The Park Foundation is a left-of-center funding group for several of America’s most prominent environmentalist organizations. Led by left-of-center megadonor and heiress of the Duncan Hines foods and Park Communications media fortunes Adelaide Park Gomer, the foundation leads the movement to prohibit exploration for America’s natural gas resources. 1 Gomer has said that her Park Foundation “helped to fuel an army” of environmentalists to secure bans on certain forms of gas drilling in coastal states, most prominently New York. 2 The foundation is a major funder of the environmentalist movement, vegan interest and animal liberation causes, and left-of-center media. 2
The Park Foundation is notable for funding academic research on natural gas extraction and propaganda opposing the practice, most notably the controversial film Gasland.3 (The movie’s writer/director Josh Fox became flustered when confronted on National Public Radio with accusations of falsehoods in the film.4 An industry group issued an 11-page statement documenting errors in the film.5) Park Foundation-backed groups are a major source of advocacy against natural gas development in the mainstream media, leading pro-exploration critics to allege that the foundation is funding an anti-drilling “echo chamber.”6
Formation
The foundation was created by Roy H. Park, Sr., an advertising and public relations magnate who worked rural outreach for Republican Thomas Dewey in the 1948 Presidential Election.7 After creating and selling the Duncan Hines branded line of packaged foods, Park started Park Communications, which operated newspapers and radio stations.7 After Park’s death in 1993, the company was sold in October 1994 for just more than $711 million.8 After his death, he gave more than 70 percent of his wealth to the Park Foundation.9
Split over Political Differences
Dorothy Park, Park Sr.’s widow, split the foundation in two in 2001 amid acrimony in the family.11 The Triad Foundation’s political giving is small compared to its community service giving and generally center-right, in contrast to the larger and more ideological Park Foundation.12
Political Activism
Anti-Natural Gas Initiatives
Adelaide Park Gomer took the remnant Park Foundation in a far-left direction, with a focus on opposition to natural gas exploration by hydraulic fracturing. From 2009 to 2014, the Park Foundation under Park Gomer contributed at least $6 million explicitly to natural gas exploration opposition.13
Park Foundation’s anti-fracking efforts focus on a handful of areas: funding progressive media, researchers opposed to gas exploration, and advocacy groups that push the anti-fracking message. Park funds numerous environmentalist-aligned progressive media outlets, including the Center for Public Integrity, the Foundation for National Progress (publisher of Mother Jones), and Grist Magazine.14
The Park Foundation supports the advocacy efforts of the broader environmentalist movement, with an emphasis on organizations constituting the green radical fringe. Greenpeace reportedly received $60,000 from Park for “opposition research.”15 The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, characterized by a federal judge as “pirates” for their lawless activity on the high seas, received $50,000 from Park in 2014.16 Earthworks, an environmentalist group which spread a claim that natural gas exploration was analogous to rape, also received Park funding.17
The Park Foundation was the linchpin in funding the effort to prohibit expanded gas exploration in the state of New York. Through the Sustainable Markets Foundation, recipient of at least $637,000 in Park Foundation contributions, the group provided support to anti-fracking activists and legislators in the state.18
The Park Foundation funds researchers at Cornell University who have attacked gas drilling in their research and writing.19 The foundation also provided financial support to projects associated with Ithaca College professor Sandra Steingraber, who also cofounded the activist group New Yorkers Against Fracking.20 Energy industry sources noted that Park-funded liberal partisan press and researchers served as principal sources for New York Times reporting on the natural gas industry.21
Other Initiatives
The Park Foundation funds progressive organizations and efforts outside of the natural gas debate as well. Common Cause, a liberal-aligned campaign finance group, has received funding from Park and gave Adelaide Park Gomer an award in 2011.19 A nonprofit associated with progressive documentary production company Brave New Films received a grant from Park for an anti-Afghanistan War project.22 Brave New Films also received Park funding for a gun control-related effort.23
In 2013, Park donated to Free Speech for People, a left-of-center political outfit determined to overturn the Supreme Court ruling in the 2010 Citizens United decision, which ruled certain restrictions on political speech unconstitutional.24
Park additionally gave $500,000 to support Moyers and Company, the media production outlet for progressive journalist Bill Moyers, formerly President Lyndon Johnson’s White House Press Secretary.23
The foundation funds scholarship programs at North Carolina State University and Ithaca College. Park spends about $6.5 million on scholarships annually.25
Between 2016 and 2021, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 in grants to the Voter Registration Project, which has been accused of illegally launching voter registration drives intended to help the Democratic Party. The Voter Participation Center in 2020 coordinated with Democratic consultants to launch a campaign to selectively register “non-white” voters in swing states to help Democrats win the 2020 presidential election. Under federal law, charities and foundations are forbidden to engage in partisan voter registration drives. According to an August 2023 report by the Capital Research Center, which publishes the Influence Watch website, the Voter Participation Center’s “Everybody Votes” campaign is estimated to have won Joe Biden 1 million to 2.7 million new votes across eight swing states in 2020. If the state-by-state estimated vote total projections by the Democratic consultants held true, Joe Biden would have received more votes than his victory margins in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. 26 In 2023, the Park Foundation gave another $150,000. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 to Accelerate Change, a left-of-center media nonprofit that works to develop left-of-center media. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 to the Advancement Project, a racial agitation group that among other things supports removing police from schools. 27 The group also claims that 4.6 million convicted felons are blocked from voting, that 85 percent of school police assault victims are Black, and that 400 unarmed people have been killed by police in traffic stops over the past five years. 28
