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project leader
Belle Isle Conservancy .
location
3 Inselruhe Ave
(Belle Isle)
latest update rss
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the project

The Belle Isle Aquarium is a treasure trove of natural and cultural wonder  that serves Detroiters with access to rich programming and cultural gems. Where else in Detroit (or in the world?!) can you explore the marvels of marine life housed in a facility known for its world-class Albert Kahn architecture? This is truly the coolest free place on Earth. Your support keeps it that way.

Not being able to welcome the community into the Aquarium these days not only means that we miss creating memories with you, but that some critical resources have come to a halt. Aquarium operations rely heavily on donor support and are sustained in part by donations from weekend visitors, revenue from private facility rentals, tank sponsorships and interpretive programs like field trips and tours.

Each month that the Aquarium is not open, we expect a $15,000 gap to emerge.  Please consider a donation today, that will help to lessen the impact of this loss. 

Why should you give? Without your support, the Aquarium is a community asset left vulnerable to an uncertain future. These are dollars that not only feed the fish, but provide life-sustaining care to the animals, repair the historic infrastructure of the building, maintain the exhibits, and meets numerous other operational needs. The generous support of the community that we serve is what truly gets the work done.

We are calling on you to help to keep things flowing.  We need your momentum now more than ever to tip the scales of resources in favor of the Aquarium's future. 

the steps

While the Aquarium may be temporarily closed to the public, our dedicated team of aquarists are still hard at work making sure the fish recieve top-notch care, the exhibits are vibrant and educational, and the 115-year old historic building is well-maintained. We need your help to enable their work and protect our beloved cultural asset.

why we're doing it

The Belle Isle Aquarium was designed by famed Detroit architect, Albert Kahn, and opened on August 18, 1904. It is the oldest aquarium in the country and has served the Detroit community as a beloved attraction for generations.

In 2005, the financial crisis forced the City of Detroit to close the doors of the Aquarium. In response, volunteers protested – and then mobilized – to care for the fish collection and protect the building from ruin. In 2012, with a tough community of supporters behind us, the Belle Isle Conservancy reopened the historic Aquarium for free to the public.

Since then, we've welcomed over half a million visitors, restored dozens of tanks and exhibits, partnered with Detroit and Hamtramck Public Schools to host educational programming, and enriched the lives of countless people.

During this challenging time, we need your support to feed and care for the fish, maintain and curate exhibits, protect the historic building, and provide operations and maintenance of the Aquarium.

budget

Disbursed budget:

Each month that the Aquarium is not open, we expect a $15,000 gap to emerge. Your donation will help to cover:

  • Feeding and caring for our fish collection
  • Maintaining and curating exhibits for display
  • Repairing the infrastructure of the historic building
  • Operations and maintenance of the Aquarium




TOTAL RAISED = $5,130.00 $5,130.00
ioby Platform Fee waived $35.00
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $84.45 $84.45
TOTAL TO DISBURSE= $5,045.55 $5,010.55

Original Budget:

Each month that the Aquarium is not open, we expect a $15,000 gap to emerge. Your donation will help to cover:

  • Feeding and caring for our fish collection
  • Maintaining and curating exhibits for display
  • Repairing the infrastructure of the historic building
  • Operations and maintenance of the Aquarium



PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED = $8,500
ioby Platform Fee Waived
ioby Donation Processing Fee (3%) $263
TOTAL TO RAISE = $8,763

updates

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photos

This is where photos will go once we build flickr integration

donors

  • Anonymous
  • Sharon M.
  • Denise O.
  • Christopher M.
  • Andrea
  • Ruth
  • Andree T.
  • katherine z.
  • Max L.
  • Linda C.
  • Nancy V.
  • Jan Modzelewski
  • Michigan Head and Spine Institute
  • Janice Ellison
  • Christine K.
  • Cris Doby