A $100 million grant will help fund several initiatives for the National Park Service/NPS file

A record-setting $100 million grant to the National Park Foundation from Lilly Endowment, Inc., is expected to help the Park Service cope with climate-change impacts to the parks, inspire young adults to connect with nature, and help "ensure the health and longevity of the fragile ecosystems and diverse species" that inhabit park lands.

The grant is the largest ever received by foundation and the largest grant benefitting national parks. It will be used to fund four key priority areas:

• Inspire the Next Generation of Park Stewards: Creating opportunities for youth and young adults that will foster a deeper understanding of history, appreciation for environmental stewardship, and connection with our natural world.
• Conserve and Preserve Threatened Parks and Wildlife: Addressing critical initiatives that will ensure the health and longevity of the fragile ecosystems and diverse species that call our national parks home.
• Ensure a World-Class Visitor Experience: Securing a future where national parks can accommodate unprecedented growth and leverage new technology, while remaining accessible and awe-inspiring for all visitors.
• Tell a More Complete Story of America: Delivering a more comprehensive historical narrative, including the experiences of communities whose voices and contributions have not been fully told as a part of the American story.

"Our founders were inspired by the beauty and wonders of the natural world and supportive of research and educational programs about archaeology and the cultural history of our nation," said N. Clay Robbins, chairman and CEO of Lilly Endowment. "We are pleased therefore to further their interests through this grant. We believe the National Park Foundation's campaign will enhance the programming in and promote the future vibrancy of our country's marvelous system of parks, monuments, and historic sites."

The windfall comes as the National Park Service has struggled to meet its mission due to a lack of funding and staffing at a time when visitors are crowding into the National Park System and when climate-change impacts are affecting resources.

Read how climate change is impacting resources in coastal units of the National Park System from Maine to Florida.

Read about the National Park Service's funding challenges.

The grant contributes to The Campaign for National Parks, the National Park Foundation's $1 billion fundraising campaign that will help address the urgent needs of America's 430 national park sites. The Campaign for National Parks also galvanizes the efforts of park partners across the country whose collective goal is to raise $3.5 billion. Together, the campaign will generate more support for national parks than ever before to ensure they not only endure, but thrive, for the benefit of all who cherish them, a release from the foundation said.

"The National Park Foundation is inspired by, and incredibly grateful for, this extraordinary gift from Lilly Endowment," said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation. "For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding. This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come."

The Lilly Endowment is an Indianapolis-based, private foundation created in 1937 by J. K. Lilly and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location.