The National Park Foundation, the nonprofit organization of the National Park Service, is set to receive a transformative $100 million grant from the Indianapolis-based foundation Lilly Endowment Inc., which is the largest grant in its history.
The grant aims to address the needs of over 400 national park sites and will be used to fund initiatives such as restoring coral reefs at Biscayne National Park in Florida and the restoration of trout species in western national parks.
The big picture: In addition to preserving fragile ecosystems and species, the grant will also create opportunities for young people to visit national parks.
- The donation is part of the National Park Foundation’s “Campaign for National Parks,” a $1 billion fundraising effort, and will help enhance and promote the future vibrancy of the national parks, monuments, and historic sites.
- The grant is expected to support the overall objective of ensuring the national parks are accessible to everyone for generations to come.
What they’re saying: “The National Park Foundation is inspired by, and incredibly grateful for, this extraordinary gift from Lilly Endowment,” said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding. This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come.”
