Conservancy looks to give $1.21 million to Glacier National Park projects

The Glacier National Park Conservancy announced recently that it will fund at least $1.121 million in projects this year.

The Conservancy is the official non-profit fundraising arm of the park. President Mark Priess noted the organization is expecting to fund even more projects as the year progresses. The current figure is as of February — donations continue to come in every month.

In 2012, the Glacier National Park Fund and Glacier Natural History Association merged. Since then, total aid to the park is up 48 percent, Priess noted in a new report. The association ran the bookstores in the park, the fund was a pure fundraising organization. Now the Conservancy does both.

In 2015, the fund supported 23 projects at a cost of $1.27 million. This year the fund will support 34 projects. Some projects have become an annual mainstay, such as the Native American Speaks program and providing funding so that Northwest Montana school children can have field trips in the park.

But there’s also some notable infrastructure projects, including extending the boardwalk on the Hidden Lake Trail, $100,000 toward preserving the historic Wheeler Cabin on Lake McDonald and rebuilding the historical helical staircase at the Many Glacier Hotel.

Another interesting project will come this fall. As part of the Park Service Centennial, Waterton-Glacier will hold a truly international peace park experience, inviting dignitaries from around the world to learn how to set up an international peace park in other countries.

Priess said the goal is to nearly double its giving in the next few years.

“It would be wonderful to be over the $2 million mark,” he said.

The park has also loosened its regulations a bit over the years, so the organization can recognize donors.

Last year, for example, if a donor helped with trail work, they were recognized by a small sign of acknowledgment at the trailhead.

The signs help raise grassroots awareness, Priess noted.

“You can’t go into the park and not be touched by our work,” he said.

In lean years, the Conservancy has even helped with operations. A few years ago, it gave the park several thousands dollars to get the Going-to-the-Sun Road plowed in a timely fashion. It was a big snow year and the park needed the additional funding to pay for overtime to get the road opened by early July.

Over the years, the Park Service has relied more and more on the Conservancy to fund basic programs, because federal funding has fallen short.