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Championing Diversity Equity, & Inclusion Under Challenging Circumstances

Tue, 20 May 2025 23:59:00 GMT

This two-part webinar series supports small, largely rural organizations to continue to build an effective and equitable conservation movement, even in the face of attacks on public lands and DEI work. Our facilitators, Aparna and Cianna, are from the Avarna Group. The Avarna Group works to empower nonprofit, private, and public sector institutions driven by people-centered values to transform their ecosystems toward justice, fairness, and belonging. They complete this mission through strategic planning, facilitation, assessments, coaching, learning experiences, curriculum development, toolkits, and resources.

Webinar 1 - Having Difficult Conversations Across Values Divides

In this first webinar of a 2-part series, the Avarna Group will provide information to FGN members on some frameworks and practices for engaging in difficult conversations with partners and community members whose life experiences and values may differ from yours or your organization’s. The content will focus on how to build bridges and find common ground while still maintaining your values and the organization’s values.

Presented by: The Avarna Group .

2025 Communications Cohort

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 01:41:00 GMT

Session 1 - Social Media Bootcamp ��

Session 2 - Optimizing Your Online Presence

In this session of the Social Media Bootcamp, Shi-Lynn Campbell, Milly Tamarez, Max Lasher, and Diana Scholl discuss key strategies for enhancing your social media game. The agenda covers content pillars, community management, influencer partnerships, fundraising, and crisis communications. Our presenters will also walk through practical examples and tips on maintaining organizational voice and strategy.

Key takeaways include:

Engaging Your Community For The NCL 25th Anniversary With Mackenzie Banta

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 15:42:00 GMT

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands, join us for this interactive call designed to empower FGN members with strategies for planning successful events. This is a terrific opportunity to both celebrate our National Conservation Lands and increase your organization's impact and growth. We will discuss ideas and strategies to create impactful and memorable events that celebrate your legacy while securing vital resources for your mission. In addition to the February 18th group call, there will be three optional calls with Mackenzie for more personalized support. These optional calls are a time to receive customized planning help, check in on planning progress and ask specific questions for your organization. The calls are scheduled to be: 2/25/25 at 2:00 pm PST; 3/7/25 at 1:00 pm PST; 3/12/25 at 3:00 pm PST. Bio: Mackenzie Banta, Impact Creator Mackenzie is a philanthropic and leadership advisor with the personal ethos that “giving is an act of love” and each of us can make an impact with our money and time. As an executive coach providing consulting and training, she works with people, communities, and nonprofits across the U.S. and abroad to overcome challenges, innovate systems, and fulfill their critical missions. For over 20 years she has helped numerous NGOs raise money and create cultures of fundraising and sustainability. Recorded February 18, 2025, during the February FGN Call. Resources: Webinar 2/25 2:00 pm PST Zoom info: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82040970913 Meeting ID: 820 4097 0913 Passcode: 623411 3/7/25 1:00 pm PST Zoom info: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88697009075 Meeting ID: 886 9700 9075 Passcode: 427526 3/12 3:00 pm PST Zoom info: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88079757100 Meeting ID: 880 7975 7100 Passcode: 173185

Creativity and Community: Using the Power of the Arts for Land Advocacy

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 01:40:00 GMT

Learn how to use the arts to build community and advance your campaigns. Artist and educator Kim Garrison-Means (Friends of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument) discusses the power of the arts for sharing land advocacy information, engaging more deeply with diverse local communities and stakeholders, and addressing relevant issues with our local, state, and national representatives. Find out how art can amplify your organization’s messages and make a greater impact toward reaching your goals.

Recorded December 3, 2024, during the December FGN Call.

Resources:

Webinar

Arts and Advocacy Handout

Creativity and Community Slide Deck

Public Lands Rule Workshop 2024

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:07:00 GMT

The BLM's Public Lands Rule (PLR) went into effect June 10, 2024. The PLR aims to ensure the protection and long-term health of public lands by emphasizing conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable land use practices. This landmark decision, if implemented correctly, will balance conservation with other uses like grazing, energy development, and recreation to protect ecosystems while allowing responsible development. Our PLR Workshop provides insight to the Public Lands Rule and how public lands advocates can work with their local BLM field offices to further conservation initiatives like resource management plans (RMPs) and areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs).

