History
The Friends Alliance is an informal union of philanthropic park partners and park officials that meet twice a year to share best practices and advance park partnerships. The Alliance convened its first meeting in 1994 by a small group of philanthropic park partner (or “Friends Group”) executives to share stories and learn from one another. Since its inception, the Alliance has grown exponentially and evolved into a peer-learning, collaborative network for park partners.
How We Help
The Friends Alliance is currently led by a steering committee elected by the network and convenings are held bi-annually. Over 200+ participants attend these meetings, which provide opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, National Park Service leadership updates, and strategic discussions between philanthropic partners, park officials, and other park allies.
As part of the National Park Foundation’s efforts to elevate park partners and increase philanthropic capacity, the Foundation facilitates biannual meetings by providing technical, financial, and administrative support to the Friends Alliance. Learn how the Foundation supports national park partnerships by visiting the Community Partnerships Resource Center.
Steering Committee Members
- David MacDonald, Friends of Acadia – Steering Committee, President
- Frank Dean, Yosemite Conservancy – Steering Committee, co-Vice President
- Katie Nyberg, Mississippi Park Connection – Steering Committee, co-Vice President
- Bess Mitchell Averett, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign
- Elizabeth Fien, Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
- Courtney Lyons-Garcia, Big Bend Conservancy
- Doug Mitchell, Glacier National Park Conservancy
- Susan Sherman, Shenandoah National Park Trust
- Deb Yandala, Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
- Reggie Chapple, National Park Service Liaison
- Will Shafroth, National Park Foundation Liaison
- Chrystal Morris Murphy, National Park Foundation Liaison
Upcoming Meetings
Fall 2020*
October 7-8
The Friends Alliance Steering Committee, the National Park Foundation, along with our hosts at Mission Heritage Partners and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, have made the decision to pivot the Fall 2020 Friends Alliance meeting from in-person to a virtual gathering to protect the health and safety of park partners and recognize changed circumstances for so many of us around travel, budgets, and group events. Please continue to hold the dates of October 7-8 with additional information being released in the coming months for how we can connect remotely with NPS and our national community. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this transition.
Learn More
For more information about the Friends Alliance or to sign up for the monthly Park Partners newsletter, please email [email protected].
