SEPE: Donations and Benefits

	Donations: Donations to and benefits of the South Sinai (El-Markha) and East Delta (Tell Tebilla) projects. Background: It is intended, through the raising of public and corporate funding, to provide more financial assistance and training for Canadian and American students, to assist the local economy and people within the project’s region of focus, and to expand the parameters of the archaeological scope and results envisaged for the Sinai-Delta projects. For more information about these projects, please consult the pertinent sections in this web site. Children in the village beside Tell Tebilla. (Photo: P. Carstens)
	Fund-raising for archaeology: In regards to archaeological work outside North America, in this case Egypt, many persons ask why is it worthwhile to donate, and query the government's allotment of tax-payers' money to research something that seemingly does not directly benefit the North American public. Aside from advancing our knowledge about antiquity, in the following discussion I wish to point out some of the substantial life changes that private donations and government funding affect for people in North America and Egypt; I will also address why it is worthwhile to donate to and fund such endeavours, and how donations and funding are spent. Tebilla Project driver Mohammed Abdu Menna. (Photo: P. Carstens)
	Improve the lives of rural Egyptian villagers: Up to 20% of the project's budget goes toward paying the salaries of local villagers who are essential to the functioning of archaeological projects in Egypt: Basket-carriers, pickmen, site guards, pottery washers, drivers, and other personnel. This substantial and direct annual influx of cash, which is dispersed according to local pay-scales, reaches at least 30 villagers and their families and has a broader, ripple effect upon the local, rural economy (which still operates largely on a barter system or cycle of loans without cash surpluses). The ability to gain a cash surplus allows less affluent Egyptian villagers to save sufficient funds to escape from an endless cycle of debts, to buy essential supplies, to provide better education for their children, and to send promising high school students to technical colleges or universities. For instance, the establishment and presence of one Canadian project in Egypt (Professor John Holladay's Wadi Tumilat Project: 1977-85) provided a sufficient cash surplus through employment. The villagers in question obtained electricity, running water, improved educational facilities and supplies, and sent several persons to college. Although the Egyptian government is continuously improving the lot of rural communities and peoples throughout Egypt, the rapid population increase makes all financial assistance essential and welcome. Other levels of assistance to the local economy are provided by the project's daily requirements in Egypt and its provision of payment to retailers (e.g., subsistence purchases), private entrepreneurs (e.g., car, taxi, and room/house rental), hotel owners and their employees, and other Egyptians involved with the project or project members in Egypt. Up to 20% of each donation would go to increasing the number of villagers hired (i.e., expanding the scope of excavation) for the project. Provide needed financial assistance and training to Canadian and American students: The rising cost of university tuition affects most young Canadians/Americans and their parents, especially in today's job market which often requires a graduate degree (MA; PhD) for employment and competitive marketability. Through fund-raising, the project can employ and train additional North American students in various essential skills: Using different computer equipment (e.g., scanners) and software programs (e.g., Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator; Microsoft Office, particularly Access, Excel and Word), archaeological training in University of Toronto laboratories (e.g., analysing archaeological data), and archaeological fieldwork in Egypt (e.g., surveying; drafting; photography; artwork). 21% of the project's budget provides student salaries and stipends. A part-time student salary at $12 to $15 per hour, for 10 hours per week, provides full tuition coverage at the University of Toronto for one year, while the student receives invaluable training in a field of his/her choice. The addition of public donations would translate into more jobs and training for Canadian and American students, and grants for their travel to Egypt. Tebilla 2000 graduate students and staff meeting. (Photo: P. Carstens) Spread good-will abroad regarding Egypto-Canadian/American relations: It is difficult to change attitudes in a world increasingly filled with hatred and violence between different political and ethnic groupings. One time-tested method, however, has been the promotion of good-will through the provision of varied assistance, and, most importantly, through direct contact between peoples. The interaction between North Americans