Our presenters Danielle Murray and myrah rafi'ah beverly (Pew Charitable Trusts) provide valuable insight on the Public Lands Rule and what that means for the future of conservation under the BLM. Danielle delivers an expert-level explanation of the PLR and myrah closes our workshop by exploring ACEC designations and how to submit nominations for new ACEC protections. Our conversation is part of a larger mobilization of environmental organizations. If you have additional questions or need help with strategy, don't hesitate to get in touch with Shi-Lynn Campbell or a representative from CLF for assistance.

Resources:

Webinar

BLM Public Lands Rule Presentation 2024

PEW BLM Rule ACEC Presentation

PLR Implementation Toolkit

State Specific Slide Decks:

CA BLM Rule Powerpoint

NV BLM Rule Powerpoint

NM BLM PLR Presentation

OHV Live Webinar Series: Cultivating Relationships With The Off-Road Community

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:45:00 GMT

Want to learn more about the off-road community? Join CLF for a presentation and roundtable discussion. Ashley Lee, board president of the Amargosa Conservancy, and Amy Granat, managing director of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA), will guide participants through understanding the off-road community, building multi-organizational partnerships, and identifying collaboration and joint stewardship opportunities. Neil Hamada, Outdoor Recreation Planner, OHV / Travel & Transportation Management Lead - BLM California, and Brandon Alvarez, California Program Manager for Tread Lightly, will join the panel as our expert guests. This webinar was recorded on September 10, 2024.

Presented by: Ashley Lee, Amargosa Conservancy, and Amy Granat, CORVA.

Guests: Brandon Alvarez, Tread Lightly, and Neil Hamada, BLM.

Watch Webinar

Resources:

OHV Webinar Supplemental Information

Build Supervision Skills To Help You And Your Team Thrive

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:13:00 GMT

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Presenter: TREC

Would you like to build supervision skills that allows both you and your staff to thrive? In this webinar, we’ll explore a five-step process for supervision that sets you up for success. We’ll unpack how to create a foundation of clear expectations and mutual accountability, and reduce assumptions and uncertainty. These foundational skills will not only empower both you and your staff but also create a more inclusive and engaging workplace.

Additional Resources:

Internal Organizational Work as the Driver of Equity and Justice - a Human Centered Approach

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 12:47:00 GMT

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Presenter: CLF Staff

The foundation of any organization and its ability to achieve true organizational effectiveness starts with human capital. The operational, financial, and human resources function of an organization is critical to supporting human capital. As we come out of this historic pandemic and wade through all of the injustices and inequities in our world, it’s critical we focus on a human-centered approach to our work that embeds equity and justice. Come learn the importance of identifying your organization’s values, approaches to embedding equity and justice into your work, and how best you can support your staff.

Additional Resources:

Good Governance: Policies & Practices for the IRS Form 990

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:49:00 GMT

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Presenter: Katie Davis, 5 Branches Consulting

Governance Policies may not be the first thing leaders want to think about when managing their organizations but having solid governance policies and practices in place makes for smoother operations. During this 90-minute webinar Katie Davis of 5 Branches Consulting will “cook up” a basic recipe for good governance. We’ll then dive deeper, reviewing the following five standard policies that the IRS highlights on Form 990. Even smaller nonprofits that file the 990-N will benefit from more focused attention to compliance.

Additional Resources:

The Resiliency Audit Webinar

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 16:45:00 GMT

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Presenter: Hailey Hawkins, Sailing Hawks Consulting

Join Hailey Hawkins as we explore a new toolkit designed to examine the level of resilience within an organization’s internal culture. In this webinar , we will explore this tool, how to utilize it within your own organization, and provide recommendations on how to increase resilience in order to promote organizational health and effectiveness and increase staff productivity, satisfaction, and retention.

