History
Nature Photography Foundation through History
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Dream it.
It all began with the idea for the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, NY, in 1993.
1996 - 1998
NANPA approved the creation of a foundation to fund its educational goals. Operating as a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, where donations to it are tax-deductible, the original NANPA Infinity Foundation has a history rich with achievements.
NANPA Board members Karen Hollingsworth, Mark Lukes and Rick Zuegel serve as the founding Board of Trustees, with Mark Lukes as president. Jerry Bowman and Francine Butler of the Resource Center for Associations, executive directors of NANPA, are named executive directors of the Foundation as well. Fundraising plans begin.
Through the generosity of Janie Moore Greene, the Foundation establishes a grant to be given to a student specializing in the study of photography at an institution of higher education.
The first High School Student Scholarship Program to be sponsored by the Foundation occurs at NANPA’s third Nature Photography Forum in Corpus Christi, Texas. In this and future Summits, the students are supported by numerous manufacturers with the loan of cameras, lenses, computers, software, tripods and other photo gear.
A program to install or improve photo blinds at selected national wildlife refuges is proposed by Jane Kinne, NANPA President, with partial funding to come from the Foundation.
A Memorandum of Understanding between NANPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is signed with the first four photo blinds installed in early 1998.
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Build it.
1999 - 2002
The Foundation begins the Philip Hyde Grant to be given to a NANPA member who is actively pursuing completion of a peer-reviewed environmental project. It is named for a well-known conservation photographer whose work and images were responsible for saving many valuable natural areas.
The Foundation names researcher Dr. Jane Goodall, photographer and motivational speaker Dewitt Jones, and biologist and conservationist Dr. Thomas Lovejoy as Honorary Trustees.
2003 - 2007
A generous NANPA member fully funds, through the Foundation, a group of college students to attend NANPA’s ninth Annual Summit and Trade Show in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Based on the positive experiences of the college students, the Foundation approves to fund and manage a new College Student Scholarship Program.
The Foundation drops “Infinity” from its name.
By the end of 2005 the number of photo blinds reaches 30.
An Adopt-a-Student Program is set up to allow donors to fully sponsor a student to attend a Summit. The Foundation also establishes a Memorial Fund to allow donations to be made in memory of deceased NANPA members.
A new Community Outreach Event at the Denver Summit, sponsored by NANPA’s Environment Committee, collects funds for the Foundation’s Philip Hyde Grant.
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Grow it.
2007 - 2024
The Foundation continues to sponsor both high school and college students at the different summits. The NANPA Environment Committee’s Outreach Events at the different summits continue to give all proceeds to the Foundation for its Philip Hyde Grants.
Development Director and Past President Jane Kinne unexpectedly passes away. During a tribute to Jane Kinne, the Foundation receives $20,000 in her memory from the Foundation’s current and former executive directors. The Jane Kinne Endowment Fund is created with this initial deposit.
Russ Kinne donates his wife’s “coat of many colors” as a potential future fundraiser. It’s auctioned off at the Summit and the buyer donates the coat back to the Foundation.
2012 - Present
The High School Student Scholarship Program is discontinued at the summits. However, a week-long scholarship program is initiated for high school students in the Great Smoky Mountains NP at Tremont, Tennessee.
The Covid virus pandemic puts a halt to 2021’s in-person summit as well as the Foundation-funded high school and college programs. A Virtual Summit is planned instead with the Foundation as a key supporter.
In 2022, NANPA partners with the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP). NANPA and the Foundation agree to separate their management ties. This enables the Foundation to realize its new potential as a non-profit to broaden its support of nature photography while continuing to fund NANPA projects. The Foundation takes control of NANPA’s intellectual property and historic items.
The Board of Trustees change the name to Nature Photography Foundation with a new logo and new mission statement.
The Foundation begins a partial sponsorship of NANPA/ASMP’s Nature Photography Summit. The Foundation makes an agreement with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute to house and exhibit NANPA’s framed prints, the place where the idea of NANPA started in 1993.