Why help the observatory? We are largely run by volunteers and donations, help us pay our undergrads, and do awesome things like:
- Continue Free tours
- Community Outreach
- Refurbish the 40cm
- Repair the atrium
- Refit the 60cm!
- Paid Student Research
- Open Research Projects
- Free events for local schools/groups
- Free giveaways!
- Special Events!
- Stellar Scholars Program
Welcome to the AICO Fundraising and Partner area. Help us to raise funds to continue outreach, research, special events, and more! For sponsorship opportunities or corporate training events email our director at eahyde @ yourku dot ca. You can still donate to top up or help us reach some of our 'stretch goals', like a new cover for the 40cm telescope! Scroll down for all of our exciting observatory goals, including our current progress!
Why just donate when you can also get awesome swag! Support the observatory with purchases from our observatory store here!
Recent Fundraising Events:
Our Current Sponsors/Partners:
- Killarney Provincial Park Astronomer in Residence Partner/Sponsor
- Carswell Family Foundation: gold star sponsor!
- RASC Toronto Center RAN nights partner
- Downsview Park Astronomy Outreach Partner
Observatory Fundraising Goals, and Stretch-Goals!
Funds Raised Since 2024
Our Fundraising Goals:
ACHIEVED! $5,000 CAD: We will be able to finish the regular April 2025 free Wednesday tours and offer 4 new free public tours for school groups or similar. At this level, we'll also print out 400 new observatory bookmarks to be given out for free at our weekly events!
$10,000 CAD: At this exciting level we can do a partial renovation of our atrium facility atop the arboretum parking garage and continue tours into Summer 2025. Several of our smaller telescopes are in need of finder scope alignment, light cleaning, and of course, we could do with some shelves! This goal will cover all the light repairs and introduce a Free online Observatory Event on YouTube, covering YOUR choice of interactive astrophotography, exoplanets or more (survey TBA).
$20,000 CAD: A new all-weather protection for the 40cm telescope. At this level we will be able to buy a skyshed POD or similar, no more old tarp covering for our trusty outdoor scope.. the POD is a plastic dome covering that will ensure we can winter over without damage! This goal also allows us to increase Summer 2025 tours! In addition we'll be able to increase our cloud storage by paying the extra monthly fee and upload a FREE ONLINE GALLERY, making thousands of digital images publically available!
$30,000 CAD: A full atrium facility renovation is now possible! We'll be able to replace the broken 'Fireball' computer (and perhaps rename it!) as well as repair the temperature control, refurbish the smaller telescopes and even put up a new mount for one of the smaller Cassegrains. The prize at this level will be a special atrium tour event to celebrate, and 200 free astronomy posters will be given out!
$50,000 CAD+: Special unlock tier, this level will allow us to get to one of the more expensive items, re-calibrate the 60cm telescope inside one of the main domes of the Allan I Carswell Observatory. We will also be able to PAY a full RAY position for summer 2025 to work with QUAIL and the 60cm. We will also be able to install a 'Flat Field Screen' and lamp for calibration on at least one of the two domes. That's right, RESEARCH! This tier will be accompanied with a free all day observatory event with a giveaway of 200 observatory zippable canvas tote bags (first come, first serve!).
