The Dunleavy Foundation has made the largest philanthropic gift in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) history, a $5m donation in support of the Wild East Action Fund to boost local efforts to connect the wild, scenic, and cultural wonders of the landscape around the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
As the ATC celebrates its centennial in 2025, the gift helps the nonprofit’s commitment to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian Trail and its landscape so it can remain a place of discovery. The Dunleavy Foundation’s donation aims to support conservation partners in collectively protecting over 200,000 acres of the Appalachian Trail landscape — safeguarding clean water, wildlife habitat, working farms, and cherished outdoor spaces — while supporting local communities and long-term resilience across the region.
Sandra Marra, ATC president and CEO, said: “Caring for the A.T. is not just about maintaining a trail; it is about protecting a piece of American identity and conserving, as visionary Benton MacKaye stated, ‘a realm,’ of healthy forests and wildlife habitats, of sweeping vistas and landscapes. The Dunleavy Foundation’s gift — the largest donation to the ATC’s $50m Centennial Campaign to date — will enhance efforts to ensure a conserved, connected, and resilient A.T. landscape. We are grateful for the foundation’s commitment to this beloved Trail that offers transformational experiences, a haven for biodiversity, and connects both people and communities.”
The Centennial Campaign launched publicly to provide necessary funding to ensure the A.T. remains a powerful force for conservation, recreation, and community engagement for the next 100 years. The Dunleavy Foundation’s gift brings the ATC closer to achieving its goal, taking the total raised from $29m to $34m to date.
“My love for the Appalachian Trail began with the countless hikes during my years in the Boy Scouts and later at Dartmouth College,” said Keith Dunleavy, co-founder of the Dunleavy Foundation.
“Over the years, this passion deepened from more than just a physical challenge and a cherished opportunity to clear one’s head to an appreciation for the breathtaking vistas and the diverse environments found along this true national treasure. Together with Dr. Katherine Kirby Dunleavy, my wife and co-founder of the foundation, we believe it’s critical to protect vital pieces of America’s natural heritage for generations to come, and we are pleased to do our part to help keep the trail alive.”
Spanning nearly 2,200 miles and attracting millions of visitors annually, the Appalachian Trail is the world’s longest hiking-only footpath and a vital wildlife corridor. The trail’s 26.7m-acre landscape is globally significant for its rich biodiversity, carbon-sequestering forests, essential water resources, and recreational opportunities. However, the diverse ecosystems surrounding the trail face ongoing threats from development, extreme weather events, wildfires, and fragmentation.
Since 2018, the Wild East Action Fund has provided more than $2.5m toward land protection, capacity building, and conservation planning, enabling the protection of more than 88,000 acres in all 14 states that the trail crosses. These grants provide initial funding that gives conservation projects credibility, or they provide the last, critical dollars needed to bring projects to completion. WEAF grantees join the hundreds of conservation partners from Maine to Georgia that work to connect and protect the Appalachian Trail Landscape through the Appalachian Trail Landscape Partnership.
“By supporting our partners’ on-the-ground work, the ATC is ensuring that local conservation needs are met and the A.T. landscape and the experience it provides to millions of visitors is protected for generations to come,” said Dan Ryan, the ATC’s vice president of conservation and government relations.
“Thanks to the Dunleavy Foundation’s tremendous support, the Wild East Action Fund will continue to be a critical tool in the greater Appalachian Trail Landscape Partnership’s collaborative efforts to connect the wild, scenic, and cultural wonders of the A.T. and its surrounding lands.”
