Grand Canyon Conservancy

Vision

Grand Canyon Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, raising private funds, operating retail shops within the park, and providing premier educational programs about the natural and cultural history of the region. Our donors fund projects including trails and historic building preservation, educational programs for the public, and the protection of wildlife and their natural habitat. We exist to support Grand Canyon National Park in its goal to provide enriching and fulfilling visitor experiences and protecting the park for future generations. We achieve this by establishing a continuous and growing funding stream, providing enhanced educational experiences, and engaging advocates for the park.  

Grand Canyon Conservancy’s vision for Grand Canyon is:

• A precious natural and cultural resource that is forever safeguarded.
• Indigenous people and connected communities who are thriving.
• Memorable experiences that welcome, ground, invigorate, and inspire.

Breathtaking from the moment you first cast eyes on it, Grand Canyon is just that—Grand. The natural and cultural significance of Grand Canyon makes it one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is a sacred place of serenity and reflection that invites exploration and adventure, instilling both gratitude and humility. Grand Canyon is a cultural touchstone for those who came before and those who have yet to come.

Land Acknowledgement

As an organization whose mission is to inspire generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon Conservancy acknowledges that Grand Canyon National Park exists on land Indigenous people have inhabited since time immemorial and whose histories and cultures are indelibly tied to locations that are now located within national park boundaries. GCC accepts the responsibility of stewarding these places and pledges to honor and respect these lands, their cultural history, and the 11 nations that are still here.

• The Havasupai Tribe
• The Hopi Tribe
• The Hualapai Tribe
• The Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians
• The Las Vegas Band of Paiute Indians
• The Moapa Band of Paiute Indians
• The Navajo Nation
• The Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah
• San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe
• The Pueblo of Zuni
• The Yavapai-Apache Nation

History

Grand Canyon Conservancy was founded in 1932 as the Grand Canyon Natural History Association by naturalist Edwin “Eddie” McKee. A ranger working on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, McKee saw the need for a park partner that would support interpretive programs and publications about the canyon, and from its beginnings the Natural History Association did just that, funding interpretive talks, research, and scientific papers.

In October 1994, Grand Canyon Natural History Association changed its name to Grand Canyon Association, emphasizing an expanding list of services outside the realm of “natural history.” In 2018, prior to the 2019 Centennial of Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon Association became Grand Canyon Conservancy to better communicate the work the organization does to inspire generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon.

Today, Grand Canyon Conservancy still serves its founding mission—and much more. Membership, book publishing, educational programming, philanthropy programs, and more retail locations were added over the years. Each year, Grand Canyon Conservancy provides millions of dollars and countless service hours to support the priorities of Grand Canyon National Park.