Washington's National Park Fund

What Washington's National Park Fund does

Washington's National Park Fund (WNPF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It serves as the official philanthropic partner of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks - the three largest national parks in Washington State, which together receive nearly 5 million visitors annually. The organization's mission is to raise private support to preserve and protect these parks by funding scientific research, youth and family experiences, volunteer programs, trail maintenance, and visitor experience projects that fill gaps left by federal appropriations.

WNPF has awarded $13 million to the parks since founding and currently operates a multi-year capital campaign called "Together for the Parks" seeking $20 million in commitments for projects, programs, and endowments. Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic contributions via multiple giving vehicles: one-time and recurring individual donations, corporate sponsorships and matching gifts (with named partners including Microsoft and REI), planned giving and endowments, stock and asset gifts, donor-advised fund (DAF) contributions, and a Resilience Fund for rapid-response needs. The organization also generates ancillary support through a Washington State specialty license plate program and merchandise sales.

Programmatically, WNPF deploys a portfolio of fundraising and engagement activities including signature events (Climb for a Cause, Trek for the Trails, Parkfest, Return to Paradise, Pacific Runderland 5K), Virtual Field Trips, community science initiatives (e.g., pika population surveys via the Pika Patrol App), and youth and stewardship programs that engage 2,200 volunteers contributing roughly 70,000 hours of service annually. Distribution is multi-channel: a content-marketing-driven website (wnpf.org), email newsletters, and active social media presence on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, supplemented by workplace giving channels and regional partnerships such as the Washington Trails Association and Seattle Parks Foundation. WNPF operates with a small team (11-50 employees) and holds the Candid (formerly GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency. The organization does not develop a proprietary technology product; its technology stack consists of standard nonprofit donor management, email marketing, and donation processing systems, including Blackbaud for hosted donation forms.

Name

Washington's National Park Fund

Legal name

Washington's National Park Fund

Website

https://wnpf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Washington's National Park Fund is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that serves as the official philanthropic partner of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, raising private donations to fund conservation, research, youth programs, and trail maintenance across the three parks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Conservation Fundraising

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

Keywords

• National park fundraising
• Conservation philanthropy
• Park preservation donations
• Volunteer stewardship programs
• Environmental nonprofit funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individual supporters, including options for monthly giving, one-time gifts, and honor/memorial donations.
2. Corporate Giving: Corporate sponsorships and giving programs including workplace matching gifts, employee giving campaigns, and direct corporate donations from partners like Microsoft, REI, and others.
3. Planned Giving and Endowments: Deferred giving vehicles including gift and estate planning, donor advised fund (DAF) contributions, and endowment gifts that provide long-term sustainable funding.
4. Stock and Asset Gifts: Donations of publicly traded securities and stock gifts, providing tax-advantaged giving options for donors.
5. Resilience Fund: Designated fund to collect donations for immediate deployment to address critical park needs, enabling rapid response to changing conditions.
6. Together for the Parks Campaign: Multi-year comprehensive fundraising campaign seeking to invest $20 million in projects and programs plus endowments for ongoing and reliable park funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Washington's National Park Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises private philanthropic donations to fund scientific research, volunteer stewardship programs, trail maintenance, and youth/family experiences for Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. Its core offerings include multiple giving vehicles (one-time, monthly, stock, donor-advised fund, planned giving, workplace matching), signature fundraising events, the Resilience Fund, the Together for the Parks $20 million campaign, and specialty National Park License Plates.

