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Will the Project Fund pay for my DNA testing?
The Project Fund is managed to help as many Austin researchers as possible. With this in mind, the Fund supports testing of documented Austin family lines based on their size, with the largest lines being tested first. As testing continues, smaller and smaller Austin lines will be tested. Your own documented Austin family line will eventually reach the top of the "waiting list" and then the Project Fund will pay for testing  two descendants in your Austin line. However, if your documented Austin branch is small in size, the "waiting" could take years. In that case you might want to consider pooling resources with interested family members and cousins who share your Austin line to privately fund your own DNA testing. Private DNA testing costs less if you first join the Austin-Austen DNA Project. You might also consider hinting to your children that you would like DNA testing as a birthday present or Christmas gift!
 

Who decides which DNA tests are paid for by the Project Fund?
The Project Fund Coordinator first determines the relative sizes of documented Austin lines which have not yet been tested, as explained above. Next the Fund Coordinator consults with AFGS and AFAOA genealogists and databases to determine which male Austin descendants would make the best candidates. The goal is to find two Austin males from the line who are as distantly related as possible, and as few generations distant from the progenitor as possible. The Fund Coordinator then contacts each candidate and invites him to participate in the Austin-Austen DNA Project. Once a candidate agrees to participate, the Fund Coordinator pays Family Tree DNA to mail a Y-DNA25 Test Kit to the DNA donor.