History and Overview

The Endowment Fund of the Popular Culture Association was established in 1997 as a commitment to the long-term future of study of Popular Culture and American Culture in all its forms, venues, contexts, and exchanges. Since that first group of contributors made an investment in the future of the organization and its role in priority research and critical inquiry, hundreds of individuals and organizations have contributed and helped to increase the Endowment to its current level of about $1,400,000.

What is distinctive and special about the Endowment is that it incorporates contributions of various levels and reflects broad-based support. An endowment is the hallmark of a professional academic organization which believes its work has substantial cultural significance and impact as well as long-term implications and applications. In 2024, the Endowment disbursed 73 grant awards in six categories, totaling $73,500. 

Goals

The overall fundraising goal for the Endowment is $2,000,000. This can only be reached by combination of large contributions and a steady flow of smaller amounts pledged over a period of time. Recently, two long time members of the Popular Culture Association have made the PCA Endowment part of their estate planning. Contributions are a confirmation of members’ acknowledgment that the Popular Culture Association has contributed substantially to promoting professional development and status and to providing research opportunities in exciting fields of study. Contributions also express a belief that new initiatives of the organization can only be achieved through such an endowment dedicated to beneficial goals.

The Endowment has four central goals:

1. To develop and sponsor initiatives which encourage scholarship and promote the dissemination of knowledge and new perspectives in Popular Culture Studies and American Culture Studies.
2. To stimulate and support the internationalization of the fields of Popular Culture Studies and American Culture Studies , broadly and inclusively conceived.
3. To encourage the collection and preservation of cultural artifacts  and materials needed by scholars and historians for study.
4. To increase professional recognition and the public visibility of the Popular Culture Association and to enhance the members’ roles as public scholars connected to society and culture.
   

Donate to the Endowment

To inquire about donating to the endowment, reach out to the Director of the Endowment:

Philip Simpson, Eastern Florida State College

philip@pcaaca.org

Join the "$55 Club"!

Endowment Bylaws