We invite you to learn more and be a part of AAEF's exciting and innovative programs:

• Job Opening - Executive Director

The African American Experience Fund

The African American Experience Fund (AAEF) of the National Park Foundation (NPF) was established in 2001 with a mission to connect all Americans to the considerable contributions of African Americans throughout our country’s history by raising public awareness and private funds to support educational, volunteer, and community engagement programs in National Parks and historic sites that celebrate and preserve the story of African American history and culture. AAEF is a committee of the National Park Foundation operating under its own charter and governed by a twenty member volunteer advisory Board of Trustees. Working closely with the National Park Service (NPS) and NPF, the fund focuses on increasing public awareness and providing grant support to 19 National Parks and the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

• African Burial Ground National Monument, New York
• Booker T. Washington National Monument, Virginia
• Boston African American National Historic Site, Massachusetts
• Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, Kansas
• Cane River Creole National Historical Park, Louisiana
• Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, Washington, D.C.
• Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Washington, D.C.
• George Washington Carver National Monument, Missouri
• Little Rock Central High School Historic Site, Arkansas
• Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Virginia
• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Georgia
• Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, Washington, D.C.
• Natchez National Historic Park, Mississippi
• New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, Louisiana
• Nicodemus National Historic Site, Kansas
• Paul Laurence Dunbar House, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park, Ohio
• Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Alabama
• Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Alabama
• Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, Alabama
• National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom (an ever expanding collection of over 200 sites throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean associated with the Underground Railroad)

Since its establishment, AAEF has provided over $1.3 million to support education, volunteer and community engagement programs at these sites.

The National Park Foundation

Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation (NPF) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit national charitable and promotional partner of America’s 392 national parks. The foundation is governed by a board of twenty–two distinguished national, civic and business leaders, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, who serves as the Chairman of the Board; the Director of the National Park Service serves as its Secretary.

The mission of the National Park Foundation is to strengthen the connection between the American people and their national parks by raising private funds, making strategic grants, creating innovative partnerships and increasing public awareness.

The Position

The Executive Director is responsible for the oversight of the management and control of all assets of the African American Experience Fund and for the conduct of the affairs of the African American Experience Fund consistent with the policies of the National Park Foundation and the AAEF Board of Trustees. An employee of the NPF, the Executive Director will report to Neil Mulholland, President of the National Park Foundation, through his Chief of Staff and to the AAEF Board of Trustees. Support for marketing, organizational matters and any administrative or operational requirements will be provided through the NPF.

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall conduct of the day–to–day activities of the fund, including execution of strategies, contracts, reports, etc. necessary to further its mission and realize its financial goals following the internal office policies and procedures of NPF. Specific responsibilities include the charge to:

• Collaboratively work with all departments and staff of the NPF.
• Collaboratively create and execute annual programmatic, development, and organizational plans to ensure the achievement of trustees’ strategic goals.
• Maintain an ongoing working relationship with each of the AAEF Park Superintendents.
• Build and re–energize the board by supporting trustees in identifying, cultivating, and recruiting influential private citizens as trustees of the fund.
• Manage regularly scheduled trustee committee meetings, full trustee meetings, and provide logistical support necessary to smoothly conducting the business of the fund.
• Lead trustees in updating the AAEF strategic plan.
• Increase funding through donor identification, cultivation, and successful solicitation in all areas, including corporate, foundation, major private donor, and small individual donor categories.
• Manage grant–writing, proposal development, acknowledgements and related development functions.
• Lead trustees and the NPF in planning and implementing all aspects of special events (including a major fundraising gala in designated years) that benefit AAEF and support its mission.
• Collaborate with trustees, NPF, and NPS superintendents in all aspects of awarding and implementing AAEF grants.
• Establish effective working relationships, cooperative and partnership agreements with organizations that will further the awareness–building mission of AAEF.
• Manage the occasional recruitment, supervision, and evaluation of AAEF consultants, paid staff, and volunteers.
• Work closely with trustees and NPF to ensure sound financial practices, including preparing and meeting annual budgets.
• Collaboratively lead NPF departments in all aspects of promoting the AAEF/NPF brand, including on the Web, at conferences, and in diverse public forums.
• Work within the parameters of an annual budget.

The Person

The AAEF Executive Director will be the sole administrative manager of the AAEF and an employee of NPF. This individual will work collaboratively with NPF senior staff and report to a volunteer board of trustees. The ideal person for this position will be an experienced, articulate, hands–on, energetic leader capable of and comfortable working independently to achieve desired results. The person must be adept at building and managing key relationships and possess the ability to energize and engage others regarding the significance of the AAEF.

