DisCon III Gives $20K Pass-Along Funds Grant to Chicon 8

DisCon III has sent Chicon 8, the 80th World Science Fiction Convention, a grant of $20,000 as an initial payment toward the funds that DisCon agreed to contribute under the Worldcon Pass-Along Funds Agreement.

Since being instituted in 1989, nearly every Worldcon has participated in the Worldcon pass-along funds system. DisCon III agreed to distribute half of the convention’s surplus to the succeeding three Worldcons who likewise decided to join the pass-along system.

DisCon III was held in December, much later in the year than any previous Worldcon, and thus is still wrapping up its operations. Recognizing that Chicon 8 is less than four months away, DisCon has made this significant grant as partial fulfillment of its pass-along obligations and will be making additional pass-along grants to Chicon and the next two eligible Worldcons as soon as possible.

DisCon III’s announcement again expressed the committee’s appreciation to everyone who worked to make the convention a success, saying “We are glad to play our part in ensuring the success of Chicon 8 and other future Worldcons.”

[Based on a press release.]

Pass-Along Funds

Two Worldcons distributed pass-along funds last year but the good deed seems to have gone unpublicized. The pass-along policy is a commitment to distribute at least one-half of a Worldcon’s surplus to the next three Worldcons that make the same promise.

Renovation, the 2011 Worldcon, gave $20,000 each to LoneStarCon 3 and Chicon 7. John Lorentz says they have another $20,000 in hand to give the 2014 site selection winner. And, adds John, “We expect that there will be a few thousand more for each of them once our final numbers are a little firmer later this spring.”

AussieCon 4 also sent pass-along funds to LoneStarCon 3, another $5,000 check on top of the amount already paid, making a total of $8,400 given to LSC3 from the 2010 Worldcon surplus.

Then, Renovation chair Patty Wells revealed the 2011 Worldcon made its first donation of surplus funds besides the pass-along. They gave $20,000 to the Susan C. Petrey Foundation to fund scholarships and fellowships to Clarion and Clarion West. The Petrey Foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Other donations will follow. For example, Wells said she is working with the Illustration Master Class as a possible recipient of funds for use in encouraging artist talent.