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September 11, 2025
The Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation (VMNHF) has received a historic donation of over $4.4 million in support of the foundation's endowment fund. The gift, provided by the late Frank W. Mariels, a long-time resident of Martinsville, is the largest donation ever received by the foundation and will provide greatly enhanced annual income directly supporting the Virginia Museum of Natural History's (VMNH) mission and strategic plan.
"The Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation has long emphasized the importance of growing its endowment fund in support of the museum's mission," said VMNHF Board President Tyler Carter. "With the museum's ambitious plans for the coming years, which include upgrades to the current exhibit galleries and the introduction of new visitor experiences, the ability to achieve its goals has been greatly enhanced through Mr. Mariels' immense generosity."
Beginning in 2012, the foundation's governing board and its Strategic Development Committee, led by former board treasurer Larry Ryder, established forward-looking policies and procedures for sustained endowment growth, providing a vital framework for long-term success.
"The purpose of the Strategic Development Committee was to create a structure that would encourage endowment donations to the VMNH Foundation," said Ryder. "Once invested, the income from these donations would support the mission of the museum in perpetuity. This generous donation from Mr. Mariels is a huge step in enhancing the growth of the museum."
Offering visitors with new and updated exhibit experiences and public spaces has always been a priority of the museum, but special emphasis has been placed on the endeavor in recent years. With this gift, the museum will move forward with multiple initiatives involving exhibits and public spaces.
"Mr. Mariels’ extraordinary generosity will have a transformative impact on the museum," said VMNH Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Melany Clark. "This is truly a gift to the community and the Commonwealth — it will help us improve what we already offer while creating new spaces, like the Young Explorers Center, that will inspire and benefit families for years to come. His kindness ensures that the museum remains a place of discovery and joy for everyone who walks through our doors."
With this gift, the museum will prioritize the establishment of the Young Explorers Center, which will be named in honor of Mr. Mariels. To be located within the museum's current footprint, the 1,700 square foot center will consist of immersive learning experiences, including hands-on STEM stations for children and families, special programming and resources supporting pre-K education initiatives, and flexible space for programming and events dedicated to young children and their families.
"The establishment of the Young Explorers Center is a top strategic priority of the museum and was recently identified as a priority project by the museum's Board of Trustees in the museum's 2025-2030 strategic plan," said VMNH Executive Director Dr. Joe Keiper. "Because of Mr. Mariels' generosity and the foundation's support, we're now in position to ensure that the center comes to fruition in the near future."
The gift will also provide the museum with the necessary support to enhance its current exhibit galleries and to secure high-level traveling exhibits in an effort to further improve the visitor experience.
"The museum's exhibit galleries continue to receive strong reviews from visitors, but we've identified opportunities to improve them even further through upgrades to technology and enhanced layouts," said VMNH Deputy Director Ryan Barber. "The gift also provides the museum with more opportunities to offer our visitors top-tier traveling exhibits, which play a significant role in making every museum visit memorable. Thanks to Mr. Mariels' support, our ability to make these enhancements and offer these new experiences has increased significantly."
The Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that exists to support the mission and programs of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. For more information about the foundation, visit www.vmnh.net/about/vmnh-foundation.
