Friends Grassroots Network

Our Friends Grassroots Network–made up of 63 community-based groups, mostly in the West–helps individual groups use their collective influence to advocate for new designations and advance strong conservation management policies and practices.

Conservation starts with community, and history has shown that places are best protected when there is a passionate group of local citizen advocates to lead the effort. But while local advocates have incredible knowledge, credibility and ambition, they often lack financial resources and the ability to influence federal decisions about the places they cherish.

The Conservation Lands Foundation builds and strengthens these groups and their tireless leaders, providing training in fundraising, media outreach, leadership development as well as grants and networking opportunities. In 2014, the Network raised over $2 million to support their own work to protect and steward the National Conservation Lands, in addition to grants from Conservation Lands Foundation.