When the White Home proposed deep cuts to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, we launched our most bold advocacy marketing campaign ever. Greater than 83,000 letters went to Congress. Two Days of Motion introduced almost 250 citizen-advocates to Washington from 37 states. Over 20 associate organizations joined the hassle.
The end result: the Senate rejected all proposed cuts to NASA science. The Home totally funded Planetary Science and Astrophysics.
None of that occurs with out you. The Society’s advocacy work is funded by its members — your presents pay for the employees, infrastructure, and credibility that made it doable.
The struggle isn’t over. However final 12 months proved one thing vital: a well-organized, member-fueled marketing campaign can transfer Congress.
Dues and philanthropy: Understanding the distinction
Each spacecraft has two sorts of methods on board. The primary set of methods are foundational, like energy. With out these methods there is no such thing as a mission. The second set of methods assist tackle what the mission is for. That is the instrumentation that helps reply humanity’s age outdated questions.
Your membership dues are the primary type. They supply important help. They preserve the Society operational by protecting the baseline prices of working a corporation that advocates, educates, and engages on behalf of area exploration each single day.
Philanthropic presents, contributions past your annual or month-to-month membership, are the instrumentation. They fund the applications that push us past what we may in any other case do: the STEP Grants that help early-stage analysis, the Shoemaker NEO Grants that put extra eyes on near-Earth asteroids, the advocacy campaigns that defend NASA funding, and new, rising initiatives that merely can’t exist with out additional
help.
This distinction issues as a result of it modifications the best way you may take into consideration your relationship with the Society. Your membership says: I consider on this group. A philanthropic reward says: I need to be a part of what it does subsequent.
To study extra about how philanthropic presents are put to work, try our common impression stories at www.planetary.org/impression, get in contact instantly at [email protected] or go to planetary.org/giving. Our crew is at all times joyful to share extra in regards to the work that you just empower.
Constitution member highlight: Herbert Thompson
1. What was the precise mission or second that first impressed you to affix The Planetary Society?
I used to be 19 after I acquired an invite from Carl Sagan to affix the Planetary Society in late 1980 or early 1981. My brother and I had watched Cosmos on PBS and had been already subscribed to a number of science magazines. I can nonetheless really feel the thrill of receiving the primary Planetary Report and the invitation to Planet Fest 1981. Investing in a future guided by science, purpose, exploration, and love for our planet was interesting to me then and nonetheless is right this moment. I noticed Carl, Bruce, and Louie as mentors, not distant icons. They requested, and I answered. Easy.
