by Redazione 28/10/2026
Categories: News / Disclaimer
To mark its 60th anniversary, the World Monuments Fund has surpassed its fundraising goal aimed at strengthening the protection of cultural heritage around the world: $62 million, a full 18 months ahead of schedule.
The World Monuments Fund (WMF) has raised $62 million for its endowment fund, exceeding its initial goal of $60 million a full 18 months ahead of schedule. The achievement, announced on the occasion of the organization’s 60th anniversary, strengthens the financial foundation needed to ensure the continuity of efforts to conserve and protect international cultural heritage. Launched publicly less than a year ago during the Hadrian Gala organized to celebrate the WMF’s 60th anniversary, the campaign involved the entire Board of Directors, with 100% of its members participating. Thanks to these new resources, the endowment’s net worth has tripled and is projected to exceed $100 million by 2028.
This achievement comes as the organization launches an ambitious five-year strategic plan aimed at expanding international support for the preservation of historic sites and making cultural heritage conservation a global priority. The fund’s income will provide stable resources to support professional training, awareness-raising activities, emergency response efforts, and conservation projects in various countries.
Fundraising began with an initial contribution of $20 million in the form of an Endowment Challenge Grant from the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust. Through a co-funding mechanism, the Trust has committed to matching 50% of every dollar raised, up to a maximum of $40 million by December 31, 2027. This system is designed to multiply the impact of donations and encourage further contributions to the campaign. A significant portion of the funds will be allocated to the Suzanne Deal Booth Institute for Heritage Preservation, a new collaborative framework that brings together the WMF’s activities focused on education, research, academic partnerships, professional networks, and innovation. The Institute will expand programs related to conservation, green space management, digital preservation, and the development of new specialized skills.
To support this initiative, $21 million in endowment funds has been secured, thanks in part to a $10 million donation from Suzanne Deal Booth, a member of the WMF Board of Directors and a leading figure in philanthropy within the cultural heritage sector. The Institute bears her name in recognition of this contribution.
Among the fund’s objectives is the development of the next generation of professionals specializing in the restoration and preservation of cultural heritage. In this context, funding provided by philanthropist Virginia James is enabling the WMF to expand the Bridge to Craft Careers (B2CC) program, with a new pilot project in New Orleans and plans for additional training centers internationally. The campaign has also made it possible to establish two positions supported by endowment funds: that of archivist Denise Littlefield Sobel and that of Senior Manager of the Watch program , Wieland. The initiative aims to strengthen both the organization’s research capabilities and the continuity of activities related to one of its key outreach programs.
Another portion of the funding is earmarked for strengthening the World Monuments Fund’s core programs. These include the Crisis Response Program, dedicated to supporting communities facing the consequences of conflicts, climate-related disasters, and other emergencies. The program has received a $1 million donation from the Donald A. Pels Charitable Trust, which will help ensure ongoing support for local populations working to protect their cultural heritage, even in the aftermath of crises.
World Monuments Watch, the WMF’s biennial program dedicatedto identifying and protecting endangered sites, will benefit from a $2 million endowment established by philanthropist John F. Wieland Jr. The goal is to ensure greater stability for an initiative that brings international attention to sites of particular historical and cultural value that are at risk.
The campaign raised $4 million earmarked directly for field projects, which are at the heart of the World Monuments Fund’s work. Added to this amount is $2.5 million raised separately to support the activities of two affiliated offices: WMF in Peru and WMF in Great Britain. These resources provide an important foundation for continuing on-the-ground interventions, but they also serve as a starting point for further initiatives. The WMF intends to prioritize the creation of the Preservation Impact Fund, engaging supporters and communities around the world in a shared movement to protect our common heritage. The goal is to collaborate with communities in the United States and internationally to safeguard historic sites that help define collective identities, foster creativity, and support the economic vitality of local communities.
Reaching the $60 million goal ahead of schedule thus marks a significant milestone for the World Monuments Fund. With a stronger financial foundation, the organization aims to respond more consistently to the threats facing historic sites, expand specialized training, and strengthen its international network—all with the goal of passing on a living and accessible cultural heritage to future generations.
“Cultural heritage is being destroyed by conflict, climate change, neglect, and urbanization faster than the world can react,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of the World Monuments Fund. “This campaign provides the WMF with the long-term resources needed to act with greater urgency and ambition. We are deeply grateful to the individuals, foundations, and companies whose generosity will help protect these irreplaceable sites for future generations.”
“We are delighted that the World Monuments Fund has met this ambitious challenge in record time. The response from its supporters ensures that sites of great historical and cultural significance will continue to be preserved for generations to come,” said Richard Schneidman, Trustee of The Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust.
“The commitment to preserving cultural heritage honors the past and, at the same time, inspires the future,” said Suzanne Deal Booth. “Through this Institute, my hope is to provide future generations with the tools to protect what unites us and carry forward the shared stories that define our humanity.”
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| World Monuments Fund Raises $62 Million to Save the World's Cultural Heritage |
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