​For more than twenty years, the Archer Center has lived out its mission to educate the next generation of leaders for the State of Texas, our country, and the world. Our work would not be possible without the generous financial support of our donors and alumni. Special gifts and endowments support the Archer Center's growth and have a profound impact on future generations of Archer Fellows. 

To discuss how you can make a permanent investment in the Archer Center and our students, please contact our executive director, Katie Romano.

25th Anniversary - Katie Cook Romano Endowment

Spring 2026 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Archer Center. To honor this milestone, generous donors established the Katie Cook Romano 25th Anniversary Endowment, which celebrates the past 25 years of lives and leaders shaped at the Archer Center and recognizes the extraordinary and dedicated leadership of our longtime executive director. The endowment will support the operations and mission of the Archer Center for generations to come.

20th Anniversary Student Success Fund

In partnership with the Archer Center Trust and the Archer Fellow Alumni Association, the Archer Center established the 20th Anniversary Student Success Fund to celebrate 20 years of lives impacted by the Archer Fellowship Program. This fund provides support for expenses related to a student’s participation in the Archer Fellowship Program.

Amanda Aguirre Endowment

​The Amanda Aguirre Endowment for the Archer Center was established in 2023 by Spring 2010 Archer Fellow alumna Amanda Aguirre. This scholarship endowment will support program-related expenses for​ Archer Fellows who are first-generation college students and demonstrate a financial need.

Bill Archer Center Endowment

Established in 2001 by Congressman Archer and hundreds of supporters, the Bill Archer Center Endowment has provided annual funding to the Archer Center since its founding. This endowment funds a variety of programmatic and academic expenses related to our mission to educate the next generation of leaders for local, state, national, and international service.

Archer Fellow Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment

The Archer Fellow Alumni Association (AFAA) Scholarship Endowment was established in 2005 by alumni of the Archer Center and supports incoming Archer Fellows by providing scholarships to help offset the cost of living in Washington, D.C. Distribution from this endowment provides one scholarship each fall, spring, and summer to deserving Archer Fellows in support of their Washington, D.C., semester.

Elizabeth L. Bayless and James L. Bayless, Jr., Endowment ​

​The Elizabeth L. Bayless and James L. Bayless, Jr. Endowment was established in 2019 for the support of the Archer Center by Advisory Board Vice Chairman and longtime supporter Jim Bayless and his wife, Liz. The endowment supports students from institutions across The University of Texas System during their semester as an Archer Fellow by providing support for expenses related to their participation in the program.

Christopher R. Bjornson Endowment

The Bjornson Endowment for the Archer Center was established in 2021 by Archer Center Advisory Board member and longtime Archer Fellow mentor Chris Bjornson for the support of the Archer Center. Funds distributed will provide support for expenses related to a student’s participation in the Archer Fellowship Program. 

Donald G. Carlson Scholarship Fund​

​During the Archer Center's 10th Anniversary Celebration in 2011, the Archer Center established the Donald G. Carlson Scholarship Fund in honor of the Archer Center's co-founder and longtime Advisory Board Chairman, Don Carlson. Funds distributed from this endowment provide dozens of scholarship awards to Archer Fellows each year.

Dr. J. Michael Coleman & Dr. Edward J. Harpham Student Success Endowment

Named in honor of Drs. J. Michael Coleman and Edward J. Harpham in recognition of their commitment to ensuring a strong academic and financial future for the Archer Center and longtime invaluable service on the Center’s Advisory Board, this endowment will provide financial support to deserving Archer Fellows each semester.

Dougherty-Mitchel Endowment for the Archer Center

The Dougherty-Mitchel Endowment for the Archer Center was established in 2023 by Spring 2003 Archer Fellow Erin Dougherty and her husband Ray Mitchel. This permanent endowment, given in honor of the Spring 2003 class of Archer Fellows, will provide support for expenses related to future students' participation in the Archer Fellowship Program.

