Courtesy / Friends of Acadia
Eric Stiles
April 15, 2022
Acadia's fundraising and advocacy arm hires new CEO
Courtesy / National Park Service Photo, Kent Miller
Photographers in Acadia National Park jockey for spots along a rocky ocean coastline as sunset approaches.
Friends of Acadia, the nonprofit that fundraises and advocates for Acadia National Park, has its first new director in a decade.
Eric Stiles, who is president and CEO of New Jersey Audubon, will take on the same titles for Friends of Acadia, starting in early July.
He takes over from David MacDonald, who stepped down last month after leading the nonprofit since 2012, the nonprofit said in a news release April 15.
Stiles is trained as an ecologist and biologist, but is also billed as a strong fundraiser. At New Jersey Audubon, where he held leadership roles for 21 years, he built philanthropic resources by increasing support from three critical supply lines — corporations, foundations and individuals.
Driven in part by people's desire to get outside during the pandemic, Acadia last year hosted 4 million visitors, its highest number in more than 30 years. At the same time, the park is more than a century old and its infrastructure is under constant wear and tear, with $66 million worth of deferred maintenance as of 2018. Acadia ranked No. 16 among national parks last year, measured by visitor numbers.
The Friends of Acadia’s job is to work with the National Park Service site to determine what it can partner on, raising money through private sources, leveraging public funding. It one of a number of such "friends" groups lend support to the 400-plus national parks.
“Eric brings two and a half decades of conservation leadership experience, a deep commitment to environmental and social justice issues, and great energy and passion for preserving and protecting our parks and natural areas,” said Jack Kelley, chair of the Friends of Acadia board of directors. “Eric is an exceptional choice to be our President and CEO. The board and I look forward to working with him as we build on Friends of Acadia’s successful tradition of public-private partnership and protection of the park and its surrounding communities.”
Stiles' hiring also coincides with the National Park Foundation's National Park Week, which is April 16-24.
A proven fundraiser
In New Jersey, Stiles was part of an effort that secured funding for preservation of open space and farmland. He led a four-state Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, securing $100 million in federal funding for water and habitat restoration. He also has experience working for the New Jersey New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
He and his wife Lydia have been longtime visitors to Acadia and plan to relocate to Mount Desert Island, where most of the park is located.
“Friends of Acadia is a best-in-class organization, and I’m excited and honored to help lead the important work that lies ahead,” Stiles said. “I enthusiastically look forward to working with the Friends of Acadia staff and board, Superintendent Kevin Schneider and the team at Acadia National Park, and the entire Acadia community, to build upon past successes and meet future challenges.
"This work includes ensuring the park’s resilience in the face of climate change, engaging young people in the park, expanding diversity and inclusion, balancing visitor experience and use with resource protection, and maintaining Acadia’s amazing trails and carriage roads.”
Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider said: "We're excited to welcome Eric to the incredible community that cares for Acadia National Park. Friends of Acadia plays an essential role in helping the National Park Service protect Acadia's natural and cultural resources, fund crucial park projects, and improve the experience for our visitors. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Friends of Acadia with Eric as their President and CEO."
Stiles will be introduced at the Friends of Acadia annual meeting, which will be July 6 at the Bar Harbor Club.
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