Park Foundation

History

The Park Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit organization established in 1966 by entrepreneur and media mogul Roy H. Park. It is headquartered in Ithaca, New York, and is led by Adelaide Park Gomer, who serves as the Board President. In 2003, the Triad Foundation was spun off from the Park Foundation due to political differences within the family[1][5].

Mission and Funding Priorities

The foundation's mission is to advance a more just, equitable, and sustainable society and environment. It achieves this by supporting a variety of initiatives across several areas:

• Environment: The foundation backs policy development, advocacy, and corporate responsibility focusing on energy, clean drinking water, and environmental concerns[2].
• Civic Participation: It supports efforts to protect voter rights, promote education, and encourage year-round civic engagement[2].
• Media: The foundation funds public interest media that highlights critical environmental, political, and social issues[2].
• Sustainable Ithaca: It works towards making Ithaca and Tompkins County a fully sustainable community environmentally, socially, and economically[2].
• Animal Welfare: Focuses on policy and advocacy for threatened and endangered species[2].

Grants and Disbursements

Notably, from 2009 to 2012, the foundation provided over $3 million to groups opposing fracking, including support for the documentary Gasland[1]. In 2013, it donated $50 million to establish the Park Scholarships program at North Carolina State University[1]. In 2018, it also gifted $30 million to Ithaca College for its Park Scholar Program[5].

Sustainable Investing

The Park Foundation is committed to 100% sustainable investing, focusing on divestment from fossil fuels, clean energy, gender and racial equity, healthcare access, and water sustainability[3]. Its investment portfolio is managed with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria to align with its mission and grantmaking priorities[3].

Impact and Controversies

The foundation has been a significant supporter of environmental causes, particularly in opposing natural gas exploration through hydraulic fracturing. This stance has led to criticisms from pro-exploration advocates, who argue that the foundation funds an anti-drilling "echo chamber"[4]. Despite controversies, the foundation remains a major influence in environmental activism and progressive causes[4].