Supporting Assateague: Our Project Priorities

Just like the island itself, our fundraising goals are dynamic.

We work hand-in-hand with our National Park Service partners to identify and prioritize the island’s most pressing needs. Because coastal environments, park visitation levels, and federal funding landscapes are constantly evolving, our project focus shifts to respond where help is needed most. When you give to the Assateague Island Alliance, your support directly fuels these adaptive, high-impact initiatives across the National Seashore. 

AIA’s Impact: Protecting Assateague’s Wildlife, History & Future

The Assateague Island Alliance delivers powerful, measurable impact every year—funding essential staff, protecting wildlife, improving visitor safety, preserving cultural history, and strengthening the partnership between the community and Assateague Island National Seashore. Thanks to donor support, AIA has invested over $400,000 since 2019 directly into programs that keep Assateague wild, safe, and thriving.

2026: AIA’s Impact So Far — $50,200 Invested

• $29,000 to fund a Seasonal Horse Management Position
• $7,200 to support two Horse Management Interns who educate visitors and manage wild horse interactions
• $14,000 toward the North Beach Boardwalk Renovation Project, part of AIA’s $67,000 commitment to reduce roadway ponding and prevent dangerous human–horse conflicts
• Continued partnership with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Horseshoe Crab Tagging, where AIA has tagged over 3,000 horseshoe crabs with the help of 127 volunteers
• Ongoing funding for the Assateague In‑Holder Oral History Project with the University of Virginia, preserving the island’s living memory

Multi‑Year Impact at a Glance

2025 — $46,473 invested

Seasonal NPS staff, educational interns, avian monitoring equipment, Oral History Project launch, beach‑nester protection signage, and community outreach through Delmarva Pony Night.

2024 — $38,695 invested

New horse‑management golf cart, recycling dumpsters, and Horse Management interns.

2023 — $26,177 invested

Seven Resource Education interns, golf cart repairs, eight benches, and a Pinnacle binocular scope for the Visitor Center boardwalk.

2022 — $7,500 invested

Avian Monitoring, Interpretation, and Wild Horse interns; golf cart repairs for Horse Management and Pony Patrol.

2021 — $10,830 invested

Avian Monitoring and Wild Horse interns; new golf cart and repairs for Pony Patrol volunteers.

2020 — $11,200 invested

Golf cart refurbishments and Wild Horse Management interns during the pandemic.

2019 — $100,000 invested

Replacement of all 222 picnic tables with wildlife‑proof food storage containers and distribution of reusable cooler straps.

Ongoing Programs Your Support Sustains

• Beach Yoga, Full Moon Yoga, artist workshops, and Artist‑in‑Residence programs

·        Citizen‑science projects like Horseshoe Crab Tagging

·        The Foster Horse Program, connecting visitors with Assateague’s iconic horses

·        Wildlife preservation and habitat protection through research and education

·        Charitable fundraisers, including the rare opportunity to name a wild horse

·        Educational outreach that keeps visitors and horses safe

·        Long‑term stewardship ensuring Assateague is protected for future generations

The Bottom Line

AIA funds the people, tools, and programs that keep Assateague safe—for wildlife, for visitors, and for future generations. Every dollar you give strengthens on‑the‑ground conservation, supports essential NPS staff, improves visitor safety, and preserves the island’s cultural heritage.

Your support keeps Assateague wild. Your support keeps Assateague safe. Your support keeps Assateague’s story alive.