Hi everyone!

If you're here, that means you likely know that I began working as a professional genealogist in October 2024. It also means you likely know that I have several health conditions that can sometimes leave me struggling to work on a consistent basis, meaning I only work part-time and so my income is extremely limited. For example, in 2025, between my federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability assistance and the income I made through my research services, my income was less than $13,000.

As those of you who are also researchers know, genealogy is expensive, particularly the formal education side of the field. While I've learned a lot through experience, independent study, and the limited formal education I do have, I am a professional, and professionals are expected to continue to advance their education throughout their careers via opportunities such as conferences, institutes, and/or certificate programs. The cost of attending conferences ranges from about $70 for a virtual conference to several hundred dollars for in-person events, the cost of completing courses at an institute range from $325-$750, and the cost of completing certificate programs range from about $1,500 to about $4,500. As someone who rarely has more than $50 to spend on non-essentials each month, I am totally priced out of these opportunities without financial assistance. Yes, some institutes do offer scholarships, but those are competitive and there's no guarantee of receiving one.

Knowing that I need to continue my education in order to advance as a professional genealogist, I decided to start this fundraiser to raise funds to cover the tuition costs associated with enrolling in a 5-week long methodology course at the 2026 Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research (IGHR), presented virtually by the Georgia Genealogical Society. The cost of tuition for non-society-members is $545, and Stripe, the service used to process donations, charges 2.9% to transfer donations to me, bringing the total costs to about $560, which is what I'm hoping to raise. The deadline to register for this course is September 15.

Completing this course will not only help demonstrate my seriousness as a professional genealogist in the short-term, it will advance my long-term goal of completing the ProGen Study Group in the future. ProGen is an 18-month long intensive program based around the textbook Professional Genealogy: Preparation, Practice, & Standards (ProGen: PPS), which is the premier textbook on practicing genealogy professionally. Completing ProGen, for me, is the final step before pursuing a Certified Genealogist (CG) or Accredited Genealogist (AG) credential. Credentialed professionals are often some of the most sought-after, respected professionals in the field, and I hope to count myself amongst them one day. However, to follow this path and enroll in ProGen, I must first meet the prerequisite of completing two methodology courses from an institute such as IGHR. If I'm able to attend IGHR 2026, that course will be the first of those two.

With your help, I know these goals are achievable and I know the future is bright. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support.

- Jordyn