The National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) and the National Cave and Karst Museum is a non-profit institute headquartered in the City of Carlsbad, New Mexico. NCKRI was created by the U.S. Congress in 1998 to: (1) further the science of speleology; (2) centralize and standardize speleological information; (3) foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs; (4) promote public education; (5) promote national and international cooperation in protecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst landforms; and (6) promote and develop environmentally sound and sustainable resource management practices, While initially a federal entity under the auspices of the US National Park Service, NCKRI changed to a non-profit corporation in 2006 to maximize its flexibility for entering into partnerships with other entities, raising funds, and to respond quickly to new and varied opportunities. NCKRI is actually now a hybrid non-profit through its status as an independent 501(c)(3) corporation while maintaining its Congressional mandates, obligations, and funding.