America’s national park system faces a growing list of challenges — but an enormous donation could help fill the funding gaps. The National Park Foundation (NPF) will receive a “historic” $100 million grant, according to an announcement Monday from the National Park Service (NPS).
Foundation leaders called the donation “transformative.” It’s the largest grant ever received by NPF and the biggest grant benefitting national parks in U.S. history.
The money comes from Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based foundation created in 1937 by the owners of pharmaceutical business Eli Lilly and Company. A spokesperson for the organization declined to comment on the rationale behind the donation.
However, national park advocates have been raising the alarm in recent months about the likely impact of federal budget shortfalls. In the news release, NPF CEO Will Shafroth said that private organizations like the Lilly Endowment could fill the gaps left by public officials.
“For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding,” Shafroth said. “This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come.”
Parks Funding Worries Advocates
The donation may come at a crucial moment for America’s national parks. As Congress wrestles with the creation of a federal budget for fiscal year 2025, parks advocates have been complaining about proposed funding cuts that could impact parks across the country.
A spending bill passed by the House in July would cut $210 million from the National Park Service budget, according to a statement from the National Park Conservation Association (NPCA). The proposed cut represents 6% of all NPS funding. A budget shortfall like that would mean thousands fewer park rangers, NPCA officials said.
In general, the parks service has seen decreasing federal support even as popularity has continued to rise. Between 2012 and 2022, national park staffing dropped by 13% while visitation grew by 10%, according to the NPCA.
That has led to many parks cutting corners on maintenance, said John Garder, the NPCA’s senior director for budget and appropriations. With fewer park employees, there’s less time to plow roads, remove fallen trees from campgrounds, collect wildlife data, or simply change the toilet paper in the bathroom. Certain visitor centers may even have to close their doors.
“This is the most challenging and worrisome situation for park service funding in a decade,” Garder told GearJunkie. “We’re expecting another roller coaster this year in the appropriations process.”
Where Will the Money Go?
It’s unclear yet exactly how the grant money from Lilly Endowment will be used by the NPF. The nonprofit will announce the first round of grants stemming from the donation later this year, a spokesperson said.
But NPF leaders already know their general plans for the money. In the announcement, the NPF presented four pillars of its work to improve the park system, which include supporting park workers, protecting wildlife, improving the experience for visitors, and amplifying Indigenous voices.
Most recently, the NPF has supported coral reef restoration at Biscayne National Park in Florida.
All the money the NPF raises helps them fill the gap from government funding — and even more so with the recent budget cuts, NPF spokesperson Chelsey McLin said.
“Working together with NPS, we will help support where money is needed most to make the greatest impact,” she said.
