The National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit organization of the National Park Service, is set to receive its largest grant ever. The transformative $100 million gift comes from the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. and marks a historic moment for the United States’ national parks.
Established by Congress in the 1960s, the National Park Foundation exists to support national parks. This record-breaking grant aims to address the needs of more than 400 national park sites. Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, described the donation as the most significant grant in the history of U.S. national parks.
The funds will be directed towards various initiatives, though specific allocations are yet to be revealed. One priority is restoring coral reefs at Biscayne National Park in Florida. Another focus will be on the restoration of trout species in western national parks, aligning with the foundation’s recent conservation projects.
In addition to environmental restoration, the grant aims to create opportunities for young people to visit national parks, ensuring broader and more inclusive access to these natural treasures. “This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come,” Shafroth said.
The National Park Service oversees hundreds of units, including iconic locations such as Yellowstone National Park in Montana, Yosemite National Park in California, and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. It also manages less accessible preserved areas like Buck Island Reef National Monument in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This substantial donation is part of the National Park Foundation’s ongoing “Campaign for National Parks,” a $1 billion fundraising effort aimed at sustaining and enhancing the nation’s parks. N. Clay Robbins, chair and CEO of Lilly Endowment, emphasized the significance of the gift. “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,” Robbins said.
The foundation expects to announce the first round of grants from this generous donation later this year, marking the beginning of a new era for America’s national parks.
