Carmel Mission Foundation gets $500,000 challenge grant

The Carmel Mission Foundation has received a $500,000 grant from an anonymous donor, which will help with ongoing renovation and preservation efforts at the mission.

The grant is what’s called a challenge grant, meaning that donations to the Foundation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $500,000.

“With new donations now counting double, we are able to accelerate efforts to preserve the remainder of the Carmel Mission complex. We are very grateful to this most generous donor,” said Vic Grabrian, president and CEO of the Carmel Mission Foundation.

The organization recently announced that new plans for the remaining preservation work on the Mission’s historic structures are nearing completion. Following the $5.5 million Basilica restoration last year, the foundation began a new study of the remaining historic structures in the Carmel Mission complex, which includes five museum’s, the state’s first library and the Orchard House, California’s oldest continuously occupied residence.

Plans include infrastructure upgrades on historic structures, courtyard restorations, visitor traffic flow, accessibility improvements, and enhancements to the museum experience.

The Carmel Mission Foundation was founded in 2008 as a non-profit corporation and is independent from any religious organization. It works to fund restoration and preservation of the Carmel Mission, which was founded in 1771 by Junpero Serra.

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