National Park Service Receives $100M Gift, Its Largest Ever

The National Park Service in the US controls over 430 sites, including 63 national parks, 85 national monuments, and many more.

It just received the largest gift in its history, a full $100 million dollars, donated by the Lilly Endowment.

The funds will be allocated to four differet areas—creating opportunities for young people and inspiring the the next generation of park stewards; ensuring the health and longevity of the fragile ecosystems and species, such as salmon and trout; leveraging new types of technology that makes the parks more accessible and engaging; and delivering a more comprehensive historical narrative that includes underrepresented groups.

“For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding”

said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, the fundraising arm of the NPS created by Congress in the 1960s.

“This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come.”