By David J. Kent
Washington, D.C.
Monday, March 7, 2022
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation (ALPLM) is relaunching and rebranding as the Lincoln Presidential Foundation, as noted in announcement dated March 7, 2022.
Lincoln Group of DC members will remember that in the spring of 2021, the exclusive partnership between the Foundation and the State of Illinois ended. The Foundation had helped to establish the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, IL in 2005 and “over the years had raised over $42 million in support of museum programs, projects, and the Foundation’s one-of-a-kind Taper Collection of Lincolniana, which is on loan to the ALPLM through October 2022.” The Foundation annually presents its Lincoln Leadership Prize recognizing leaders in the Lincoln tradition.
The question raised when the exclusive relationship with the ALPLM and the State of Illinois ended was: Where does the Foundation go from here? Foundation President and CEO Erin Carlson Mast, formerly of the Lincoln Cottage here in Washington, DC, answers:
“This is an important step in our history and very positive expansion of the Foundation’s mission.” The Foundation will now respond “to a broader need to preserve President Lincoln’s legacy for the public benefit in a variety of locations.” They look forward to participating in new programs and working with new partner organizations.
The first of those begins this month. The Foundation will be partnering with the National Park Service, initially to provide philanthropic support of the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, IL. This will serve as a pilot project for what the Foundation hopes will be expanding collaborations, not just with the Park Service but other entities that seek to preserve, protect, and expand the history and lessons of Abraham Lincoln for the public benefit.
More information about the changes and new projects by the Lincoln Presidential Foundation can be found on their revamped website: https://www.lincolnpresidential.org/
[Photo is new Foundation logo taken from their announcement]