Upcoming Events
Monthly Friends Leadership Forum
2026 Dates: 1/16, 2/20, 3/27, 4/17, 5/15, 6/12, 7/17, 8/21, 9/18, 10/16, 11/20, 12/18
Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET
Location: Virtual
Monthly gatherings for nonprofit partner leaders. Members-only. To receive meeting invitation and instructions, contact [email protected]
Health Insurance Consulting – Informational Webinar (Members Only)
Date: October 21, 2026
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
The Friends Alliance has partnered with Gallagher, a leading health and benefits advisory firm, allowing us to offer a no-cost consulting service to Friends Alliance member organizations, employees, their families, and friends to review Medicare, COBRA alternatives, and Individual & Family Plan (IFP) coverage options. Join this informational webinar to learn more. The webinar will be recorded for those that are unable to attend.
2027 Fall Meeting
Save the dates: September 21-23, 2027
Location: Black Hills, South Dakota
Join us in the Black Hills! Registration will open in Spring 2027.
Local Hosts: Mount Rushmore Society, Badlands National Park Conservancy, and Black Hills Parks & Forests Association
The Best Things Happen Together
The Friends Alliance offers a series of in-person and virtual gatherings throughout the year designed to benefit Friends Groups and their national park partners.
“I find real value in our annual gatherings. They are an important opportunity for us to be in community with our park partners in a very meaningful way. We get to learn from each other, hear directly from NPS leadership, and brainstorm ideas on how we can grow the already vibrant partnerships. I’m proud to be a part of this community, and am enriched by the time we spend together!”
DOUG MITCHELL
Glacier Conservancy
Past Meeting Recap
Spring Virtual Meeting
March 12, 2026
Over 200 leaders and practitioners from across the National Park Friends community met virtually and heard updates from leadership of the Friends Alliance and Acting NPS Director Jessica Bowron; learned about new fundraising trends, navigating boards in transition, and land acquisition process and strategies; and listened to an inspiring discussion between Phil Kilbridge and Stephen Lockhart.
Hill Day Members Field Trip to Wolf Trap
April 28, 2026
In conjunction with National Park Foundation Hill Day, Friends Alliance members visited Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts hosted by the Wolf Trap Foundation. Members experienced a backstage tour of Filene Center, learned about the recently completed Campaign for Wolf Trap which has led to transformative capital improvements in the Park, and heard about the additional educational program the Foundation leads outside the Park.
2026 Fall Meeting
September 22-24, 2026
Estes Park, CO
Nearly 400 attendees participated in three days of learning, discussion, and connection in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. The meeting brought together nonprofit executives, board members, National Park Service staff, fundraising and communications professionals, and other leaders working to strengthen public-private partnerships across the National Park System. Click here to read the full recap!
For Members:
Past Meeting Resources
Log in to view the resources for each past meeting in our member portal.
Join Today!
Join the community and be part of a network focused on philanthropy in national parks. Membership in the Friends Alliance gives you access to professional networking opportunities, discounts on the annual meetings, and resources to support your park partnership.