About the Grand Canyon Association

Grand Canyon Association (GCA) is the National Park Service’s official nonprofit partner raising private funds to benefit Grand Canyon National Park, operating retail shops and visitor centers within the park, and providing premier educational opportunities about the natural and cultural history of the region. 

GCA was founded in 1932 as the Grand Canyon Natural History Association. In recent years GCA has found new and innovative ways to support Grand Canyon National Park:

• Restored and conserved historic buildings in the park, including Kolb Studio, the Community Building, and the park’s original hospital.
• Created the Adopt-a-Lion program, with proceeds providing financial support to the wildlife program at Grand Canyon National Park.
• Established the Grand Canyon Field Institute in 1993, which has served more than 10,000 participants who have experienced, learned from, and volunteered for Grand Canyon.
• GCA’s publishing program provides over 4 million copies of free educational materials annually to visitors in a variety of languages, as well as many award-winning books available for sale in our retail outlets.
• GCA became the official fund-raiser for Grand Canyon National Park in 2008, supporting many important park projects and programs.
• Created the award-winning Travelin’ Trunk and Video Loan programs in 1998, which has reached more than 150,000 students from all over the country.
• The Canyon Country Community Lecture Series, GCA’s popular lecture series, provides community lectures across Arizona, and has reached over 10,000 participants.
• Free rotating art exhibits at Kolb Studio are developed and hosted by GCA annually; these exhibits have been viewed by more than 500,000 visitors since its inception in 1995.
• The Grand Canyon Celebration of Art event began in 2009 with great success, and will continue annually with the goal of funding a permanent art venue at the South Rim.
• Working with the Jack Dudley Memorial Fund to enhance a legacy of art at Grand Canyon National Park.

Located at Grand Canyon National Park, GCA is uniquely positioned to support Grand Canyon National Park as a United States treasure, a World Heritage Site and an international symbol of nature’s grandeur. GCA aspires to touch all those who visit or study Grand Canyon National Park, deepening their understanding, enhancing their connection to the park, and providing philanthropy to the park for science, conservation, and visitor amenities.

The value of goods, services and monetary donations that the association has made in support of the educational and scientific research efforts at Grand Canyon National Park exceeds $34 million.