UNITED STATES — The National Park Foundation (NPF) has received a $100 million grant this week, the largest it has ever received and the largest-ever grant benefitting national parks, according to an announcement by the organization.
The NPF, established by Congress in 1967 as the official fundraising partner for the National Park Service, is calling the grant “historic” and “transformative.” It comes from Lilly Endowment Inc., a philanthropic foundation started by the Lilly family of pharmaceutical titans.
“For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding,” NPF President and CEO Will Shafroth said in the announcement. “This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come.”
Shafroth told the Associated Press that some of NPF’s recent priorities have included restoration of trout species in Western national parks, along with restoring coral reefs in Florida’s Biscayne National Park.
“The impact of this gift will be felt in our parks and in surrounding communities for generations to come,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in the announcement.
According to NPF, funds will be allocated in four development areas: inspiring the next generation of park stewards, conserving and preserving threatened parks and wildlife, ensuring a world-class visitor experience and telling a more complete story of America. On this last point, NPF said funds would go toward “delivering a more comprehensive historical narrative, including the experiences of communities whose voices and contributions have not been fully told as a part of the American story.”
The grant will go toward the Campaign for National Parks, a billion-dollar fundraising campaign for NPF that is itself part of a larger goal to raise $4.5 billion for the parks by 2028 with nationwide park partners.
“We believe the National Park Foundation’s campaign will enhance the programming in and promote the future vibrancy of our country’s marvelous system of parks, monuments and historic sites,” Lilly Endowment Chairman and CEO N. Clay Robbins said in the announcement.
