Update on Challenge Gift
ASOR’s New Home, located in Old Town, Alexandria, VA
When ASOR was established in 1900, our office was one large room in a Jerusalem hotel. During the past 119 years, we have dramatically expanded our scholarly capacity and public outreach—both abroad and in North America. By 1925, we built a permanent home in Jerusalem. Yet in North America, we moved frequently, from one host institution to another. Now, it is time for ASOR to establish an independent headquarters to serve our broadened constituencies. In January 2018, we set the goal to of raising $1.5 million to purchase, furnish, and maintain an enduring home for ASOR in Alexandria, VA—our Board having determined that the Washington, D.C., area is the location of greatest strategic benefit to our mission.
As of April 2, 2019, we are thrilled to report that we moving ever closer to our goal! Indeed, during the past thirteen months, ASOR’s generous friends have donated almost $1 million in gifts and pledges to the Building Fund. Buoyed by these donations, we are under contract to purchase an office building located at 209 Commerce Street in Alexandria. We started moving in on March 20th (see article on the move), and we will close on the purchase on April 24th!
We are also thrilled to report that a new challenge gift of $450,000 will ensure that ASOR meets and even exceeds our $1.5 million goal. We only need to meet two challenges to “earn” this additional $450,000:
- First, we need to demonstrate that we are all behind the purchase of ASOR’s new home and ASOR’s other initiatives by securing “450 for $450,000”: that’s 450 donors donating $10 or more to ASOR in this fiscal year (July ’18-June ’19). As of April 2nd, we are at 220 donors, so we need gifts from 230 more individuals, companies, or organizations.
- Second, we need to match the challenge of $450,000 by raising $225,000 in new gifts and pledges (made after February 1st), or $1 for every $2 of the donor’s gift. And we are well on our way, as we have received pledges of $144,500 in the past month—so we only need $80,500 more.
How You Can Help. We are almost there! If you have not already made a gift, please consider joining the “450 for $450,000” campaign by donating to ASOR before June 30, 2019 (all gifts, including programs other than the building qualify). If you have already pledged or made a gift to support our new home, please think about increasing your gift or pledge to the building so that we can raise the last $80,500 needed to qualify for this $450,000 challenge.
To recognize your support, we offer naming opportunities at the following levels:
- Naming of conference room or floor = $300,000
- Naming of an individual office (sizes vary) = $100,000 – $250,000
- Name recognition on smaller office spaces = $25,000 – $99,999
- Name on plaque recognizing major donors = $10,000 or more
- Name on a plaque recognizing all donors at “brick” level or higher = $250 or more
OTHER WAYS TO DONATE
| Donate By Phone | Donate By Mail | Make A Pledge (Donate Later) |
|---|---|---|
| Call ASOR: 703-789-9229 |
ASOR 209 Commerce St. Alexandria, VA 22314 |
E-mail ASOR |
