Projects

The Fund to Conserve partners with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations’ Office of Cultural Heritage to identify our nation’s diplomatic heritage buildings and collections in greatest need of preservation, conservation, and specialized repairs. The two entities work in tandem, and with ambassadors, consuls general and other senior officials stationed overseas, to establish priorities and a shared understanding of the funding necessary to ensure that our nation’s historic diplomatic assets will continue to serve for generations to come.

Once a priority project is identified and a funding target established, the ambassador or other senior official, with the assistance of the Office of Cultural Heritage, seeks fundraising authority. The Office works with State Department ethics attorneys to grant the authority on a case-by-case basis, and to establish maximum donation levels that may be solicited from prospective donors.

Ambassadorial engagement is essential to the success of each fundraising effort. The Fund to Conserve works with the Office of Cultural Heritage to maintain an effective working relationship with the ambassador and other senior staff at post. For instance, the campaign to establish an operating and maintenance endowment for the locally famous Hiawatha motor launch in Istanbul––nearing the halfway mark of its $2 million goal as of Fall 2024––was led by U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Jeffry L. Flake along with the active engagement of the former Deputy Chief of Mission Scott Oudkirk in Ankara and Consul General Julie Eadeh in Istanbul. The Fund to Conserve worked closely with all three, and their staffs at the Embassy in Ankara, Consulate General in Istanbul and the Office of Cultural Heritage in Washington, to identify donor prospects and create fundraising materials.

Materials produced by the Fund to Conserve for Hiawatha and our other fundraising projects include marketing and development tools developed in collaboration with the State Department and tailored to each campaign. Depending upon each effort’s scale and goals, they can include a case statement, lead and supporting donor giving levels, donation modalities, project phases, cost breakdowns, draft solicitation letters and the like. The Fund to Conserve researches and identifies potential contributors and partners, works with them to facilitate their gift, and ensures appropriate acknowledgement of their generosity. We believe all donations, whether $5 or $5 million, make a difference and deserve to be celebrated!

Explore our active projects below!