Funding & sponsorship
The ultimate source of funding for archaeological work (excavation, research, conservation, museum) at Dor is private money of individuals, organizations and foundations who care about the research and preservation of our common cultural heritage.
Our volunteers are our largest single source of support. Apart from freely donating their expensive time and priceless enthusiasm, volunteers contribute a participation fee. We depend on, welcome and cherish each volunteer. However, the larger our volunteer-force during the season the more volume we excavate, and the more finds we have - and that means more non-permanent staff during the season, more drawing, photographing, restoration, display & storage space, more areas that would ultimately need conservation, etc. The participation fees help to underwrite the immediate expenses incurred by the volunteers during the season and hence enable us to let more of them share the experience.
The main contributions of the participating institutions are indirect. They often subsidize the participation of their students and staff members, and provide facilities for post-excavation research by their faculty and/or graduate students. They also make available conduits by which donations and grants may be accepted and monies administered. Donations may be given to the academic institutions and earmarked for the Tel Dor project. We are particularly grateful for the Israel Exploration Society for providing us with minimum-overhead financial administration.
Much of the research conducted at Dor is funded by competitive grants obtained by members of the consortium either for specific Dor-related research, or for spin-off projects and ones in which facets of the site of Dor or finds in it are considered in wider contexts. Granting bodies supporting the project in this way include:
- The Israel Science Foundation - established by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities Grants no. 812/97, 778/00 and 141/04 awarded to Ilan Sharon, and Ayelet Gilboa with Elisabetta Boaretto.
- The J. Paul Getty Trust Collaborative Research Grants awarded to Andrew Stewart, Ilan Sharon, Sarah C. Stroup, John Berg and Alan Estes (conducted with the participation of S. Rebecca Martin).
- 'Bikura' program for innovative interdisciplinary research grant no. 4014/03 awarded to Uzy Smilanski, Ilan Sharon and Ayelet Gilboa (conducted with the participation of Avshalom Karasik and Idit Saragusti.)
- The Shelby White – Leon Levy archaeological publication program, awarded to Ilan Sharon and Elisabeth Bloch-Smith.
- The Mediterranean Archaeology trust awarded to Ayelet Gilboa.
- Israel - Hungary binational Science collaboration agreement awarded to Laszlo Bartosciewicz, Ilan Sharon and Tamar Dayan.
- The Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture awarded to Ayelet Gilboa.
Various bodies have helped us in equipment, materials, work-time or free expertise. These include:
- The Israel Electric Company.
- The Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
- The Israel Antiquities Authority, Department of Conservation.
All the above sources notwithstanding, the mainstay of any long-range large-scale archaeological project are donations and endowments from individuals and foundations. The Dor project gratefully acknowledges the charity of the following individuals and organizations:
- The Philip And Muriel Berman Center For Biblical Archaeology
- Thaler Family Foundation
- The Charles and Stella Guttman Foundation
- The Roswell family and System Source Inc.
- The Goldhirsh Foundation - granting 2 annual fellowships for graduate / post-graduate students of archaeology or related discipline pursuing a Dor-related research program.
Additional donors wish to remain anonymous.
If you have found this web site useful or instructive; think the ancient site of Dor is important, intriguing or romantic; and feel that work such as done at Dor should persist - you may consider participating in this effort, either by volunteering yourself, or by donating money and/or equipment. US tax-exempt contribution to the Israel Exploration Society, The Renewed Tel Dor Project may be made through PEF Israel Endowments Inc. of 342 Madison Ave. New York, N.Y. 10173. If you would like to contribute or find out more, please contact us.