The Millennium Fund

The Millennium Fund was created by the Executive Committee of the Lowell Observatory Advisory Board in 2000 to provide funds for the observatory’s ever-changing needs, as identified by the observatory’s director. A portion of the investment earnings are used each year to support new operational or strategic initiatives defined by the director and approved by the Advisory Board’s Executive Committee. The Millennium Fund is managed by the Lowell Observatory Foundation, which treats it like an endowed fund.

Millennium Fund dollars have supported a wide range of needs at the observatory, including:

• New instrumentation for research and public outreach
• Redesigning and outfitting of the Lowell Discovery Telescope control room
• Historical preservation
• Landscaping and maintenance of observatory grounds