Virginia Institute for Invertebrates Year-End Fundraiser

About this campaign

This year's spectacular "Eyed Elater" design features one-of-a-kind work by Virginia artist, Marisa Payne. Marisa is a Richmond-based artist whose inspiration comes from time spent looking closely at nature. We're thrilled to highlight Marisa's work. The Virginia Institute for Invertebrates (virginiainvertebrates.org) is working to protect the beetle that inspired it.


We're a young nonprofit dedicated to the invertebrate life of Virginia, or in the words of E.O. Wilson, to "the little things that run the world." Our three part mission is to monitor, witness, and conserve. By establishing sampling sites across the state, we're monitoring key populations of invertebrate animals in Virginia over the span of decades to spot the kinds of decline that have scientists around the world concerned. By providing resources for scientists to work in Virginia's forests, mountains, caves, and streams, we're witnessing the rich and beautiful natural history of these animals, the vast majority of which go about their lives in ways yet unknown to science. And finally, through careful land acquisition and management, we're conserving Virginia's invertebrate riches---including the Eyed Elater---for generations to come.


The funds we raise in this campaign will go entirely to helping our volunteers establish monitoring stations, acquire conservation land and easements, support natural history researchers in the field, and defray the legal and organizational costs of these activities.


Your generous donation to our 501(c)(3) organization is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.