Currently, two commercial DNA testing companies, Family Tree DNA and DNA-Ancestry, offer a format similar to surname projects, to establish a geographical and/or heritage project.   Family Tree DNA projects allow you to take advantage of group discount pricing and have your project listed in their searchable database that can not only return results for the project name, but also for the surnames listed in your project.

To begin, check the listings of current geographical and heritage projects at Family Tree DNA, Worldfamilies.net to verify that the project you're thinking of starting isn't already in existence.  DNA-Ancestry allows multiples of the same project.

Before beginning the project, there are several items to evaluate:

1. Do you have adequate knowledge and/or expertise in the geographical/heritage area for project that you're thinking of launching?
2. Do you have the time to devote to the project if it has the potential to become a large project?
3. Do you know others in this area of expertise that may be able to assist you in serving as Co-Admin(s)?
   

Setting Up the Project

E-mail Leah Wark to set up your project with Family Tree DNA or Terry Barton to set your project up at Worldfamilies.net.  DNA-Ancestry projects are established through their website.

A website is vital to promoting your project. If you're not able to create your own website, and your project is with Family Tree DNA, then you may choose to utilize their one page free website.  Another option available is WorldFamilies.net which offers a free six page website. 

Besides posting the DNA results on the website, you may also want to include info on the history and heritage of your project's focus.  If your project is for a geographical/heritage that has a primary language other than English, you should offer a version of the site in that language.  Regional and ethnic surnames are another item to include, especially if the surname origins pertain to the geographic area.

Recruiting Co-Admins

Co-Admins can serve any number of functions for your geographical/heritage project, following are some examples of different functions that Co-Admins provide:

• The French Heritage Project has one Co-Admin who speaks French, translated the website into French and built a database to upload pedigrees.
  
• A Co-Admin may also assist by running the project while the Admin is on vacation, ill or otherwise incapacitated.  If the Admin ever chooses to leave the project or dies, the Co-Admin is ready to fulfill the Admin's duties.
  
• Multiple admins can divide up project duties.  For instance, Worldfamilies Admins might have one admin post pedigrees and the other update results.

You may choose to recruit a Co-Admin BEFORE the project is launched.  Many Admins secure a Co-Admin AFTER the project has been launched, by asking a person who expresses an interest in the project.

Benefits of Geographical/Heritage Projects

• Allows for the inclusion of mtDNA results.  A successful mtDNA match is more likely to occur in a geographical area where family relationships have been documented.  Another example would be to establish modal haplotypes for prominent female lines, e.g.: "The King's Daughters" in the French Heritage Project.

• Other types of DNA testing can be utilized.  The Pennsylvania-Deutsch DNA Project includes autosomal DNA testing to determine the ethnic make-up of their heritage.

• Heritage projects allow for the compilation and study of haplotypes of genetic "founders" e.g: Rolla - Viking DNA Project, Somerled - several Scottish projects, etc.

• If your project is set up with Family Tree DNA, you may also benefit from participants of the National Geographic Genographic Project opting to join your project.  Many of FTDNA's geographical and heritage projects have already benefited greatly by having numerous Genographic participants join their projects.  The Genographic Project ends in 2010.

Additional Features of a Geographical/Heritage Project

• Consider setting up a free Yahoo Group for participants.  The Yahoo Group can be utilized as a private mailing list, that includes file sharing, links, polls, chat, photos, etc.  The Bahamas DNA Project is one that utilizes a private Yahoo Group.
  
• Another additional feature is to establish a Rootsweb DNA project mailing list.  While Rootsweb's lists are not private like Yahoo's, and do not have the additional tools that a Yahoo Group offers, it may be a good source in which to recruit people to your project.

• Include additional genealogical features on your project's website.   The Laurens County, South Carolina Geographical DNA Project contains cemetery transcriptions and local research links.  

Next: Promoting the Project