American Battlefield Trust, a Winkler Group partner based in Washington, D.C., received a $300,000 gift from the Darla Moore Foundation to support the Liberty Trail. The gift is yet another example of a significant trend we are seeing in philanthropy: donors are actively giving major gifts despite the pandemic.
The Liberty Trail, launched in 2019 by American Battlefield Trust and South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, is a network of historic sites that will bring to life South Carolina’s Revolutionary War history. The partnership is working to acquire and ensure permanent protection of battlefield sites and to provide interpretation through onsite signage, a mobile app, and other digital tools.
To date, more than $9.7 million of The Liberty Trail’s projected $15 million campaign has been secured, directly contributing to the preservation of 650 acres at six battlefield sites in five South Carolina counties. Once completed, The Liberty Trail is expected to draw nearly 100,000 new visits, annually, to constituent sites. Based on research by the National Park Service and American Battlefield Trust, preserved park lands provide demonstrable economic impact.
To learn more about philanthropic trends during the pandemic, visit our resources page and check out one of our latest blogs, “What’s Driving Record Giving May Surprise You.”
About the American Battlefield Trust
The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 53,000 acres associated with the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.
About the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust
The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust (SCBPT) is a nonprofit established in 1991 and dedicated to the preservation of South Carolina’s historic battlegrounds and military sites. SCBPT preserves South Carolina’s military heritage employing a variety of tools from conservation easements and land acquisitions to high-tech ground-based laser scanning surveys and public interpretation. For more information, visit www.scbattlegroundtrust.org.
