Like many organizations, the Xerces Society has been navigating steep cuts to government funding for essential conservation programs. Yet Xerces members are finding creative ways to step up and support invertebrates through peer-to-peer fundraising. Instead of simply making a donation, they create their own fundraising pages and invite friends, family, and their communities to give in support of the Xerces Society. These campaigns help raise critical funds while also introducing more people to the importance of protecting insects and other invertebrates. We are deeply grateful to everyone who chooses to fundraise on our behalf.
We are especially excited to highlight three outstanding Xerces members whose creativity, dedication and generosity have made a meaningful impact through their fundraising efforts: Nick McMurray of Entomemeology, Jill Gorman, and Cortney Norris. Their stories reflect the many ways we can come together to support invertebrates and their habitats.
For the third year in a row, Nick McMurray and the small team behind Entomemeology, an online educational meme community focused on insects, have inspired their followers to rally around invertebrate conservation. Nick and his followers raised an incredible $5,504 during Pollinator Month 2026. The community also came together in person recently at the BugRazor, an event Nick held that gave Entomemeology followers a chance to connect, celebrate their shared passion for insects and support conservation efforts.
Since first partnering with Xerces in 2024, the Entomemeology community has raised more than $20,000 to support our work. Nick’s commitment goes far beyond sharing a fundraising link. He continues to use his platform to educate millions of people about insects and to build enthusiasm for protecting the often overlooked animals that keep ecosystems healthy.
In Georgia, Jill Gorman combined her love of native plants with community education through launching Jill’s Butterfly Garden workshop and group. For several years now, she has grown and given away native plants to her community. This year, she grew and gave away an astounding 6,000 native plants, encouraging participants to make a suggested donation of one dollar per plant. Proceeds were shared between the Xerces Society and Monarchs Across Georgia, raising $2,550 for Xerces. As Jill writes on her fundraising page, “Providing pollinator plants creates habitat close to home, while supporting Xerces helps protect invertebrates on a much larger scale.” Jill’s workshop and plant giveaways demonstrate how local action and broader conservation efforts can work hand-in-hand.
Cortney Norris, a zookeeper at the Knoxville Zoo in Tennessee, has for several years now launched her Xerces fundraisers during Earth Month and Pollinator Week. Although she works in the zoo’s veterinary clinic, she is proudly known as her zoo’s “bug lady.” Cortney volunteers her time during Pollinator Week, creates educational displays, shares native seeds and plants, and helps zoo visitors discover the fascinating world of invertebrates. Cortney has also worked with the eastern Hercules beetle (Dynastes tityus), rearing beetles that were then donated to Nashville Zoo to help increase their conservation and release efforts.
Every fundraiser tells a unique story, but they all share one thing in common: people choosing to make a difference for invertebrates in ways that reflect their own interests and communities. Whether you host an event, celebrate a birthday, organize an online campaign, or share your love of pollinators with friends and neighbors, your efforts can help protect the invertebrates that sustain our world.
If you’ve ever thought about fundraising for the Xerces Society, we’d love to have you join our community of supporters. Learn more about creating your own campaign at xerces.org/fundraise.
