Neil Mulholland brings a distinguished career spanning the private, public, and non-profit sectors in the United States, with deep expertise in fundraising, leadership development, partnership-building, innovation, and strategic growth. He specialises in guiding early-stage companies and mission-driven organisations to scale and succeed. In particular, however, Mulholland is passionate about the conservation of our wild places and native biodiversity. He spent seven years as CEO and President of the United States National Park Foundation (2009-2015).
Mulholland’s leadership, alongside CEO Sarah Lyttle, will help drive the New Zealand Nature Fund’s mission to encourage and enable donors to invest in game-changing conservation efforts across Aotearoa.
During Mulholland’s tenure with the US National Park Foundation, its donor base increased from 90,000 to 330,000 individuals, donations grew from $17 million to $45 million annually and funds under management topped +$100 million.
Mulholland led the team which developed and launched the “Find Your Park” public engagement campaign and the $500 million Centennial Fundraising Campaign with $175 million raised during the quiet phase of the Centennial campaign. The National Park Foundation is chartered by US Congress to serve as the national non-profit partner to the National Park Service and as well as raising funds from donations it also provides technical assistance, programmatic and fundraising support to the USA’s more than 400 national park units.
Expressing his honour in taking on the role in his wife Feona’s homeland and his “adopted” country where they are now permanently based, Mulholland emphasises the urgency of the Fund’s mission:
“The New Zealand Nature Fund is at a pivotal moment. Restoring and protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s biodiversity at scale has never been more critical. Our Board and wider team are deeply committed to safeguarding New Zealand’s biodiversity, and the response from donors indicates to me that the New Zealand public is too.”
Mulholland says in the current global environment philanthropists are looking for safe places to visit and invest in nature. New Zealand’s beauty, isolation and outstanding track record of large-scale species protection and ecosystem restoration are all very appealing.
“When we are talking to philanthropists about major projects like the $80 million restoration of Maukahuka/the main Auckland Island, it’s hugely helpful that we can point to several other successful island pest eradications in the Subantarctic and around New Zealand.
“Kiwis have a global reputation for careful planning and rigorous execution of these projects, and philanthropists can trust that we will deliver.”
Neil Mulholland takes over the Chair’s role from former Conservation Minister and founding New Zealand Nature Fund Trustee, Denis Marshall, who will remain on the Board of Trustees.
Reflecting on the NZ Nature Fund’s growth and future, Marshall remarked:
“The true cost of saving and protecting native species here and everywhere in the world for that matter, is much greater than any government is prepared to fund. New Zealand Nature Fund and our donors, together with other conservation charities have made a huge difference to saving New Zealand’s endangered species over the past 25 years. Working together will be key to protecting our biodiversity in the future.”
“I am very confident that under Neil’s and CEO Sarah Lyttle’s leadership, and our talented and committed team of trustees with conservation and investment experience, we will continue to lead the fight against the extinction of our native taonga.”
ENDS