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 to the Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, a donor-advised fund that was spun off from the Service Employees International Union-owned Amalgamated Bank. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $275,000 to American University. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $125,000 to As You Sow, a left-of-center shareholder advocacy group that demands corporations implement business practices that promote left-of-center viewpoints on human rights and the environment. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. 27 In February 2025, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund signed on to a statement demanding that New York State oppose President Donald Trump and his deportations of illegal immigrants, efforts to get rid of far-left “diversity, equity, and inclusion” federal government mandates, and shrink of the size and scope of the federal government. 29
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $125,000 to Bennington College to support its environmental programs. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 to the Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, which is the charitable arm of the left-of-center Black Voters Matter Fund. 27 The Black Voters Matter Fund opposes voter ID laws and advocates for the restoration of voting rights for convicted felons. 30
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 to Blueprint North Carolina, a left-of-center coalition of groups that work to advance left-of-center policies and Democratic Party candidates in North Carolina. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $200,000 to the Center for Investigative Reporting, 27 which conducted an investigative series called “40 Acres and a Lie,” which details the history of reparations for slavery in the aftermath of the Civil War and whose final episode advocates for modern reparations for Black Americans. 31
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 to the Center for Media and Democracy, a left-of-center group that focuses on attacking state-level free market groups. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $150,000 to the Center for Popular Democracy, 27 a left-of-center advocacy group that among other things supports adding additional judges to the U.S. Supreme Court. 32
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $250,000 to the Center for Public Integrity, a left-of-center investigative journalism group that uses the majority of its investigations to focus on Republicans and conservatives inside and outside the government. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation gave $440,000 to the Center for Transformative Action, a left-of-center activist, grantmaking, and education program affiliated with Cornell University. 27 The group claims to educate itself about “white privilege” and “resisting in our decision-making the competitive, urgent, individualistic, either/or, right/wrong scarcity mindset dominant in our culture; instead, cultivating collaborative, both/and, asset-based and abundance thinking, all of which takes time.” 33
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $297,500 to the Chef Ann Foundation, a group supporting healthier school lunches. The Park Foundation also donated $150,000 to the Clean Water Fund, an environmentalist group. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $125,000 to the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund, which is an environmental donors’ pass-through grantmaking fund fiscally sponsored by the New Venture Fund, which is a part of the “dark money” nonprofit network administered by the for-profit Arabella Advisors. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the Collective Education Fund, which is the charitable affiliate of the Collective PAC, which works to register Black Americans to vote and elect them to office. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the Color of Change Education Fund, which is the charitable affiliate of Color of Change, a left-of-center group advocating for Black interests. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $209,000 to the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $125,000 to Corporate Accountability International, 27 which among other things is opposed to nuclear power. 34
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $125,000 to the Environment America Policy and Research Center, an environmentalist think tank affiliated with Environment America. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the Florida Alliance for Civic Engagement. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $275,000 to Food and Water Watch, 27 an environmentalist group that opposes 100 percent carbon-free nuclear power. 34
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $250,000 to the Foundation for Natural Progress, which publishes the left-of-center magazine Mother Jones. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $350,000 to Free Press, 27 a left-of-center group which among other things advocates for censorship by media companies based on what it calls hate and misinformation and bases it on identity politics. 35