Product overview

Washington's National Park Fund operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as the official philanthropic partner for Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of fundraising programs centered around donations and charitable giving (including the Resilience Fund and the Together for the Parks $20M campaign), complemented by experiential programs such as Virtual Field Trips, Climb for a Cause, Trek for the Trails, Parkfest, Return to Paradise, and Pacific Runderland. Additional offerings include National Park License Plates for vehicle owners, Science and Research Projects funding, Youth and Family Programs, and Volunteer and Stewardship Programs. The portfolio collectively supports park conservation through direct funding, community engagement, and public participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donations & Fundraising Programs Charitable giving programs including one-time and monthly donations, stock gifts, donor-advised fund (DAF) giving, workplace matching gifts, and planned giving/estate planning for supporting Washington's national parks.
• Resilience Fund Emergency fund established to collect donations for critical park needs during changing conditions and federal funding uncertainties, supporting immediate needs like volunteer equipment and park operations.
• Together for the Parks Campaign Multi-year fundraising campaign seeking to invest $20 million in projects, programs, and endowments to provide ongoing and reliable funding for Washington's national parks.
• National Park License Plates Specialty license plates for Washington state vehicles that generate support for Washington's national parks through registration fees.
• Climb for a Cause Mountaineering event program where participants climb peaks including Mount Olympus, with proceeds supporting park conservation and maintenance projects.
• Trek for the Trails Guided backpacking trips through park wilderness areas, such as Enchanted Valley in Olympic National Park, combining outdoor adventure with fundraising for trail maintenance.
• Parkfest Annual community event supporting Washington's national parks.
• Return to Paradise Event program related to Mount Rainier National Park activities.
• Pacific Runderland Family-friendly 5K and kids run event that raises funds to support Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks through Washington's National Park Fund.
• Virtual Field Trips Online educational programs featuring behind-the-scenes looks at park science and research projects, including pika population surveys and other community science initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• $13 million awarded to the parks
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MicrosoftcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing financial support and potentially employee engagement through workplace giving programs. Microsoft has been a long-standing supporter of Washington's national parks through WNPF.
• REIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor recreation retailer partner supporting conservation efforts in Washington's national parks through corporate giving and likely in-kind support.
• Wildland TrekkingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization offering guided trips and outdoor experiences, supporting WNPF's mission through joint programming and potentially Trek for the Trails events.
• Pacific RunderlandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFamily-friendly 5K and kids run event that raises funds to support Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks through WNPF. The founder created the event specifically to support WNPF in honor of her father.
• Good and Well Supply Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal partner organization supporting park initiatives through corporate giving or cause marketing.
• Forks Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional partner representing the Olympic Peninsula community with mutual interests in supporting Olympic National Park and local tourism.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner relationship with the National Park Service as the designated philanthropic organization for Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. WNPF raises private funds to support NPS priorities and projects.
• Washington Trails AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization working to ensure nature is in reach for everyone in Washington, building and maintaining trails and increasing access to green spaces across the state.
• Seattle Parks FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner supporting park restoration projects, community programming, trail improvements, and equitable access to green space throughout Seattle.
• Rainier WatchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand founded from the phrase 'the mountain is out,' supporting and partnering with WNPF through their product sales.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Park Foundation: The official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service nationwide. Directly comparable as a 501(c)(3) fundraising entity for NPS priorities, but operating at a national scale across all 400+ parks rather than three parks in one state.
• National Parks Conservation Association: Independent nonprofit advocacy organization focused on protecting national parks at the national level. Comparable as a mission-aligned organization but focused on advocacy and policy rather than direct fundraising for individual parks.
• Conservation International: Global environmental nonprofit working on biodiversity and conservation. Thematically related as an environmental and conservation grantmaking organization, though operating at a much larger international scale than a single-state park fund.

Direct peers

• Yellowstone Forever: Official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, formed by merger of the Yellowstone Association and Yellowstone Park Foundation. Comparable as a single-park-focused philanthropic organization with similar programs in research, education, and stewardship.
• Yosemite Conservancy: Official philanthropic partner of Yosemite National Park. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and revenue model as a park-specific 501(c)(3) raising private funds for conservation, research, and visitor programs.
• Grand Canyon Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park. Comparable as a park-specific 501(c)(3) fundraising organization supporting trails, research, education, and visitor experience programs.
• Glacier National Park Conservancy: Official nonprofit partner of Glacier National Park funding research, education, and preservation projects. Directly comparable as a single-park-focused 501(c)(3) with similar stewardship and visitor experience programs.
• Rocky Mountain Conservancy: Nonprofit partner of Rocky Mountain National Park supporting conservation, education, and research. Closely comparable in mission, scope, and operating model as a park-aligned fundraising and volunteer organization.

Emerging players

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit working to conserve land for public use, including parks. Comparable in the land conservation and public-access space, though operating at a broader scale and geographic scope than WNPF.

Regional players

• Washington Trails Association: Pacific Northwest nonprofit focused on trail building, maintenance, and advocacy. Listed as a WNPF partner; comparable as a regional outdoor stewardship nonprofit with overlapping volunteer and trail programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WANatlParkFund
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXqisBVpt17ttdqe2dbZfsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/WashingtonsNationalParkFund
• Instagraminstagram.com/wanatlparkfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washingtons-national-park-fund

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Washington's National Park Fund