The National Park Foundation has received $100 million, the largest donation in the group’s history, leaders said in an announcement Monday.
Lilly Endowment, a private philanthropic foundation born out of the Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company, provided the record donation to the nonprofit fundraising arm of the National Park Service. NPF is in the midst of a $1 billion campaign to address issues across the 430 sites.
“For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding,” said NPF CEO Will Shafroth in a statement. “This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come.”
The donation will go to four priority areas, the NPF announced Monday. A portion will support educational opportunities for children and young adults, to connect them with the parks and teach about environmental stewardship.
