Unlike the Discovery Expedition, where fundraising was handled jointly by the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), the Terra Nova Expedition was organised as a private venture without significant institutional support. Scott estimated the total cost at £40,000,[35] half of which was eventually met by a government grant.[36] The balance was raised by public subscription and loans.[lower-alpha 4] The expedition was further assisted by the free supply of a range of provisions and equipment from sympathetic commercial firms.[37] The fund-raising task was largely carried out by Scott, and was a considerable drain on his time and energy, continuing in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand after Terra Nova had sailed from British waters.[38]