Charting the Direction
Since 1998, the Friends Alliance has been an informal network of peer practitioners seeking insights by connecting with colleagues facing similar challenges and opportunities. Run by a volunteer committee and with generous financial and administrative support from National Park Foundation, leaders had the ability to use this informal network to support each other, learn, and find community in their professional purpose. Over the past 25 years the number of organizations supporting national parks and their needs have grown. In order to meet the needs of the network with professional staff and resources, the Friends Alliance was incorporated as an independent nonprofit corporation in 2023.
“The pandemic created an urgent need for collaboration and knowledge sharing, a wonderful by-product of that effort is increased trust within the national park partner community. Now is the moment to capitalize on the relationships deepened over the past three years. NatureBridge is excited to work with our brilliant peers to enhance philanthropy for education programs in parks across the country.”
PHIL KILBRIDGE
President & CEO, NatureBridge
Board of Directors
Led by leaders in the national park friends community, our board of directors represent the needs of our members.
Ryan McClure, Vice Chair
Executive Director, Gateway Arch Park Foundation
https://www.archpark.org
Doug Mitchell, Treasurer
Executive Director, Glacier National Park Conservancy
https://glacier.org
Bess Averett
Executive Director, Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign
https://friendsofvicksburg.org
Chris Lehnertz
President and CEO, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
https://rmconservancy.org
Dan Blakemore
Philanthropy Director
Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park
https://www.conservancyforcvnp.org
Tricia King Mims
Executive Director, National Park Partners of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Moccasin Bend
https://nppcha.org
Agency & Partner Advisors
The strength of the friends community is bolstered by a deep partnership with both the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service.
Will Shafroth
President and CEO, National Park Foundation
Lise Aangeenbrug
Chief Program Officer, National Park Foundation
Sarah Unz
Vice President, Community Partnerships, National Park Foundation
Shannon Fino
Manager, Community Partnerships, National Park Foundation
Mike Reynolds
Deputy Director, National Park Service
Lauren Imgrund
Associate Director, Office of Partnerships & Civic Engagement, National Park Service
Reggie Chapple
Division Chief, Office of Partnerships & Philanthropic Stewardship, National Park Service
Karissa DeCarlo
Partnerships Program Coordinator, Office of Partnerships & Philanthropic Stewardship, National Park Service
Our Mission
Our MISSION is to enhance support for national park sites by creating a space for collaboration, creativity, and support of philanthropic partnerships between the National Park Service and their official nonprofits.