The Destinations International Foundation marks 30+ years of impact with a record-breaking $1.2 million raised in 2025. Its latest annual report highlights continued investment in research, advocacy and workforce development, reinforcing its role as a global leader in strengthening destination organizations and advancing sustainable tourism growth.
Newly released 2025 Annual Report highlights historic fundraising success and sustained investments in research, advocacy, and workforce development
The Destinations International Foundation is marking a milestone year with the release of its 2025 Annual Report, showing more than three decades of transformative impact and a record-breaking year of growth in support of destination organizations worldwide.
Founded in 1993, the foundation has evolved into a vital global resource, investing in innovation, research, advocacy, and workforce development to help destinations navigate an increasingly complex and competitive landscape. Over the years, it has incubated and scaled some of the travel and tourism sector’s most influential programs, tools, and thought leadership initiatives.
In 2025, the foundation achieved its strongest fundraising performance to date, surpassing its goal and raising more than $1.2 million. This milestone builds on sustained momentum, with consecutive years of campaigns exceeding $1 million and steadily increasing donor engagement across the global destination community.
“The continued success of the Destinations International Foundation reflects the shared commitment of our industry to invest in its future,” said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. “For more than a decade, the foundation has been a catalyst for innovation, supporting groundbreaking research, advancing advocacy efforts and developing the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of destination organizations.”
A Decade of Industry-Shaping Programs
Since its inception, the foundation has supported a wide range of initiatives that have become foundational to the global destination sector. Early investments helped establish critical research and advocacy capabilities, including landmark studies such as Destination Promotion: A Vehicle for Economic Developmentwhich elevated awareness of tourism’s role in community vitality.
Over time, its portfolio has expanded to address evolving industry challenges and opportunities, including:
- Industry-leading research and insightssuch as the DestinationNEXT Futures Study, Destination Reputation and Resident Sentiment studies, equipping destination leaders with data to navigate evolving societal expectations and community dynamics
- Advocacy and community alignment initiativesincluding the Community Shared Value model and national advocacy strategies that help destinations articulate their economic and social impact
- Workforce development and leadership programsincluding 30 Under 30, Rising Industry Professionals, Pathways to Success Scholarship and Professional Development Program and other efforts to expand opportunity and accelerate talent development in the industry
- Scholarship programsincluding funding opportunities for CDME candidates and professionals from small destinations to participate in DI programs and global scholarships for DI’s Annual Convention
- Innovative tools and frameworksincluding economic impact resources like the Event Impact Calculator and carbon footprint measurement for destinations, the Destination Guide to Food Recovery & Redistribution at Events and evolving guidance on community engagement and stewardship
Many of these efforts began as foundation-supported pilot programs and have since scaled into widely adopted industry standards, reinforcing its role as a leading incubator of innovation.
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“The Destinations International Foundation has created meaningful, lasting impact across our industry for three decades,” said Chelsea Welter, managing director of the foundation. “We are proud to invest in forward-thinking initiatives that strengthen destination organizations at every level—from research and advocacy to leadership development. This work is made possible through the continued support of our members and partners, whose investment allows us to grow and elevate our impact year after year.”
Sustained Momentum and Future Investment
About Destinations International Foundation
We believe that destination organizations are essential to the success of destinations worldwide and the cornerstone of their communities. That is why we invest in research, advocacy, talent development and global […]
Recent years have marked a period of accelerated growth for the foundation, driven by strategic fundraising campaigns, increased global participation and signature initiatives such as silent auctions and targeted investment drives. These efforts continue to expand its ability to fund high-impact programs and respond to emerging industry needs.
The 2025 Annual Report offers a comprehensive overview of the foundation’s financial performance, program achievements and strategic priorities. It reinforces the organization’s ongoing commitment to strengthening destination organizations as key drivers of economic opportunity and community vitality.
The full report is available online.