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[[underlined]] SOURCES OF SUPPORT [[/underlined]]

The Institution has three major sources of support: Federal appropriations, Federal grants and contracts, and trust funds.  The trust funds are further divided into restricted and unrestricted categories.

[[underlined]] Federal Appropriations [[/underlined]]

Federal funds are sought and received through the regular budget and appropriations processes, and are expended in compliance with Government regulations.  The Board of Regents considers and approves Institution budgets and delegates the administration of these funds to the Secretary.  This delegation presupposes adherence to programs and budgets approved by the Regents, specific legislative authority, conformance to standard Government personnel procedures, and observance of Federal procurement and accounting regulations.

Traditionally, the appropriated funds of the Institution have been budgeted by the Board of Regents for the primary core support of basic research; the acquisition, care,maintenance, exhibition, and study of the national collections; education and publication programs; construction, renovation, and repair of facilities; and protection of the buildings and collections under the jurisdiction of the Smithsonian.  Support of the Smithsonian's facilities permits more than 22 million visitors annually to Washington to enjoy the exhibitions, as well as its scientific and scholarly resources.  The Institution also serves additional millions of museum-goers across the country through its Travelling Exhibition Service.

Funds derived directly from appropriates are the largest single source of funds available to the Institution.  They were initially provided in 1857, at which time they constituted 30% of total operating expenses, and reached their highest proportion, 91%, in 1907.  In the current decade, direct Federal appropriations have ranged between 64% and 76% of the Smithsonian's operating expenditures, and in 1976 accounted for 66%.