and Egyptians in rural settings (well outside tourist areas in the case of this project), has fostered a greater understanding of the similarities that connect different cultures and peoples rather than our differences. Many North American students and staff members befriend Egyptians working for the project, help workers with their English, and in-turn learn Arabic. Individual project members often provide gifts or leave items that further aid the local rural economy (e.g., Arabic-English dictionaries, school supplies, textbooks, calculators, etc.) and receive gifts in-turn. In addition, the project collaborates with the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Egyptian scholars, and encourages the participation of Egyptian doctoral candidiates (in Egyptology) in the project. The project consults both Egyptian and North American specialists, thereby further promoting good relations with Egypt. Up to 22% of the project's funding is allotted to airfares for technical staff, enabling the project to operate effectively and hence promote good-will in Egypt. Some excavation equipment purchased locally and from North America. (Photo: P. Carstens) Help the North American economy: One might wonder how supporting archaeology in Egypt helps North America's economy. Although such assistance is directly proportional to the provided funding, 15% of the project's budget goes toward the direct, most cost-effective purchasing of Canadian/American equipment and supplies (from North American retailers) for work conducted in both North America and Egypt. If one also includes the 22% and 21% allocated to airfares and North American student salaries, respectively, 58% of the project budget finds its way back into the North American economy. This occurs directly and indirectly through North American retailers and others who benefit from the purchasing requirements of the project and its staff. Hence, the project's commitment to and provision of funds into different levels of North America’s economy provides return benefits to North Americans. Gain recognition for your donation or sponsorship: The project is committed to recognizing (unless anonymity is requested) the individuals and institutions providing donations, sponsorships, and supplies, by listing all donors in an acknowledgements section in each publication and presentation, and will dedicate a special acknowledgement section at the front of each volume in the series of publications on the project's findings. Various categories will be used and can be modified according to public response.
	Tax Deductions for Donations: All donations to the project are tax deductable in the U.S.A., Canada, and in some overseas nations. (1) CANADA: To receive a tax deduction within Canada, all donations should be made payable to "The University of Toronto" with a note that the donation is to be applied to the Survey and Excavation Projects in Egypt (SEPE), directed by Dr. G.D. Mumford (Dept.NMC). All donations for Canadian tax deductions should be sent to the following address: Devin Kreuger, Grants Officer, Office of Research Services, Simcoe Hall, 27 King’s College Circle, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S-1A1 See http://www.rir.utoronto.ca for more information. (2) USA: To receive a tax deduction within the United States of America, all donations should be made payable to "The Associates of the University of Toronto" with a note that the donation is to be applied to the Survey and Excavation Projects in Egypt (SEPE), directed by Dr. G.D. Mumford (Dept.NMC). All donations for US tax deductions should be sent to the following address: Mr. Gary Kaufman, Treasurer The Associates of the University of Toronto, Inc., 810 Seventh Ave., 10th floor, New York, New York 10019, U.S.A. See: http://www.giving.utoronto.ca/intgift/intgift.html for more information. (3) United Kingdom: Donations by residents of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to the University of Toronto: Residents of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland can obtain tax receipts for donations/gifts to the University of Toronto (specified for SEPE, G. Mumford, Dept.NMC). The Office of Research Services home page mentions that the University of Toronto has established a fund account with the Charities Aid Foundation (http://www.cafonline.org/) in order to facilitate such donations/gifts. Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) should be contacted directly, however, for information concerning the tax treatment of gifts in the United Kingdom. The University of Toronto’s fund reference number is T70139430, while SEPE (G. Mumford, Dept. NMC) should be mentioned in accompaniment with donations forwarded through CAF to the University of Toronto. For more information see: Charities Aid Foundation (http://www.cafonline.org/) and http://www.giving.utoronto.ca/intgift/intgift.html. Excavation Opportunities: For information about Excavation Opportunities, see Dig Opportunities, or e-mail SEPE.

Return to Dig Opportunities