Partners

How the National Park Service Works with Partners

The National Park Service (NPS) collaborates with various partners to achieve its mission of preserving and protecting America's natural and cultural resources. Through partnerships, the NPS can leverage resources, expertise, and funding to further its conservation goals.

These partnerships take many forms, including agreements with state and local governments, non-profit organizations, private landowners, and other federal agencies.

By working together, the NPS and its partners can achieve more than they could alone, from restoring habitats to promoting visitor education and interpretation.

Philanthropic Partners

National parks partner with over 200 philanthropic organizations, which offer diverse projects and programs that cater to the unique needs of each park. Despite this diversity, they all share a common goal: to protect and preserve our national parks for future generations.

Some of the ways that philanthropic partners benefit parks include raising funds to rehabilitate historic structures, maintaining visitor facilities, providing opportunities for education and recreation, hosting special events and programs, mobilizing volunteers and interns to support park projects, and accepting donations to support research, restoration, and other park projects.

Cooperating Associations

In many national parks, not-for-profit organizations known as cooperating associations play a vital role in enhancing visitor understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of national parks. They provide a range of services, including operating bookstores that offer publications about the park and selling merchandise related to the park's history and natural resources. Additionally, they develop audiovisual programs and support educational programs, guided tours, and interactive exhibits that help visitors connect with the park's natural and cultural heritage.

 

Logo for "Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial".

Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial.

A Look at our Park Partners

Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial

Learn more about our official park partner, Friends of Port Chicago, to keep the story alive of the men who sacrificed their lives and of the men who survived the 1944 explosion.

The Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial is a registered non-profit and the official fundraising partner of the National Park Service, created to help support and enhance the Port Chicago National Monument in 2007. Friends of Port Chicago was successful in advocating for designation of Port Chicago as a national memorial and now it’s mission is to promote the history of Port Chicago, support the growth of the park and inform the visitor experience through virtual and real-time experiences and education.

 

Logo for "The Fund for People in Parks".

The Fund for People in Parks

The Fund for People in Parks

The Fund for People in Parks is an official philanthropic fundraising partner of the National Park Service. The Fund provides private funding and professional service to enhance the visitor experience in western National Parks.

The Fund works closely with park staff and the Friends of Port Chicago to bring private philanthropic support to projects that might not otherwise be funded. The Fund provides grants for projects at Port Chicago, such as educational cards that will better tell the stories of sailors and other important figures for visitors and students, alike.

To learn more, please visit the official website.