The National Parks Foundation (NPF) has received an unprecedented philanthropic gift of $100 million from the Lilly Endowment, marking the largest donation in its history. This substantial contribution aims to protect and restore the most fragile ecosystems within America’s national parks, some of which are at immediate risk of degradation. While well-known parks like Glacier and Canyonlands safeguard vast tracts of pristine wilderness, other parks such as Biscayne Bay and Channel Islands are dedicated to preserving smaller, highly vulnerable ecosystems. The $100 million donation will be crucial in supporting efforts to protect these delicate environments, including restoring coral reefs, conserving wild trout species, and addressing other critical ecological needs across the national park system.
This historic donation comes when the National Park Service (NPS) grapples with a significant backlog of deferred maintenance, estimated at $24 billion. Although the Great American Outdoors Act was enacted to generate funding for national park maintenance, it only addresses a portion of the required resources. The Lilly Endowment’s gift, the first major contribution toward filling this funding gap, underscores the importance of private philanthropy in sustaining and enhancing America’s national parks. According to NPF President and CEO Will Shafroth, such gifts allow the NPS to respond swiftly to urgent conservation needs, ensuring that these treasured landscapes and ecosystems are preserved for future generations.