As an individual contributor serving as the primary spokesperson and advocate for AAEF, the Executive Director will be comfortable working independently. Although NPF offices are located in Washington, DC, the Executive Director is not required to relocate to NPF headquarters and may work virtually from another location if desired. Candidates for this position must be self–motivated and possess the temperament, discipline and enthusiasm required to oversee a program of national focus and importance.

In addition to possessing the required skills and qualifications being sought for this position, the Executive Director will demonstrate a strong and keen interest in the mission of AAEF and possess an innate enthusiasm and curiosity for the 19 National Parks and the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom so as to appropriately and effectively champion impactful, meaningful, and appropriate programming necessary to support these national treasures.

Requirements and Qualifications

Strong background in non–profit organization fund–raising, board relations, and program management with 10–years direct experience preferred.

• Demonstrated competence in broad range of fundraising methods, primarily focused on major individual gifts, foundation grant writing, special events, and direct mail.
• Mature organizational and board leadership skills and experience working with volunteer leadership.
• Persuasive grant writing, speaking, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to meet and exceed fundraising goals.
• Proven ability to develop and work within the parameters of an annual budget.
• Ability to navigate and utilize contemporary computer technology.

Hodge Partners Contacts

• Building Common Ground Grant Program

Congratulations to AAEF “Building Common Ground” Grant Recipients - Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Little Rock Central High School, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, Nicodemus National Historic Site and Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site are among the 13 national parks who received grants.  The focus of this grant program is to find ways to help national parks develop relevant and creative programs that tap into their own untold stories and welcome all Americans, regardless of their race, color or creed, to our shared heritage—America’s National Parks. In addition, this grant should help NPS sites build community relationships around a park/community event during Black History Month or National Park Week 2010.  With generous support from the Walt Disney Company, NPF and AAEF awarded more than $125,000 to 13 national parks to advance the goal of creating an awareness and appreciation for the diverse heritage and cultures that play an important role in our national parks.

• America's Best Idea Grant Program

Congratulations to AAEF "America's Best Idea" Grant Recipients - The African Burial Ground, Brown v. Board of Education and Carter G. Woodson, are among the 35 national parks who received grants.  Inspired by The National Parks America's Best Idea, the National Park Foundation has established a new grant program to connect underrepresented audiences to their national parks. With generous support from Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund and the Popplestone Foundation, NPF awarded $500,000 to 35 national parks to develop outreach strategies and sustainable community partnerships.

• Fifth Annual Gala of The African American Experience Fund Honors Historian
Dr. John Hope Franklin

The late Dr. John Hope Franklin was honored for his commitment to our national parks at the annual gala of The African American Experience Fund, "Celebrating a Tradition of Excellence," held on April 15 at the Rainbow Room in New York.

Award winning journalist Gwen Ifill served as Mistress of Ceremonies, telling the audience that as Chairman of the National Park Advisory Board "Dr. Franklin understood and valued the role of our national parks in telling the whole American story and generously contributed his time and scholarship to ensure that our National Park Service remains true to that mission." Guests including former New York Mayor David Dinkins and Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett enjoyed the music of New York 's Jann Parker Quintet and responded warmly to reflections about Dr.  Franklin 's legacy given by AAEF Trustee, Ernest Green , the first black graduate of Little Rock Central High School and a member of the history making Little Rock Nine.

A highlight of the evening was an announcement by Mark Kornmann, Senior Vice President of Programs at The National Park Foundation of a grant of $100,000for funding training for teachers in AAEF parks to honor Dr. Franklin's vision of our national parks as classrooms.

Dr. Franklin's honor was accepted by his son John Whittington Franklin who shared touching recollections about his father and mother, Aurelia Whittington Franklin as well as memories from family adventures such as the cross country trip that took them to the Grand Canyon, Muir Woods, Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands National Parks !

Proceeds from the event will help to fund education, volunteer and community engagement programs in AAEF designated national parks.



John Whittington Franklin accepting honor on
behalf of Dr. John Hope Franklin




President Barack Obama Senior Advisor,
Valerie Jarrett and Mayor David Dinkins



Mistress of Ceremonies, Gwen Ifill.



AAEF Trustee Ernest Green delivered touching
reflections on the legacy of Dr.  Franklin

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