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the Freedom of the Press Foundation. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $250,000 to the Fund for Constitutional Government, an anti-corruption group heavily funded by left-of-center donors. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the Georgia Alliance Education Fund, a grantmaking operation for voter mobilization groups in the Atlanta area and a left-of-center advocacy group. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $1,375,000 to the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, which operates the public broadcasting station WETA. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $190,000 to Historical Ithaca Inc. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to Imagine North Carolina First, a left-of-center activist group. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, a left-of-center environmentalist group. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to Lost Light Projects Inc., which publishes Inside Climate News. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to MALDEF, a left-of-center pro-immigration expansion group. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the Michigan Civic Education Fund, a pass-through fund for left-of-center political activism. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $155,000 to Multiplier, an environmentalist fiscal sponsor and funder. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 each to the NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the National Congress of American Indians, an advocacy group for Native American tribes. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $400,000 to NEO Philanthropy, a fiscal sponsor of left-of-center causes. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $250,000 to the New Venture Fund. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to One Arizona, a left-of-center voter registration and mobilization group. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the PA Alliance Foundation, which is the charitable arm of the PA Alliance Action, a left-of-center activist group. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $250,000 to ProPublica, an investigative journalism outlet that has been accused of having a left-wing bias. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to the left-of-center activist group Rock The Vote. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $200,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $250,000 to the State Leadership Project, a left-of-center group supporting state and local donor networks. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $302,000 to the Sustainable Markets Foundation, a left-of-center environmentalist fiscal sponsor and grantmaker. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $150,000 to The Guardian.org Foundation. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $225,000 to the Tides Center and $735,000 to the Tides Foundation. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $200,000 to the Type Media Center, a left-of-center media publisher that publishes The Nation magazine, among others. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $250,000 to the Voter Participation Center, 27 a left-of-center voter registration group that has been accused of selectively targeting potential left-of-center voters in its advertising. 36
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $600,000 to public broadcaster WGBH Educational Foundation. 27
In 2023, the Park Foundation donated $275,000 to the Windward Fund, an environmentalist fiscal sponsor controlled by Arabella Advisors. 27
People
Rachel Leon is the executive director of the Park Foundation. Prior to joining Park, she was the executive director of the Environmental Grantmakers Association. Before that, she worked at the JEHT Foundation and was the executive director for New York Common Cause. 37
Jon M. Jensen is the former executive director for the Park Foundation. Prior to his time with Park, Jensen served at a few left-leaning groups, including the Pew Conservation Scholars Program, Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Wildlife Preservation Trust International.38
Adelaide Park Gomer, the daughter of Roy H. Park, Sr., also plays an instrumental role in the Park Foundation. She serves as the foundation’s president and is an ardent opponent of natural gas drilling through hydraulic fracturing. In 2013, the Albany-based Democrat & Chronicle reported that Gomer “boasted of funding an ‘army of courageous individuals and (non-governmental organizations)’ to fight fracking in New York.”18 Park Gomer reportedly heated her home with natural gas at least as recently as 2012, after the Park Foundation began its anti-fracking campaigns.39
Gomer regularly donates to left-wing and left-of-center politicians. In recent years, she has given funds to former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) and Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), a self-described democratic socialist. In 2015, she donated $10,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In 2016 and 2015, Gomer gave $1,000 in each year to End Citizens United. 40 Park Gomer also backed far-left Democrat Zephyr Teachout in the 2014 New York gubernatorial primary.41
References
- Williams, Tate. “The Family Foundation That’s Become a Hero for Fracking Opponents.” Inside Philanthropy. April 24, 2014. Accessed April 14, 2017. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2014/4/24/the-family-foundation-thats-become-a-hero-for-fracking-oppon.html
- Markay, Lachlan. “Environmentalist Foundations Fund Anti-Fossil Fuel Echo Chamber.” Washington Free Beacon. April 3, 2014. Accessed April 14, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/environmentalist-foundations-fund-anti-fossil-fuel-echo-chamber/
- Soraghan, Mike. “HYDRAULIC FRACTURING: Quiet foundation funds the ‘anti-fracking’ fight.” E&E News. March 12, 2012. A,ccessed April 17, 2017. https://www.eenews.net/stories/1059961204
- Markay, Lachlan. “‘Gasland’ Director Confronted on NPR Show.” Washington Free Beacon. August 14, 2013. Accessed March 20, 2018. http://freebeacon.com/national-security/gasland-director-confronted-on-npr-show/.