Additional Resources:

Better Board Meetings: Improving Your Facilitation

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:48:00 GMT

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Presenter: Megan Siebel, Capacity Refresh

Do you have a strong board chair who can effectively facilitate your board meeting? Does the treasurer understand the organization’s financial position well enough to give a brief, confident financial report? If not, you may need to adjust roles. In this session, we’ll talk about best practices for facilitating the board meeting so that the time is productive, but also generative, engaging, and inclusive. We’ll explore ways to address power dynamics and work to create space for new voices

* This webinar is the first of a three-part webinar series on Board Engagement, Culture, and Meetings *

Better Board Meetings: Enhancing Your Preparation

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 13:20:00 GMT

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Presenter: Megan Siebel, Capacity Refresh

Do your board meetings focus on the important topics? Do you have the right balance between immediate business and longer-range planning? In this session, we’ll explore how to prepare for your board meetings so that they can be as productive as possible. We’ll talk about how to create a board meeting agenda and board packet, including presenting financial information, which supports productive conversations in your board meeting.

* This webinar is the first of a three-part webinar series on Board Engagement, Culture, and Meetings *

Friends Guide to Elections

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 16:10:00 GMT

Elections will always have significant impacts on the future of our public lands and the policies that govern how they are managed. As non-profits it is vital that we take every opportunity to ensure those who are making decisions at all levels of government understand why public lands are so important.

While your organization cannot endorse specific candidates or political parties, there are many different ways you can engage in the political and electoral process to ensure the public, the media, and those elected to public office understand the values our public lands hold and why they are worthy of protection.

This guide, expertly drafted by Skye Schell, will help you and your organization understand what you can do, how to do it effectively and legally, and why you should do it. Please also call upon the team at Conservation Lands Foundation if you have questions or need advice on how best to engage in the political and electoral process within the scope of your organization’s work.

There is no more effective voice in the political and electoral process than the grassroots, and at a time when the integrity of our democracy is being challenged more than ever, there is no more important time than now for your organization to speak truth to power. From the biggest of presidential elections to the most local of city elections, all politics matter, especially as it relates to how our landscapes, air and water are managed.

Resources

Access the FGN Guide to Elections here!

Click here to access Skye Schell's video presentation of the guide. (pw= 3?s#uL#w)

End of Year Fundraising, 2022

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 14:47:00 GMT

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Presenter: Bruce Passmore ; Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC)

Say what? It’s the end of year already? Well, not technically. But there is no time like September to plan your year-end fundraising campaign. In this webinar we will go through the steps of conducting a EOY fundraising review and explore 5 ways you can maximize your EOY fundraising successes. During the last part of the session, we’ll walk through a one-page EOY fundraising plan taking what we learned and applying it immediately to the work at hand.

Additional Resources:

Better Board Meetings: Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 12:41:00 GMT

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Presenter: Megan Siebel, Capacity Refresh

Do you have passionate volunteers that you’d like to turn into productive board members while keeping their passion alive? A mindset shift is needed to transition from working as a volunteer for the organization to participating in its governance. In this session, we’ll explore the governance that is required -- providing strategic leadership, assuring financial sustainability, serving as an ambassador for the organization, supporting and supervising the executive director. We’ll also talk about customizing board roles to meet the needs of your organization and to play to the strengths and interests of your individual board members so that they stay engaged and passionate.

* This webinar is the first of a three-part webinar series on Board Engagement, Culture, and Meetings *

Additional Resources:

Working Across Generations

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:13:00 GMT

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Presenter: Vanessa Lopez , Associate; Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC)

Unlocking the strengths of multi-generational workplaces is essential, and sometimes challenging, work. In this webinar, we will explore practices to build understanding, slay age-ist stereotypes, and leverage the value of diversity across decades. You will:

Additional Resources:

2022 Friends Summit Resources

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 17:04:00 GMT

The Friends Summit is an opportunity to gather the Friends Grassroots Network to discuss current challenges to our public lands, share stories of success and inspiration and share resources to build capacity to win.

