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The National Trust, a business dedicated to “fighting climate change, protecting historic sites, and helping people and nature thrive” has received the largest donation in its 131-year history, with a £10 million (approximately $13.4 million) gift from private equity investor and philanthropist Humphrey Battcock. The gift is unconditional, meaning it can be used for any purpose the organization deems appropriate.
It is reported The Art Newspaper“I have no say in how the charity uses it,” Bartok said of the gift, “and that’s because I trust the National Trust to know how best to use the money.” ”
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This kind of flexibility is rare in endowments, which often include stipulations or restrictions on how the funds are distributed. (In the case of the National Trust, only 2% of fundraising income is available for unrestricted use in addition to legacy donations.) National Trust director general Hilary McGrady called the gift a “huge boost”.
Bartok made special mention of the National Trust’s heritage and conservation work in a press release, saying: “During my visit to Osterley Park and Estate, I saw first-hand the Trust’s efforts to ensure that its sites are accessible to people from all walks of life, that it cares about our history, nurtures our nature and uses it to its full potential. I also visited a Trust-owned farm in north Devon and saw its strong commitment to sustainable food production.”
As part of the trust’s ten-year strategic plan, Maddie revealed how some of the funding will be used, including to produce cultural programming within historic time and to safeguard libraries and reading rooms across the different properties, some of which have never been opened to the public. Tan.
Maddie said Bartók’s donation comes at an important time for arts and cultural funding. “We must stop nature’s free fall before it becomes irreversible; end inequalities in access to nature, beauty and history; and inspire millions of people to care about the world around them,” she said. “As Europe’s largest conservation charity, the National Trust is uniquely placed to tackle these challenges, but we cannot underestimate the scale of change required.”
