The Kentucky State Parks Foundation, Inc.
Vision:
Kentucky State Parks and Historic Sites shall become the Commonwealth’s primary portal for connecting people to and educating them about the natural, historical and cultural wonders of Kentucky.
Mission:
The Kentucky State Park Foundation (the Foundation) will protect, enhance, advocate for and connect people to the natural, historical and cultural resources of Kentucky’s State Parks and Historic Sites by fund-raising and friend-raising through partnerships with individuals, businesses and community organizations.
Purpose:
The Foundation will be a non-profit, 501c3 charitable organization that advocates for and receives grants, bequests and the gifts of individuals, corporations, and others in support of Kentucky’s State Parks and Historic Sites.
The Foundation is committed to:
- Work to connect people and educational institutions to Kentucky’s State Parks and Historic Sites;
- Establish endowments and/or other funds utilizing individual and corporate sponsorships and donations to support state park enhancement projects;
- Increase public awareness of the natural, cultural, recreational, and historic resources within Kentucky’s State Parks and Historic Sites and the issues that impact them;
- Encourage active membership in and provide grants for statewide Friends groups, while providing cost effective service and support to these organizations.
Goals of the Foundation:
- Build the financial capacity of The Foundation
- Work with the Kentucky Department of Parks to promote environmental and historical education, and to foster the stewardship message
- Create a grassroots constituency for state parks and historic sites through the development and support of Friends groups
- Support the acquisition needs, for land and artifacts, of State Parks and Historic Sites that are not being met by the Legislative and Executive Branches of state government.
This is accomplished through developing and nurturing champions for our State Parks and Historic Sites through:
- Establishing public/private partnerships at the local, regional, and state levels
- Providing a tax-deductible vehicle to donate or bequeath money to benefit Kentucky State Parks
- Acquiring new lands to enhance individual Kentucky State Parks and State Historic Sites and protect them from encroaching development
- Engaging people in outdoor recreation, education and volunteerism
Donated Funds may potentially be used for, but not be limited to:
- Develop a Strategic Planning Process, including specific fund allocations and investment strategies
- Naturalist and Environmental Educational Programming in Kentucky State Parks, including education of Park Naturalists
- Build and maintain non-revenue generating educational facilities, such as interpretive centers
- Purchase of Historic Artifacts and Documents related to Kentucky State Parks and its historic sites
- Assist in the acquisition of land contiguous or important to a Kentucky State Park or Historic Site
- Purchase of Conservation Easements on land contiguous to or in the “view shed” of a Kentucky State Park or Historic Site
- Attract Volunteers by supporting local Friends groups
- Create and maintain trails, especially those to serve the disabled
- Encourage education about and environmental control of invasive non-native species
- Purchase contribution boxes for placement in Kentucky State Park facilities.
(Funds shall not be used to reimburse the Commonwealth or the Kentucky Department of Parks for salaries of any state employee.)
Board of Directors:
- The Board of Directors shall be self-sustaining; and not appointed by the Executive or Legislative Branches of state government.
- The initial Board shall consist of at least seven individuals who work in, own property in, or have lived in the Commonwealth,
- The Board may change the by-laws, as they deem appropriate.
- Accordingly, The Board may determine that it is in its best interest to expand its size by adding members.
- The Board shall strive to maintain geographic and political balance.
- The Board shall strive to attract minority members.
12/28/06
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