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 continues to sponsor groups of high school students at the yearly summits where they learn from different pros who volunteer their time to teach and work with the students both in the classroom and in the field.

The Foundation continues to raise funds at the summits with both silent and live auctions. Additional photo blinds are constructed throughout the national refuge system.

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. The students learn from industry pros and receive portfolio reviews. 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 with completion of a blind at Modoc National Wildlife Refuge in California.

At NANPA’s 10th Anniversary Summit and Trade Show the Foundation sponsors eight college students, as well as ten students in the traditional High School Student Scholarship Program.

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. Different auctions continue to raise funds for the Foundation’s programs.

Following a strategic planning session, a new mission statement is adopted.

The Foundation’s trustees extend formal thanks to Executive Director Jerry Bowman on his retirement. Francine Butler remains as the sole Executive Director.

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Grow it.

2007 - 2011

The Foundation continues to sponsor both high school and college students at the different summits. The Foundation seeks possible corporate grant sources to help fund the student scholarship programs, as well as the Philip Hyde Conservation Grants. The NANPA Environment Committee’s Outreach Events at the different summits continue to give all proceeds to the Foundation for its Philip Hyde Grants.

The Foundation agrees to fund part of the costs of NANPA’s Road Shows and Regional Events.

Development Director and Past President Jane Kinne unexpectedly passes away, leaving a large hole in the Foundation’s fundraising.

During a tribute to trustee and Past President Jane Kinne at the Destin, FL summit, 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 Foundation sponsor trips to the Galapagos and Alaska.

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.

A second virtual summit is conducted the next year with the Foundation well represented.

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 Foundation heads down a new road with the hiring of executive director Lorianne Simon. 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.

See more of the complete history.