08/12/2026
HELP IS COMING FROM EVERYWHERE — BUT WHO ARE WE REALLY HELPING?
Nikola Lonchar / Никола Лончар
President / Founder
Tesla Science Foundation
Phone: 484-955-0545
I have tried several times to explain this, but it seems that either I have not been clear enough, or some people simply have not taken what I am saying seriously. So I will try one more time, openly and without avoiding the difficult parts.
When we decided to become a nonprofit organization and register as a 501(c)(3), I called a meeting of everyone who had been involved in the Nikola Tesla Inventors Club up to that point.
I asked each person to write down what they believed our mission should be and how they envisioned the organization developing over one year, three years, five years, and beyond.
The ideas were excellent.
In addition to defining our mission, we developed what was essentially a business plan, with a significant part devoted to finances.
When everyone finished, I asked one more question:
What do you think Nikola Tesla would say to us if he were here with us today?
I asked everyone to write their thoughts one more time, but this time with our real mission in mind:
To promote the life, work, and legacy of Nikola Tesla; to bring together as many people as possible who sincerely work in his spirit; and to support, recognize, promote, and honor individuals whose work contributes to that mission.
From that day until today, I have tried to preserve that principle.
I believed — and still believe — that the people serving on the Board of Directors and Organizational Committee should be people who have a genuine love and respect for Nikola Tesla and who are willing to contribute their time, knowledge, and energy to the mission.
During the second round of discussions, the idea was raised that we were no longer simply a club, but a scientific foundation.
David Vuich organized a vote and gave a detailed explanation of why we should become the Tesla Science Foundation, rather than remain the Nikola Tesla Club or Nikola Tesla Inventors Club.
The majority supported his proposal.
I was the only one who remained committed to my original position.
The argument was simple: as a foundation, we would be eligible to apply for grants from the U.S. Government and other organizations.
Almost twenty years later, I have to acknowledge that we have never submitted a serious grant application and have never received even one dollar through a grant.
We survived in every way we could.
We received some support through organizations dealing with the Serbian diaspora, although that was often enough only for basic expenses. Somehow, we always managed to keep going, pay our bills, and — something that has always been very important to me — we never left anyone unpaid.
From the beginning, it was especially important to me that we support, promote, and recognize people who were doing serious work related to Nikola Tesla.
I still believe this is one of the best ways to promote Tesla himself.
Some of these people became members of our Board of Directors; others joined the Organizational Committee. We tried to establish cooperation that was as fair and equal as possible.
Personally, I have helped many people with their projects.
When someone needed advice and I knew how to help, I helped. When I did not know the answer, I tried to find someone who did.
Over the years, this approach produced very good results.
But there is one thing that has increasingly troubled and exhausted me.
From time to time, people have said — or behaved as though — they were “helping Nikola.”
I want to make this absolutely clear:
You are not helping me.
You do not need to help me.
If you are doing something for the Tesla Science Foundation, you are not doing it for Nikola Lonchar.
You are doing it for Nikola Tesla, for the mission of the Foundation, and for the community of people who share that mission.
The Tesla Science Foundation is not my private organization.
It is not my personal property.
It belongs to the people who participate in its work and accept responsibility for the part they choose to undertake.
That is why it is so difficult for me when someone says:
“I am helping Nikola.”
No.
If you are a member of the Board, the Organizational Committee, or have accepted a particular position or responsibility, you are not helping me.
You have accepted responsibility for a part of the work of the Tesla Science Foundation.
That is a very important difference.
It was precisely for this reason that I eventually realized it was time for me to step down as President.
I spoke with several people who were willing to consider taking the position.
Everything seemed fine until they understood that being President is not simply a title.
The President and other responsible officers carry serious organizational, legal, and financial responsibilities for the Foundation.
And when you work with volunteers, the responsibility is even greater.
It requires flexibility, patience, understanding, and creativity. You have to find ways to recognize and motivate people who are giving their time without financial compensation.
Very often, you must find ways to thank and reward people who have contributed their time even when there is little or no money available.
I now understand much better why, at the very beginning, so many people focused on the financial plan before thinking about the practical work of the Foundation.
But I still want the Tesla Science Foundation and Tesla Science Foundation Serbia to remain organizations driven primarily by people, knowledge, enthusiasm, and genuine love for Tesla — not by personal interest.
Over the years, hundreds of people from different countries have visited our programs and participated in our activities.
We have issued invitation letters to people who wanted to come to the United States. Unfortunately, during all these years, as far as I know, only one person actually received a U.S. visa based on one of our invitations.
We have distributed hundreds of certificates of appreciation, certificates, medals, and pins.
We have also created 34 busts of Nikola Tesla, which have been placed in different locations.
Our wonderful sculptor created medals, pins, reliefs, and busts without compensation.
But behind every one of those accomplishments were enormous amounts of work: preparation, communication, documentation, packaging, shipping, coordination, installation, and finding the people and resources necessary to make it happen.
None of that happened by itself.
In January, we will reach 15 years of organizing conferences in New York.
During the first years, we even charged admission.
Later, we continued largely because of the dedication and volunteer work of people who believed in the mission.
I am writing all of this because I previously announced that I would step down as President on July 15.
Since no one has yet accepted the responsibility, I am willing to extend my term until January 15, 2027, when we will mark our 15th anniversary in the New Yorker Hotel.
But by then, we must have a new Board of Directors and people who are genuinely prepared to accept responsibility.
If by that time we still do not have people willing to take responsibility for leading the organization, I believe it is more honest to turn off the lights than to continue formally without the people and commitment necessary to move forward.
I will continue promoting Nikola Tesla regardless.
But I do not want to continue doing it in exactly the same way.
I do not want anyone to think they are “helping me.”
If you want to work with me, I want us to work for Tesla.
If you want to be part of the Tesla Science Foundation, I want you to be willing to take responsibility for your part of the work.
That is the heart of what I am trying to explain.
I am not asking anyone to help me.
I am asking people to help the mission.
I am not asking for a favor.
I am asking for responsibility.
I am not asking for ownership.
I am asking for commitment and unity.
If you believe you can and want to take my position and accept the responsibilities of President of the Tesla Science Foundation, please contact me.
It is time for us to decide clearly whether we truly want to continue this mission — and who is willing to accept responsibility for carrying it forward.
Thank you to everyone who, throughout all these years, has contributed their time, knowledge, work, and genuine love for Nikola Tesla and helped keep this mission alive.
Nikola Lonchar / Никола Лончар
President / Founder
Tesla Science Foundation