- “Debunking Gasland.” Energy In-Depth. January 2012. Accessed March 20, 2018. https://www.energyindepth.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Debunking-GasLand.pdf.
- Markay, Lachlan. “Environmentalist Foundations Fund Anti-Fossil Fuel Echo Chamber.” Washington Free Beacon. April 3, 2014. Accessed April 17, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/environmentalist-foundations-fund-anti-fossil-fuel-echo-chamber/
- “Roy H. Park and the Triad Foundation.” Cornell University. Accessed April 14, 2017. http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/Programs/Full-Time-MBA/Two-Year-MBA/Curriculum/Leadership/Leadership-Opportunities/Park-Leadership-Fellows-Program/Roy-H-Park-and-the-Triad-Foundation
- Callan, Kathleen. “Media General Buys Park Acquisitions for $710 Million,” Associated Press, July 22, 1996, accessed November 25, 2016, http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1996/Media-General-Buys-Park-Acquisitions-for-$710-Million/id-d98323fab12470f79c6ce7bb5acd893e
- “About Park Foundation Founder Roy H. Park,” Park Foundation, 2016, accessed November 29, 2016, http://parkfoundation.org/about-us/
- “Park Family Locked in Power Struggle.” The Ithacan. Accessed March 19, 2018. https://theithacan.org/news/park-family-locked-in-power-struggle/10 Adelaide Park Gomer and Dorothy Park took control of the Park Foundation, while Roy Park, Jr. and Park Jr.’s children took control of the Triad Foundation seeded with some Park Foundation funds.10 “Roy H. Park and the Triad Foundation.” Cornell University. Accessed April 14, 2017. http://www.johnson.cornell.edu/Programs/Full-Time-MBA/Two-Year-MBA/Curriculum/Leadership/Leadership-Opportunities/Park-Leadership-Fellows-Program/Roy-H-Park-and-the-Triad-Foundation
- Chaisson, Bill. “Legacy Lives On: Park, Triad foundations continue the work of Roy Park Sr.” Ithaca Times. August 17, 2012. Accessed April 14, 2017. http://www.ithaca.com/news/legacy-lives-on-park-triad-foundations-continue-the-work-of/article_2aab243e-e662-11e1-84d1-0019bb2963f4.html
- Williams, Tate. “The Family Foundation That’s Become a Hero for Fracking Opponents.” Inside Philanthropy. April 24, 2014. Accessed April 17, 2017. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2014/4/24/the-family-foundation-thats-become-a-hero-for-fracking-oppon.html
- Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Queries conducted April 17, 2017.
