Established in 2016, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was created to allow corporations, foundations and individuals to support multiple parks within the Tennessee State Parks system. Although many individual parks have a Friends group to support a specific park, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy allows supporters to show their love for the state parks system as a whole. In partnership with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy works to raise funds for educational programs, health initiatives and special park projects that preserve, protect and enhance the 56 state parks across Tennessee.