Washington's National Park Fund

OUR MISSION is to raise private support to deepen the public’s love for, understanding of, and experiences in Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks. OUR VISION is for our three parks to be strong and vibrant, youthful and everlasting. It was a rainy night in Seattle in 1993. Former Governor and Senator Dan Evans was chatting with legendary mountaineer Lou Whittaker and Microsoft employee Melinda French about the wonders of Washington State’s three largest national parks: Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks. Together, they knew the parks needed – and most importantly, deserved – volunteer and financial support. Together, they formed Washington’s National Park Fund. While the organization went by various names during its formative years, its vision remained the same: Bring the thousands of people who care deeply about these iconic public lands together and share the parks’ most pressing issues. That vision holds true today.

Washington’s National Park Fund is the only philanthropic organization dedicated exclusively to supporting Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks through charitable contributions, operating under a Partnership Agreement between each national park and the Fund. Annually, the park superintendents submit a wish list of projects that, except for charitable contributions, would not otherwise happen. These include programs to encourage young people and their families to experience our national parks, enhance the visitor experience through trail and interpretive signage improvements, and expand the parks’ scientific knowledge to both share with the public and to incorporate into improved cultural and resource management decisions. Alongside outdoor-loving, park-minded supporters, we’re ensuring the preservation of precious lands by holding fundraising events, Community Fireside Circles in and outside of the park, hosting weekends in the park with donors and parkstaff, leading hikes in the parks, partnering with fundraising rides like RAMROD and Ride the Hurricane, partnering with incredible organizations, and hosting our annual corporate climbs: Climb for a Cause.