Friends of the Lock & Dam, now Friends of the Falls, was founded as a 501(c)3 public nonprofit with a mission to “repurpose the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock to a world class destination visitor and interpretive center, consistent with the ‘Central Riverfront Regional Park Master Plan’ and fully integrated with the RiverFirst/WaterWorks Initiative.” The organization raised $5 million dollars in 2016 in support of the mission.