- Markay, Lachlan. “Deep-Pocketed Donors Behind Campus Anti-Koch Movement.” Washington Free Beacon. November 2, 2015. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/deep-pocketed-donors-behind-campus-anti-koch-movement/
- Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Queries conducted April 18, 2017. See also Yuhas, Alan. “Sea Shepherd conservation group declared ‘pirates’ in US court ruling.” The Guardian. February 27, 2013. Accessed April 18, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/feb/27/sea-shepherd-pirates-us-court
- Markay, Lachlan. “Prominent Green Group Likens Fracking to Rape.” Washington Free Beacon. April 1, 2015. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/prominent-green-group-likens-fracking-to-rape/
- Campbell, Jon. “Foundation’s funds continue flow to fracking critics.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. July 21, 2013. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/local/2013/07/21/foundations-funds-continue-flow-to-fracking-critics/2573681/
- Entine, Jon. “Gas Heat.” Philanthropy Roundtable. Summer 2014. Accessed April 17, 2017. http://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/topic/excellence_in_philanthropy/gas_heat
- Markay, Lahclan. “Report: Science Behind NY Fracking Ban Tainted by Money, Politics.” Washington Free Beacon. April 23, 2015. Accessed April 17, 2017. http://freebeacon.com/issues/report-science-behind-ny-fracking-ban-tainted-by-money-politics/
- Shepstone, Tom. “Connecting the Dots on NYT and Park Foundation.” Energy In Depth. February 14, 2012. Accessed April 18, 2017. https://energyindepth.org/marcellus/connecting-dots-park-foundation/
- Maghami, Neil. “Brave New Films: Using Online Videos for Agitation and Propaganda.” Capital Research Center. November 2, 2011. Accessed April 18, 2017. https://capitalresearch.org/article/brave-new-films-using-online-videos-for-agitation-and-propaganda/
- Park Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2014, “Payments Made-By Month”
- Park Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2013, “Payments Made-2013”
- “Park Foundation’s Program Interests.” Park Foundation. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://parkfoundation.org/program-interests/
- Thayer, Parker. “How Charities Secretly Help Win Elections.” Capital Research Center, August 15, 2023. https://capitalresearch.org/app/uploads/CRC-Voter-Registration-Report.pdf.
- “Park Foundation Inc, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/166071043/202433189349102113/full.
- “Home.” Advancement Project. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://advancementproject.org/.
- “Open Letter Demanding Albany Fight Back Against Trump .” AALDEF, February 26, 2025. https://www.aaldef.org/press-release/open-letter-demanding-albany-fight-back-against-trump/.
- “Our Purpose – Black Voters Matter.” Black Voters Matter -. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://blackvotersmatterfund.org/our-purpose/.
- “40 Acres and a Lie.” Reveal. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://revealnews.org/article/40-acres-and-a-lie/.
- Mogulescu, Miles. “Biden Is Wrong to Oppose Supreme Court Reform.” Common Dreams, July 7, 2023. https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/biden-opposes-supreme-court-reform.
- Center for Transformative Action. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.centerfortransformativeaction.org/about-us.
- “Group Letter to Congress Urging Green New Deal Passage.” Earthworks, January 10, 2019. https://earthworks.org/resources/group-letter-to-congress-urging-green-new-deal-passage/.
- “Media & Platform Accountability.” Free Press. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.freepress.net/issues/media-platform-accountability.
- Kerr, Andrew. “Do You like NASCAR? This ‘non-Partisan’ Voter Registration Group Doesn’t Want to Help You.” Washington Free Beacon, September 2, 2024. https://freebeacon.com/elections/do-you-like-nascar-this-non-partisan-voter-registration-group-doesnt-want-to-help-you/.
- “Our Team.” Park Foundation. Accessed March 3, 2025. https://www.parkfoundation.org/who-we-are/our-team/.
- “Jon M. Jensen.” The Center for Business and the Environment at Yale. October 03, 2016. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://cbey.yale.edu/our-community/jon-m-jensen
- Shepstone, Tom. “There Ought To Be A Natural Gas Law – Part II.” Energy In Depth. May 18, 2012. Accessed April 18, 2017. https://energyindepth.org/marcellus/there-ought-to-be-a-natural-gas-law-part-ii/
- Center for Responsive Politics. “Contribution Search – Adelaide Gomer,” Open Secrets, accessed November 29, 2016, http://www.opensecrets.org/usearch/index.php?q=Adelaide+Gomer&cx=010677907462955562473%3Anlldkv0jvam&cof=FORID%3A11&siteurl=http%3A%2F%2Fopensecrets.org%2F
- National Institute on Money in State Politics. “Show Me – Gomer, Adelaide.” FollowTheMoney.org. Accessed April 19, 2017. https://www.followthemoney.org/show-me?d-eid=1634138%2C28106672#[{1|gro=d-id,f-eid