Jarvis releases rule changes for Park Service fundraising

The National Park Service is looking to ease rules a bit for nonprofits and other entities that raise funds for Park Service projects.

Last week Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis released a revised “director’s order No. 21” that outlines the protocols and procedures for the Park Service to take private funding for projects.

The 30-page document has some interesting facets. For one, the Park Service will not accept donations from tobacco companies, but it does allow donations from companies that produce alcohol.

It also sets parameters for funding capital campaigns, such as visitor centers and other buildings. For example, the Park Service will not allow name licensing of structures, which is commonly done for private enterprises, such as sports stadiums. But it will allow for donor plaques inside a building and the naming of facets of the structure, such as a theater inside a building.

The rules also don’t allow for employees to directly solicit donations, though they can identify projects that are in need of funds. The same rules, however don’t apply to the Park Service director or deputy directors.

They “may solicit donations, directly or indirectly from private individuals or organizations for the NPS and its programs.”

But ironically, under the rules they’re not supposed to criticize the Park Service or Congress for failing to fund a project.

“In communications with donors or prospective donors, employees must not portray Congress, the (Interior) Department, or the NPS as having failed to meet their respective responsibilities,” the order states.

The order also lengthens the time a nonprofit can have a formal affiliation with a Park before undergoing a formal review process.

The Park Service will also not take donations directly from concessionaires or entities that are in litigation against the Park Service, though it may consider a donation if the suit is against another federal agency.

The order also provides a table as to who can accept what donation and how much. 

A Park superintendent, for example, can accept a donation of up to $5 million with delegation from a regional director and “based on superintendent’s grade level, size of park budget, and philanthropic experience.”

The rules also allow for various ways to raise funds inside of parks, from counter check-offs to donation boxes. The new order also allows for crowd funding.

The changes are welcome, said Glacier Park National Park Conservancy CEO Mark Priess.

“They give us more flexibility and more clarity on how we do our work,” he said.

The Conservancy has already been doing some of the facets of donor recognition allowed in the rules. For example, in the past couple of years, the Park Service has allowed for small signs on trailheads recognizing donors for various trail projects.

“Part of recognizing donors is an educational opportunity for visitors,” Priess noted.