Lincoln Presidential Foundation

What Lincoln Presidential Foundation does

The Lincoln Presidential Foundation is a Springfield, Illinois-based nonprofit organization founded in 2000 (with over two decades of operating history) dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and supporting what Lincoln called the 'unfinished work' of freedom and democracy. It operates a diversified portfolio of programs including the Four Score Speaker Series (webinars and book talks featuring historians and authors), the Latest Generation Film Contest (an annual youth filmmaking competition for ages 14-22), the prestigious Lincoln Leadership Prize Gala (honoring recipients including four Heads of State), the No Malice Film Contest with the Roger and Chaz Ebert Foundation, and original documentary series such as Warning Signs, Fortifying Our Democracy, and the upcoming Conceived in Liberty: Lincoln and the American Experiment. It also maintains a one-of-a-kind historical Collection of Lincoln artifacts, lesson plans and educational curricula for K-12 teachers, and museum exhibits including the award-winning 'Lincoln's Springfield' exhibit at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

The foundation's core technology is documentary film production and digital educational content distribution rather than a software platform. Its award-winning content is distributed via YouTube, C-SPAN, partner museum venues, and Zoom webinars, reaching over 2.5 million views of online programming and hundreds of thousands of exhibit visits. The foundation serves multiple distinct customer segments: K-12 educators seeking professional development, youth ages 11-22 interested in filmmaking and civic engagement, history enthusiasts and the general public, plus institutional and corporate partners including the National Park Service, Gilder Lehrman Institute, Carthage College, Union Pacific Railroad, and Iron Mountain.

Revenue is generated through a nonprofit fundraising model spanning individual memberships (including the Better Angels Alliance planned-giving society), an annual fund, corporate giving and sponsorships, and the annual Lincoln Leadership Prize Gala. The organization operates with 1-10 employees from its headquarters at 520 South 8th Street, Springfield, Illinois, under President and CEO Erin Carlson Mast, who joined from the National Trust for Historic Preservation's President Lincoln's Cottage. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, consistent with standard nonprofit donation-based economics.

Name

Lincoln Presidential Foundation

Legal name

Lincoln Presidential Foundation

Website

https://lincolnpresidential.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Lincoln Presidential Foundation is a Springfield, Illinois-based nonprofit that preserves Abraham Lincoln's legacy through award-winning documentary films, K-12 teacher professional development, youth filmmaking contests, museum exhibits, and the annual Lincoln Leadership Prize Gala. It serves educators, young filmmakers, history enthusiasts, and institutional partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Education and Cultural Heritage Programming

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (61171), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Historical education
• Documentary production
• Nonprofit foundation services
• Teacher professional development
• Civic education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Programs: Annual membership providing access to programs, events, and exclusive benefits including the Better Angels Alliance for planned giving supporters.
2. Annual Fund and Donations: Direct charitable giving from individual donors supporting the foundation's mission to preserve Lincoln's legacy.
3. Corporate Giving and Sponsorships: Corporate partnerships and sponsorships supporting specific programs and events.
4. Lincoln Leadership Prize Gala: Annual fundraising event honoring recipients with the prestigious Lincoln Leadership Prize and Wayne Whalen 'Charity for All' award.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Lincoln Presidential Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that recognizes, creates, and funds programs inspired by Abraham Lincoln's life and leadership. Its core offerings include the Four Score Speaker Series (webinars and book talks), the Latest Generation Film Contest for young filmmakers, the Lincoln Leadership Prize gala, award-winning documentary series (Warning Signs, Fortifying Our Democracy, Conceived in Liberty), museum exhibits such as Lincoln's Springfield, K-12 teacher professional development seminars and lesson plans, and a curated historical Collection. The foundation distributes content in person at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, IL and online via its website, YouTube, C-SPAN, and partner channels.

Product overview

The Lincoln Presidential Foundation is a nonprofit foundation with over two decades of experience dedicated to understanding and sharing Lincoln's legacy with the world. The organization operates as a content and educational programming foundation rather than a technology company, offering a portfolio of educational programs, documentary films, museum exhibits, and resources focused on Abraham Lincoln and American history. Its core products include the Four Score Speaker Series (webinars and book talks), the Latest Generation Film Contest (youth filmmaking competition), the Lincoln Leadership Prize (annual award gala), documentary series (Warning Signs, Fortifying Our Democracy), and educational curricula. The Foundation also maintains collections, publications, and historical resources, and manages the Better Angels Alliance planned-giving program. Programs are offered both in-person at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois and through digital/online platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Four Score Speaker Series: Speaker series bringing latest scholarship through book talks, expert conversations, and webinar presentations on Lincoln and American history
• Latest Generation Film Contest
• Lincoln Leadership Prize
• Better Angels Alliance
• Conceived in Liberty
• Warning Signs
• Fortifying Our Democracy

