NASPF Annual Conference - Sept 14-17, 2026 (September 14, 2026)

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMT

2026 NASPF Annual Conference

September 14–17, 2026, Spokane, Washington

Designed for statewide nonprofit organizations that support state parks, Confluence & Connections brings together foundation leaders and partners from across North America for a hands-on conference focused on fundraising, partnerships, and scaling what works.

Featured Leaders & Speakers

Jamie Kelley – Chief Philanthropy Officer, National Parks Foundation
Ron Olson – Former Michagan State Parks Director and NASPD Leader
Nathan Chappell – National speaker and expert in AI for Nonprofits
Mary Snyder – Storytelling Strategist for In-person Major Donor Fundraising
Joan Kowalski – President of Bob Ross Inc. (Run for the Trees Partner)
Leadership from California State Parks Foundation, BC Parks Foundation, and Texas Parks & Wildlife

+ additional speakers to be announced

AGENDA

HOTEL

NASPF Leadership and Partnership Day - Sept 15, 2026 (September 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:00:00 GMT

2026 NASPF Leadership and Partnership Day

September 15, 2026, Spokane, Washington

Join state park foundation leaders, agency partners, and national voices for a full day of collaboration, connection, and shared learning - followed by a field experience and dinner in Riverside State Park.

Who Should Attend

State Park agency staff and leadership
Park directors and regional managers
Foundation staff and board members
Partners and organizations working with parks

Why Attend

Connect with national and cross-border leaders in park philanthropy and public lands
Strengthen partnerships between agencies and nonprofit foundations
Explore practical approaches to coordination, fundraising, and shared priorities

Program Highlights

Hear from foundation and agency leaders across North America, including California, New York, Texas, British Columbia, and the National Parks Foundation on what's working in state park and public land philanthropy
Join Ron Olson, former Michigan State Parks Director, for a conversation on ways to better achieve foundation-agency alignment
Share and trade your best ideas in a structured peer exchange where you can hear what's working in other states and leave with something you can implement at home
Explore Spokane firsthand and network with others in an afternoon field visit to Riverside State Park and the historic Spokane House at the confluence of two rivers, followed by dinner at a group camp near the Bowl & Pitcher swinging bridge

National & Cross-Sector Leadership

Featuring Jamie Kelley, representing the National Park Foundation
Perspectives from state park foundation leaders in California, New York, Texas, and British Columbia

Strengthening Foundation–Agency Partnerships

Featured session with Ron Olson: How foundations and agencies can better align to advance shared goals

Field Experience: Confluence of Rivers

Visit the confluence of the Little Spokane and Spokane Rivers
Explore Washington’s first building, a historic fur trading post
Experience the landscape that inspires the conference theme: Confluence & Connection

Evening: Riverside State Park Dinner

Group dinner at Bowl & Pitcher (swinging bridge group camp)
Informal networking in one of Washington’s most iconic park settings

What’s Included

Full access to Tuesday programming
Lunch and coffee/beverage service throughout the day
Transportation to a field experience
Dinner at Riverside State Park

HOTEL

National Association of State Park Foundations upcoming events

NASPF Annual Conference - Sept 14-17, 2026 (September 14, 2026)

NASPF Leadership and Partnership Day - Sept 15, 2026 (September 15, 2026)