CHICAGO, (March 7, 2022) – The Lincoln Presidential Foundation (“Foundation”), formerly known as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, is taking on a new role - leading and supporting efforts across the nation and perhaps the world to share the story of Abraham Lincoln’s life, legacy, and leadership.
As part of the relaunch, the Foundation has changed its name and adopted a new brand, which will allow it to achieve its new, broader mission.
With over two decades of fundraising prowess and expertise in public-private partnerships, the Foundation helped establish the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (ALPLM) in Springfield, IL in 2005. Over the years, the Foundation raised over $42 million in support of museum programs, projects, and the Foundation’s one-of-a-kind Taper Collection of Lincolniana, which is on loan to the ALPLM through October 2022.
Since 2006, the Foundation has annually bestowed its prestigious Lincoln Leadership Prize, which recognizes leaders in the Lincoln tradition. Prize recipients have included four heads of state and numerous other internationally renowned individuals. To date, this award has raised millions of dollars in support of the Foundation’s mission.
“This is an important step in our history and very positive expansion of the Foundation’s mission,” said Erin Carlson Mast, the Foundation’s President & CEO. “We are now responding to a broader need to preserve President Lincoln’s legacy for the public benefit in a variety of locations. With our generous supporters, we will be able to participate in new projects with an array of enthusiastic new partner organizations.”
In 2021, the exclusive partnership between the Foundation and the State of Illinois ended, creating an opportunity for the Foundation to lead its own projects and lend its expertise to new partners. Stakeholder discussions pointed to an existing need and a crucial role for the Foundation. 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 these historic places or the important documents and artifacts associated with our 16th president.
The Foundation’s vision is to globally protect and expand freedom and democracy inspired by the life and work of President Lincoln. The Foundation will support, sustain, and provide educational and public programming, research, and access to historic places and collections with new partners and collaborators.
“We are very proud of everything the Foundation accomplished for the ALPLM. The Foundation board and staff of the Foundation are now eager to make their impact and reach felt on a broader scale than ever before,” said the Foundation’s Board Chair Sergio (“Satch”) A. Pecori. “The future of the Foundation simply could not be brighter.”
In its ongoing effort to support President Lincoln’s legacy, the Foundation is pleased to announce that as of March 2022, the first of its new partnerships will be with the National Park Service (NPS). The NPS administers dozens of sites across the country connected to President Lincoln and his legacy.
The Foundation’s pilot agreement with NPS is philanthropic support of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, IL. “We welcome the new partnership with the Lincoln Presidential Foundation and their interest in supporting the protection of culturally significant sites connected to Abraham Lincoln’s legacy," said Lincoln Home National Historic Site superintendent Tim Good. “Lincoln Home National Historic Site recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. As I look to the future, I am thrilled by the opportunity to work with our friends at the Lincoln Presidential Foundation to accomplish more on behalf of the public.”
Mast added, “Partnering with the National Park Service demonstrates our desire to support places of national significance, in ways that multiply benefit to the American people and global citizens.”
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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