Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation
The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit successor organization that supports educational, scholarly, cultural, and historic-preservation programs focused on Abraham Lincoln and the ideals associated with his legacy.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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History
The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation emerged from the commemorative infrastructure created for the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. Congress and the President established the commission to plan and encourage observances of Lincoln’s two-hundredth birthday in 2009. During the commission’s nine years of activity, a separate foundation was developed to attract private funding for events, publications, educational outreach, and online work. This structure was intended to preserve a funding and programming mechanism after the federal commission completed its mandate. Bill Gray and Jack Kemp were the foundation’s original chairmen. As the commission approached the end of its statutory life, Jean Soman and Orville Vernon Burton served as interim chairs during the transition. The commission sunset on April 30, 2010. Around 2009 and 2010, the foundation reconstituted its governance, expanded its board, and selected historian Harold Holzer, who had co-chaired the bicentennial commission, as chairman. The foundation formally presented its new board and broadened mission on February 10, 2011, at the Willard hotel in Washington, D.C. The location had a direct connection to Lincoln: he and his family stayed there during the ten days preceding his 1861 presidential inauguration. The foundation described itself as a successor organization that would support innovative and historically meaningful national, state, and local programs. Its initial emphasis included early education, professional scholarship, digital access, publications, public programs, community engagement, and the preservation and interpretation of historic places and artifacts. Its first announced commitments illustrated this approach. The foundation helped support “The Peace Convention at 150: A Call to Compromise,” an all-day scholarly program about the National Peace Conference held at the Willard in February 1861. The planned project included a symposium, a commemorative plaque, and performances of Lincoln’s speeches by actor Stephen Lang. It also offered conditional support and co-sponsorship for a commemoration of Lincoln’s first inauguration, including a ceremony and reenactment at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and a related program at the Willard. In Pennsylvania, the foundation supported one year of staffing and maintenance for the Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station, the depot associated with Lincoln’s arrival in Gettysburg before his November 1863 address. Beyond individual commemorations, the foundation reported grants totaling several hundred thousand dollars for educational, performance, research, and other programmatic activities in multiple states. It also co-sponsored a public-history program with HistoryMiami for three consecutive years. Those programs addressed Lincoln and Civil War history and featured historians such as Craig L. Symonds, James M. McPherson, and Robert “Bud” Robertson. The foundation invited accredited nonprofit organizations and societies to request support, sponsorship, or endorsement through proposals considered at regularly scheduled quarterly meetings. The available historical account documents the foundation’s formation, governance, mission, and early projects but does not reliably establish its current activities, leadership, finances, or legal status. Accordingly, its present operational status remains unknown.
- 2011
Reorganized foundation introduced
[1]On February 10, 2011, the foundation announced its expanded board and extended mission at the Willard hotel in Washington, D.C.
- 2011
Initial project commitments announced
[1]The foundation announced support for Washington commemorative programs concerning the 1861 Peace Conference and Lincoln’s first inauguration, as well as assistance for the Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station.
- 2010
Bicentennial commission sunsets
[1]The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission ended its statutory existence on April 30, 2010, leaving the foundation as a successor vehicle for continuing programs and support.
- 2009
Lincoln bicentennial observances
[1]The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission coordinated national, state, and local activities marking the two-hundredth anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. The foundation was developed to support related work with private funding.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit civic-history foundation positioned as a successor to the federal Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission and as a national supporter of historically grounded education, scholarship, preservation, and public engagement.
Nonprofit support
Grantmaking and sponsorship
The foundation provides or has provided financial support, sponsorship, endorsement, and expertise to accredited nonprofit organizations and historical societies. Eligible work includes education, research, performances, publications, public programs, community activities, and preservation or interpretation of Lincoln-related sites and artifacts.
Cultural programming
Lincoln and Civil War public history
Its programming model brings historians, performers, educators, preservation organizations, and general audiences together around Lincoln, the Civil War, emancipation, political leadership, and the civic ideals associated with the sixteenth president. Activities may include lectures, symposia, commemorations, reenactments, and interpretive events.
Educational resources
Digital and publication support
Building on the bicentennial commission’s work, the foundation supports access to Lincoln-related knowledge through publications, online resources, scholarly work, and educational outreach. No complete current catalog of publications or digital products is established in the available sources.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011The Peace Convention at 150: A Call to Compromise
United States
The foundation helped support a scholarly and public commemoration of the National Peace Conference held at the Willard in February 1861, one of the final efforts to avert secession and civil war. The planned event included a symposium, a commemorative plaque, and performances of Lincoln’s speeches.
Outcome. The source describes planned support and program components but does not provide a definitive account of final attendance or long-term results.
- 2011Lincoln first inauguration sesquicentennial
United States
The foundation offered conditional support and co-sponsorship for a 150th-anniversary commemoration of Lincoln’s first inauguration, with a ceremony and reenactment at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and a luncheon and historians’ program at the Willard.
Outcome. The available source records the planned event but does not document its final outcome.
- HistoryMiami Lincoln and Civil War program
United States
For three consecutive years, the foundation co-sponsored a public-history program with HistoryMiami exploring Lincoln and Civil War history. Speakers included Craig L. Symonds, Robert “Bud” Robertson, and James M. McPherson.
Outcome. The source confirms the recurring program and participating speakers but does not provide attendance or evaluation data.
Brand decisions
2011
Open requests for nonprofit sponsorship and supportOtherBackground
The foundation sought a continuing pipeline of historically relevant projects beyond its initial commitments.
Action taken
It invited accredited nonprofit organizations and societies to submit proposals for support, sponsorship, or endorsement, with requests to be considered at quarterly meetings.
Aftermath
The available source does not identify the number or value of later awards resulting from this call.
2010
Continue Lincoln programming after commission sunsetStrategyBackground
The federal Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission was scheduled to end after completing its bicentennial mandate.
Action taken
The foundation was positioned as a successor organization able to attract private funding and continue educational, scholarly, commemorative, and preservation work.
Aftermath
The foundation announced an expanded mission and board in February 2011 and began publicizing grants and sponsorships for Lincoln-related initiatives.
Sources1 sources
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