Institute for Seabird Research & Conservation

Help Protect a Living Laboratory in the Gulf of Alaska

Middleton Island has been a beacon of seabird science for over four decades. Your support ensures this irreplaceable research continues for generations to come.

Give to the Endowment
40+
Years of Research
50K+
Nesting Seabirds
9
Cold War Buildings Repurposed

Our Mission

Where Cold War History Meets
Cutting-Edge Science

Sixty miles offshore in the Gulf of Alaska, a cluster of decommissioned Air Force buildings on a remote, tectonically active island has become one of the most productive seabird research stations in the world.

Since 1978, Middleton Island has generated long-term data on seabird population dynamics, foraging ecology, and marine ecosystem health — a multidecadal record that grows more valuable with every passing year.

Field operations are currently part of Gulf Watch Alaska Long-Term Monitoring Program with partial funding support from Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. But making ends meet remains a perennial challenge.

The Endowment

Building a Permanent Foundation for the Future

We are establishing a permanent endowment fund to secure the station's long-term viability. Earnings from the fund will provide stable, ongoing support for two priorities:

  • Maintenance, upgrades, and incremental improvements to aging facilities on the island
  • Continuity in the core program of seabird monitoring and research that makes Middleton's long-term dataset so valuable

Every contribution — in any amount — helps grow this permanent resource. The endowment ensures that support for Middleton doesn't depend on the uncertainties of any single funding cycle.

$1M
Initial Goal · by 2031
$5M
Long-Term Endowment

How an Endowment Works

Your gift is invested permanently. Each year, a portion of the earnings funds station operations — providing reliable support that grows over time, independent of annual grant cycles.

All contributions to ISRC are tax-deductible.

More Ways to Partner With Us

Give in the Way That Works for You

Many of our most impactful gifts have come not as checks, but as securities, retirement assets, or funds held with a financial advisor. These gifts are often larger, simpler than expected, and more tax-efficient than cash. We welcome gifts of any kind.

Stocks & Securities

Donating appreciated stock directly to ISRC avoids capital gains tax and qualifies for a full fair-market-value deduction. Contact us and we'll provide wire transfer details for your broker.

Donor-Advised Funds

Already have a DAF with Fidelity Charitable, Schwab, or another sponsor? You can direct a grant to the Institute for Seabird Research & Conservation. Our EIN is available on request.

Cryptocurrency

We accept crypto donations through our Infinite Giving widget below. Converting crypto to a charitable gift is tax-efficient and straightforward — no need to sell first.

IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions

If you're 70½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) directly from your IRA — up to $105,000 per year — and satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution without adding to taxable income.

Questions about any of these options? Reach out to us — we're glad to help make the process simple.