Our nation's public lands need our support every day. With stretched budgets and limited staff, land managers at federal, state, and local public lands welcome additional assistance. This support often comes from “Friends Groups”, or any nonprofit organization established primarily to assist or benefit a specific park area, a series of park areas, a program, or the entire park system.
These organizations are sometimes referred to as Cooperating Associations, or simply as partners. They are invaluable in supporting, promoting and helping to maintain public lands.
These organizations, while dedicated and passionate, are often underfunded and understaffed. The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), with generous support from Toyota, seeks to strengthen these organizations and unleash their potential to serve their public lands. NEEF's Every Day Capacity Building Grants contribute to the conservation and stewardship of our public lands by funding projects that build the organizational capacity of Friends Groups.
Though it has sunset the program, NEEF awarded funds to the following grantees for our Every Day Capacity grant competition:
Round One
Teton Valley Trails and Pathways, Driggs, ID, Strategic Planning
Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Harbor, OH, Technology
Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation, Inc., Arcadia, CA, Communications
Pelican Island Preservation Society, Sebastian, FL, Strategic Planning
Friends of Dinosaur Ridge, Morrison, CO, Communications
Friends of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Woodstock, VA, Fundraising
Trinidad Coastal Land Trust, Trinidad, CA, Communications
Friends of the Schumacher Farm, Inc., Waunakee, WI, Technology
Protectors of Tule Springs, Las Vegas, NV, Technology
Kittitas Environmental Education Network, Ellensburg, WA, Technology
Round Two
Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center, Portland, OR, Board Development
Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, Traverse City, MI, Volunteer Training
Friends of Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge, Nampa, ID, Technology
Friends of Herring Run Parks, Baltimore, MD, Technology
Friends of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, Springville, TN, Finance
Friends of the Inyo, Bishop, CA, Communications
Friends of the Shawnee National Forest, Carbondale, IL, Technology
MERITO Foundation, Inc., Ventura, CA, Strategic Planning
White Tank Mountains Conservancy, Buckeye, AZ, Fundraising
Round Three
Friends of the Bridger-Teton, Jackson, WY, Tax Exemption Process
Friends of the Black Run Preserve, Marlton, NJ, Volunteer Recruitment
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods, IL, Technology
Pacific Northwest Trail Association, Sedro-Woolley, WA, Communications
Friends of Sears Island, Searsport, ME, Fundraising
Accokeek Foundation, Accokeek, MD, Board Development
Heart of the Gila Inc., Mimbres, NM, Volunteer Recruitment
Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, Ketchum, ID, Communications