The Foundation is dedicated to supporting local grassroots organizations, or “friends groups” that work to protect and promote the National Conservation Lands.  Our grantmaking program funds both capacity building and on the ground conservation projects.  In addition, we provide groups with technical advice, mentoring, tools and trainings to ensure their organizational stability and enhance their ability to protect the areas they care about.  This includes tailored advice and support to develop effective conservation campaigns, organizational development, fundraising, communications, policy and advocacy activities.  Our annual conference, the Friends Rendezvous, brings together grassroots leaders from across the nation.  The three day conference promotes networking opportunities, but more importantly it provides essential training and strategic guidance so friends groups leave equipped with the knowledge and tools to be more effective in their conservation initiatives.

Currently, the Foundation supports over 20 local grassroots organizations.  Most of these groups are made up of citizen advocates located in the rural towns and western communities near units of the National Conservation Lands, including: Kanab, Utah, Gerlach, Nevada and Lewistown Montana.  This network of friends groups effectively undertake local conservation projects, build support for the protection of their local landscapes and provide a unified voice for the National Conservation Lands.

To view pictures from the 2009, Friends Rendezvous in Santa Fe, NM, visit, The National Conservation Land’s Flickr page.