I don't know the author, but this is a reasonable statement that I think makes good points.

A clear analysis et close to my point of view. Thanks for sharing this text.

Urulókë wrote:

I don't know the author, but this is a reasonable statement that I think makes good points.

I think that poster makes extremely good points.

I can't imagine that the Tolkien Estate will allow this to proceed, at least not with Tolkien's name attached to it. The Estate has steadfastly promoted Tolkien's creative and scholarly works; but has never been supportive of efforts that seek to highlight Tolkien's personal life, save for the authorized Biography and Letters (and even with the latter the focus was mostly on his thoughts about his literary creations). In other words, the Estate seems to hold with Tolkien himself that biography is largely irrelevant to creativity, and so will I suspect regard as pointless the fact that Tolkien happened to write The Hobbit and (most of) The Lord of the Rings while living in this particular house, and see no reason why it should be accorded any particular significance.

Stu wrote:

Urulókë wrote:

I don't know the author, but this is a reasonable statement that I think makes good points.

I think that poster makes extremely good points.

I came over to post these exact thoughts after seeing them on Twitter.

I can't help feeling that the team on this have gotten well ahead of themselves and gone off like a rocket at something that needed calm and measured planning.

The "Donate" button on www.projectnorthmoor.org/donate takes US based donors to "The Signatry", a US charity that states right there on the page that they have no obligation to send the money to Project Northmoor (they will "strongly consider advisor recommendations") but not only that, "Project Northmoor is not currently eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions in the United States" so The Signatry will consider making grants to other charities which might decide to give the money to Project Northmoor but "any organization to which The Signatry sends a grant from the Fund will have full and exclusive control and discretion over the granted assets".

US based donations are not going to Project Northmoor. Some (or most) of the money might get there someday, after multiple charities have processed it and decided if they want to forward it on.

UPDATE: I've been told by a trusted source that "the US tax code actually requires the notice that the pass-through charity is under no obligation to follow your suggestion (otherwise, I think, the gift never legally becomes theirs)". I still don't understand the third organization in the middle, however.

From that same Twitter thread

I don't think it odd or alarming if a Christian organization (or more than one working together) wants to make a Tolkien learning center or museum or similar - Tolkien was, after all, also devoutly religious.

All of the documentation I have seen (public, and some privately that will hopefully be shared soon) seem to indicate that these people have no plan on a Tolkien focused learning center - rather, they are setting up a faith-based retreat/bed and breakfast that happens to be located in a house that Tolkien lived in, but using the association to try to fundraise at a completely different level than a normal Christian retreat could hope for.

I don't think it is alarming that a Christian organisation is involved, FWIW, but I think it is *pertinent*, and should be very clear to anyone donating that there is a significant religious aspect. Clear and full disclosure of all agendas is important with anything where you are asking people for money.

The house is a Grade 2 listed building, so I'm not certain what this Project is trying to "save". The house isn't in danger of being demolished or altered.

I would also question what will happen to the money raised by this charity if it falls short of the asking price for the house (which is not currently even on the market).