Products and services

• Four Score Speaker Series

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2.5 million views of online programming including Four Score Speaker Series
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gilder Lehrman Institute of American HistorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Partnership to co-host a weeklong professional development seminar for up to 30 K-12 teachers at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois from July 19-24, 2026. The seminar titled 'The Reframing Lincoln Seminar: Myth, Memory, and Changing Narratives' will examine Abraham Lincoln's legacy through the lens of emancipation, civil liberties, and Black citizenship and equality.
• Lincoln Home National Historic SitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for exhibits, programs, documentary screenings, and preservation activities at Lincoln Home NHS in Springfield, Illinois. The foundation creates exhibits and supports programs at the historic site.
• Made By UsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'On Our 250th' initiative inviting Americans to share their wishes for the nation's 250th anniversary, including in-person 'Wish Walls' at cultural institutions nationwide.
• Iron MountainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerous support for the Warning Signs documentary series and online resource project developed to help citizens understand threats to democracy.
• SIU PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for special U.S. 250th Anniversary panel discussions featuring contributors to the Concise Lincoln Library series.
• Carthage CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Lincoln Symposium partnership with Carthage College, The Lincoln Forum, and The Civil War Museum. Fourth annual symposium held April 24-26, 2026.
• The Lincoln ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Lincoln Symposium partnership along with Carthage College and The Civil War Museum. Also involved in Lincoln Forum XXVIII at Gettysburg.
• The Civil War MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for annual Lincoln Symposium and other Civil War-era programming.
• Roger and Chaz Ebert FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for the No Malice Film Contest and lecture series for young filmmakers ages 11-21 focused on racial healing. Hosted at Navy Pier's Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint presenting partner for the No Malice Film Contest and other programs supporting Lincoln's legacy.
• Illinois Department of Human ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant from Healing Illinois, a racial healing initiative, in partnership with The Chicago Community Trust for the No Malice Film Contest and lecture series.
• The Chicago Community TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Healing Illinois racial healing initiative funding the No Malice Film Contest.
• Better Angels SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Latest Generation Film Contest mentorship sessions, funded in part by the Amy Margerum Berg Education Fund.
• Union Pacific RailroadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent commemorating the 163rd Anniversary of the Pacific Railway Act, celebrating President Lincoln and Union Pacific's new commemorative locomotive No. 1616.
• Jewish Federation of SpringfieldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint hosting of Julius Rosenwald Mural Completion celebration and Julius Rosenwald Exhibit Project Launch.
• Chicago Shakespeare TheaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partnership for the No Malice Film Celebration red-carpet premiere event for young filmmakers at Navy Pier's The Yard.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon's Ladies' Association): Nonprofit that preserves George Washington's historic estate and legacy through education, exhibits, and programming. Directly comparable as a presidential-legacy nonprofit with a primary historic site partnership, membership programs, and K-12 educational offerings.
• The Lincoln Forum: Membership organization dedicated to studying and preserving Lincoln's legacy through symposia and publications. Directly comparable as a Lincoln-focused nonprofit that co-hosts the annual Lincoln Symposium with the foundation.
• Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History: Nonprofit that produces K-12 teacher seminars, curriculum, and history programming. Closely comparable in mission focus on American history education, professional development for teachers, and partner-driven programming model — and an active co-host partner.
• White House Historical Association: Nonprofit that funds White House preservation, publishes educational content, and produces documentaries and teacher resources. Comparable as a presidential-history educational nonprofit with award-winning documentary production and K-12 curriculum distribution.
• Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello: Nonprofit foundation preserving Monticello and Thomas Jefferson's legacy through exhibits, teacher institutes, and digital content. Closely comparable in mission, structure (private nonprofit preserving a president's legacy), educational programming model, and donor-funded revenue mix.
• President Lincoln's Cottage: National Trust for Historic Preservation site at the Soldiers' Home where Lincoln developed the Emancipation Proclamation. Sister Lincoln-legacy nonprofit with a museum/historic-site partnership model — and the prior employer of the foundation's current CEO.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: Largest U.S. museum and educational complex, producing extensive documentary, exhibit, and K-12 programming. A broad incumbent that competes for the same donor attention, broadcast distribution, and teacher-training audiences.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: Large national nonprofit focused on historic preservation, including presidential sites. A broader incumbent with overlapping mission space and connections to the foundation's leadership team.
• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: State-operated museum and library in Springfield, Illinois, with overlapping subject matter, location, and exhibits. A government-run incumbent with broader resources and a physical museum footprint; the foundation is a current joint presenting partner.

Emerging players

• American Battlefield Trust: Nonprofit that preserves Civil War and Revolutionary War battlefields and produces educational content. Partial thematic overlap with the foundation's Civil War-era programming, including co-partner The Civil War Museum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLR5Dwi_NdBZGhM7l1EAsoMOZk-xmLTbWK
• Xx.com/lincolnpresfdn
• Facebookfacebook.com/LincolnPresidentialFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lincoln-presidential-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lincoln Presidential Foundation