Ann R. Eisenberg Scholarship Endowment

The Ann R. Eisenberg Scholarship Endowment celebrates Dr. Eisenberg’s longtime service to the Archer Fellowship Program and the Archer Center through her role as The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Archer Center campus coordinator. The Eisenberg Scholarship Endowment was established in 2021 to provide support for expenses related to a student's participation in the Archer Fellowship Program. Support this fund >>

Friends of the Archer Center Trust Fund

The Friends of the Archer Center Trust Fund was established in 2015 and ​is a special annual giving program that helps educate the next generation of leaders from Texas by providing vital financial support for important initiatives that cannot be funded through the Archer Center's annual operating budget. Learn more about the Trust >>

Funk Charitable Foundation Endowment

​The Funk Charitable Foundation Endowment was established in 2017 by Sharon (Archer) and Fred Funk to support various initiatives of the Archer Center, including the continuation of an oral history project with the Archer Center’s namesake, Congressman Bill Archer, led by Archer Center Professor Joel Swerdlow.

Dr. Marilyn A. Harris Scholarship Endowment

The Dr. Marilyn A. Harris Scholarship Endowment was established in 2018 by Dr. Marilyn A. Harris, a longtime Archer Center Advisory Board member and Archer Fellow internship supervisor. Through this gift, Dr. Harris supports Archer Fellows studying energy policy or international relations during their Archer Fellowship.

Alaina Heine Endowment

The Alaina Heine Endowment was established in 2021 by Spring 2013 Archer Fellow, Alaina Heine. This endowment supports program-related expenses for Archer Fellows who have the desire to intern in an organization in one of the following areas: environment, civil rights, and social justice, women’s rights, worker’s rights, or animal rights. ​

Todd M. Hill Alumni Scholarship Endowment

The Todd M. Hill Alumni Scholarship Endowment was established in 2017 for the benefit of the Archer Center. Named in honor of former Archer Fellow Alumni Association (AFAA) President Todd Hill (spring 2010), this endowment provides scholarships for Archer Center alumni pursuing advanced degrees or public service fellowships.

Dr. Yiau-Min Huang Endowment for the Archer Center

Established in honor of Dr. Yiau-Min Huang’s public service career of 50 plus years as a Smithsonian Institution Research Entomologist in Washington, D.C., and abroad, this endowed scholarship will support Archer Fellows in STEM, public health, or entomology fields who are interning at research-related organizations or pursuing research-focused degrees. This endowment will support program-related expenses for Archer Fellows from any campus of The University of Texas System.

Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Scholarship Endowment

The Dr. Alyse Gray Parker Memorial Scholarship was established in 2024 in loving memory of Dr. Alyse Gray Parker, a Summer 2018 Graduate Archer Fellow, who made significant contributions to the Archer Center and the Archer Fellow Alumni Association by serving as the longtime chair of the Association’s scholarship committee. This scholarship will support program-related expenses for Archer Fellows who have a commitment to education policy. Support this fund >>

Katie C. Romano Emergency Scholarship Fund

The Katie C. Romano Emergency Scholarship Fund was established by the Archer Fellow Alumni Association in 2016 in honor of the Archer Center's longtime executive director to support students facing unexpected financial crisis during their Archer Fellowship semester in Washington, D.C. Funds from this endowment are intended to assist students by relieving unplanned financial hardships so students can focus on their internship and coursework.

Young Tai Sohn Endowment for Scientific Illustration

Young Tai Sohn's public service career of 50 years as a Smithsonian Institution Scientific Illustrator with the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Washington, D.C., this endowment provides opportunities for students, staff, and faculty at University of Texas System institutions to advance their understanding of scientific illustration. Through collaborations and partnership opportunities with the Smithsonian Institution and other institutions, visiting scholars, research activities, internships, speaking engagements, and events.

Dr. Joel L. Swerdlow Endowment

This endowment is named in honor of the inspirational and thought-provoking Dr. Joel L. Swerdlow in celebration of his seventeen years of teaching service to the Archer Center. Funds from this endowment will be used to provide cultural and educational experiences for Archer Fellows in Washington, D.C., support poetry initiatives, fund expenses related to a student’s participation in the Archer Fellowship Program, and expand alumni relations and engagement.