The National Park Foundation, the official charitable partner of the National Park Service, is set to receive a $100 million donation, which the foundation says is the largest grant in its history.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the unprecedented donation comes from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. and is expected to have a significant impact on the United States’ national parks.

Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, called the donation a game-changer for the more than 400 national parks across the country. While specific allocations have not yet been determined, the foundation has already highlighted key priorities, including restoring coral reefs in Biscayne National Park in Florida and trout species in western parks.

In addition, the grant will not only support environmental conservation efforts but also fund programs to provide young people with greater access to national parks, AP reported.

“This grant will enable us to intensify our efforts to ensure our national parks are there for all for generations to come,” Shafroth said.

The donation announcement comes as the National Park Service recorded 325,498,646 visitors to all national parks in 2023, an increase since the drop in visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Newsweek contacted the National Park Service on Monday via an online email form requesting comment.

The donation came as part of the National Park Foundation’s “Campaign for National Parks,” a $1 billion fundraising initiative to improve the national park system, the AP reported. N. Clay Robbins, chairman and CEO of Lilly Endowment, said the donation was made in support of the initiative.

“We believe the National Park Foundation’s campaign will enhance programming and promote the future vitality of our nation’s wonderful system of parks, monuments and historic sites,” Robbins said, according to AP.

The funds needed could be used to address problems such as a recent water main break in Grand Canyon National Park that affected the park’s water supply.

The pipe burst that occurred along the North Kaibab Trail last week prompted park authorities to take immediate protective measures, particularly at the South Rim, while interim steps are being taken at the North Rim until repairs are completed and reservoir water levels return to sustainable levels.

Since 2010, there have been 85 major breaks in the pipe, cutting off water supplies to visitors and the park’s 2,500 residents. The water supply is also essential for firefighting in the park, which has 800 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the National Park Service, repairing a single break in the Transcanyon Water Pipeline can cost $25,000 or more.

According to AP, the foundation hopes to announce the first round of grants from the Lilly Endowment donation later this year.