The National Park Foundation is set to receive a $100 million grant, the largest in its history, from the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. The donation, announced Monday, was hailed by the foundation as a “transformative boost” for the country’s national parks.
Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, stated that the funds will be directed toward addressing the needs of over 400 national park sites across the U.S. While the exact allocation of the money is still being determined, key priorities include the restoration of coral reefs at Biscayne National Park in Florida and efforts to revive trout species in western parks—part of the foundation’s ongoing investments in protecting fragile ecosystems and species.
In addition to environmental initiatives, the grant will be used to create more opportunities for young people to visit national parks. The National Park Foundation supervises famous sites like Yellowstone and Yosemite as well as lesser-known areas like Buck Island Reef National Monument in the U.S. Virgin Islands
The donation becomes part of the foundation’s “Campaign for National Parks,” a $1 billion fundraising effort aimed at enhancing the programming and long-term sustainability of the National Park System. The first round of grants stemming from this donation is expected to be announced later this year.
