Linguistic Legacy Fund




You too can make a linguistic legacy your lasting gift! The goal of the Linguistic Legacy Fund is to establish an endowment that will secure the financial future of the Linguistic Society of America so we can continue to support the development, dissemination, and application of linguistic scholarship for the advancement of knowledge and betterment of society through research, practice, and teaching.

Frankly, in spite of all of our best efforts – including cutting costs, building a new website, establishing new automated membership outreach campaigns, changing staffing models, securing a new publishing partnership, and launching two highly successful Annual Fund campaigns – the LSA is still not on firm financial ground. 
 
The LSA used to get about one-third of its revenue from the Annual Meeting. Due to the vastly increased cost of holding an Annual Meeting, and the constraints on travel funds so many linguists are facing, the Annual Meeting now breaks even in a good year. While we will continue to search for ways to cut expenses, a real solution for our society is going to depend on establishing new revenue streams.

Our goal for the Linguistic Legacy Fund is to establish an endowment of $2,000,000, which would produce enough revenue on an annual basis to replace the revenue that we used to receive from our Annual Meeting. It would put the LSA on a firm financial footing, and it would allow us to adapt and grow along with the changing needs of linguists and the rapidly changing realities of our national and global context. 
 

You are warmly invited become a member of the Linguistic Legacy Club 

You can become a member of the Linguistic Legacy Club in two different ways. The first option is to make a direct donation to to the Linguistic Legacy Fund. If you would like to make a direct donation to the Linguistic Legacy Fund, click here. 
  

The second option is to let us know that you have recognized the LSA in your estate plans. Some Linguistic Legacy Club members have designated a percent of their estate, others have designated a specific amount. If you are interested in becoming a Linguistic Legacy Club member through an estate gift, or want to learn more about this initiative, please send an email to lsa@lsadc.org with the subjection line "Linguistic Legacy Club." 

 

Linguistic Legacy Club Members

Josep Alba-Salas
Mark Aronoff
Kathryn Campbell-Kibler
Andries Coetzee
Jennifer Cole
Jon Coltz
Susan Fischer
Heidi Harley
Bruce Hayes
Brian Joseph
Jay Keyser
Hadas Kotek
Terry Langendoen
Wayne Lawrence
Monica Macauley and Joseph Salmons
Joan Maling
Sally McConnell-Ginet
Frederick Newmeyer
Susan Steele
  

Statement from Susan Steele, Linguistic Legacy Club Member

I’m in the process of revising my will – for the third time.  The first one was written when our kids were young and their future needed to be secured; the second one was written after they were on their own, but not yet fully established.  At this point in their lives – and mine –  I can think about the financial security of other entities to which I am committed. My plan for my third will is to divide my estate into thirds – one third to each child; one third to my other commitments.  A major component of the last third is the Linguistic Society of America.  I have made regular contributions to the LSA for roughly fifty years, to acknowledge its value to me. By including the LSA in my will, I hope to ensure that it will continue to be a valuable part of the lives of future linguists.