Lincoln Presidential Foundation Awarded Grant from National Park Foundation: Nationwide Study Will Explore Expanding Support for Lincoln Legacy
Project quickly follows pilot partnership with National Park Service’s Lincoln Home in Springfield
CHICAGO, (July 11, 2022) – The Lincoln Presidential Foundation (“Foundation”) announced today it was embarking on a new project with support from the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official non-profit partner of the National Park Service (NPS).
The project is a new, nationwide study to explore the best models for scaling support of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy and related historic sites across the country. This announcement follows the news in March 2022 that the Foundation took on a new national role and had established an agreement with NPS to pilot support of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield.
“Although there are hundreds of Lincoln historic sites, memorials and monuments, there is no other national or international foundation focused on issues and resources affecting our 16th president's legacy. This study is an important step toward scaling our impact and public benefit. We are honored to have the National Park Foundation’s generous support and participation in this project,” said Erin Carlson Mast, the Foundation’s President & CEO.
The NPF awarded the Foundation a grant in support of this study. The NPF and NPS will also participate in the study itself. “Unlocking the potential of private philanthropy and strategic partnerships will help preserve and share the history of President Lincoln at more than a dozen sites across the country,” said National Park Foundation President and CEO Will Shafroth. “Supporting the park partner community in this effort represents an ongoing commitment to more fully understanding both the history and the promise of American democracy.”
"Given my lifelong interest in historic preservation and Abraham Lincoln, I was pleased to see these two excellent organizations come together and was delighted to help support this project," said John Nau, Lincoln Presidential Foundation Member at Large and board member of the National Park Foundation. "Building successful partnerships is essential for historic sites to thrive and become effective educational tools for future generations to learn about the founding principles and history of our country."
Conducted by The Potrero Group, the feasibility study will look at entirely new ways for the Foundation to approach its support of Lincoln’s legacy and the ability of Lincoln-oriented sites to preserve evidence of the past and share the story of President Lincoln’s leadership and its importance to the country today.
About the Lincoln Presidential Foundation
Established in 2000, the Lincoln Presidential Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit public charity headquartered in Illinois. The Foundation’s purpose is to support, sustain, and provide educational and public programming, research, and access to historic places and collections, related to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, in cooperation with other entities. Its vision is the global protection and expansion of freedom and democracy inspired by the life and work of President Abraham Lincoln. Learn more at lincolnpresidential.org
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