Our vision, a future in which outdoor access is for all people, protected lands and waters are a solution for—not a casualty of—climate change, and politics is driven by overwhelming public support for protected public lands, will require the passion, dedication, and support of our entire network and the conservation community at large.

The Friend’s Summitis a catalyst for conversation and call to action as we work towards that vision.

If you missed the 2022 Summit, no worries! Please review the materials covered below to catch up!

As well, please mark your calendars for the next Summit, in Fall 2023!

For access to specific resources, please click this link to access the 2022 Friends Summit Resources .

The Mid-Zone: Deepening the levels of engagement of your mid-level donors

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 00:53:00 GMT

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Presenter: Ellie Stanley , Associate; Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC)

Do you have a plan to deal specifically with your mid-level donors?

As fundraisers, we may focus much of our time on acquiring new donors and retaining major donors, but what about your mid-level donors? In this interactive session, we will focus on the building blocks of your mid-level donor program – who are your mid-level donors? What do they really want to hear from you? And how can you move them up your donor ladder of engagement? Join Ellie for this deep dive exploration in “the mid-zone.“

Additional Resources:

Building Capacity Within Campaigns and Adapting to Win

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 23:15:00 GMT

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Presenter: Trevor Kaul , Associate; Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC)

Our work to protect our families, our communities, and our planet is not a sprint but a marathon. That's why so many of the most effective and enduring organizations use the work they do today to make themselves stronger for tomorrow. This webinar contains an introduction on how to use your campaigns to teambuild, develop leaders, and increase other capacities so that whether you win or lose this campaign, you're stronger heading into the next.

In this webinar we will also introduce common internal conflicts, coalition dynamics, and opposition attacks. By taking the time to think through these inevitabilities we can prepare, prevent, and even use some of them to our advantage. All too often when we plan, we skip the critical step of preparing for the inevitable bumps in the road.

Additional Resources:

Getting Things Right from the Start: Picking Good Partners and Strategic Campaigns

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:53:00 GMT

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Presenter: Trevor Kaul , Associate; Training Resources for the Environmental Community (TREC)

We all know we should be partnering more, but with limited resources how do we choose who to work with?

Building on the first session's community mapping exercise, this webinar will introduce inclusive strategies for prioritizing partnerships which build collective power and create more powerful campaigns. We will discuss tools for choosing which relationships to invest in, how to respectfully engage new partners, keys to establishing a healthy collaboration, and tips for picking the right campaign for you, your partners, and your community.

Additional Resources:

find blog post authors - Grassroots Advocacy Program

Championing Diversity Equity, & Inclusion Under Challenging Circumstances

Webinar 1 - Having Difficult Conversations Across Values Divides

2025 Communications Cohort

Session 1 - Social Media Bootcamp ����

Session 2 - Optimizing Your Online Presence

Engaging Your Community For The NCL 25th Anniversary With Mackenzie Banta

Creativity and Community: Using the Power of the Arts for Land Advocacy

Public Lands Rule Workshop 2024

OHV Live Webinar Series: Cultivating Relationships With The Off-Road Community

Build Supervision Skills To Help You And Your Team Thrive

Internal Organizational Work as the Driver of Equity and Justice - a Human Centered Approach

Good Governance: Policies & Practices for the IRS Form 990

The Resiliency Audit Webinar

Better Board Meetings: Improving Your Facilitation

Better Board Meetings: Enhancing Your Preparation

Friends Guide to Elections

End of Year Fundraising, 2022

Better Board Meetings: Clarifying Roles and Responsibilities

Working Across Generations

2022 Friends Summit Resources

The Mid-Zone: Deepening the levels of engagement of your mid-level donors

Building Capacity Within Campaigns and Adapting to Win

Getting Things Right from the Start: Picking Good Partners and Strategic Campaigns

Session 1 - Social Media Bootcamp ��