Learn partnership competencies that will help you
align and leverage resources, while engaging
partners in working towards a shared vision.

Public lands agencies and like-mission nonprofits are transforming their organizations to meet new demands with limited resources. Central to this transformation is a renewed commitment to partnerships—requiring different approaches, working in new ways, and across different organizational cultures.

  The Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL) is conducting an
  intensive, blended learning Partnership Academy designed to
  engage leadership from nonprofit partner organizations along with key
  agency staff.

  Participants will focus on taking their partnerships to the next
  level through a free exchange of ideas and experiences among peers within
  the context of the online training process.

Seasoned presenters will provide 16 hours of in-depth instruction, facilitated dialogue, and curated readings over this five-day academy. See academy agenda below for additional details.

Who Should Participate in the Academy?

• Public land agency staff with partnership responsibilities
  (superintendents, chiefs, supervisors, and partnership coordinators)
  
  
• Leadership staff from nonprofit public land partner organizations
  (executive directors, managers, and board members)

Partner organizations include, but are not limited to friends groups, cooperating or interpretive associations, field schools, trail organizations,
and heritage areas.

Benefits are maximized when agency and nonprofit staff from the same site participate together (see registration details below for additional savings when you register with a partner). 

Here's what last year's participants had to say about the Academy:

“Since I [participated in] the Academy with my partner, it provided an excellent vehicle for us to approach and discuss some sticky situations.”

“This class gave me the knowledge, tools and resources that I can use before, during and after building a partnership.”

“I felt the training was very beneficial and being able to do it online vs. traveling to a meeting was very good for me, due to funding."

A Cost Effective Investment in Your Partnerships

Register Now!

Partner Registration (*2 registrations) Best Value
*Register one representative from a nonprofit and one representative from an agency together at the same time - can be from an APPL member or nonmember nonprofit organization along with an agency employee.     
      Early (by August 31, 2014): $545            Regular: $595

APPL Member - Individual Registration
      Early (by August 31, 2014): $295            Regular: $345

Nonmember - Individual Registration
      Early (by August 31, 2014): $350            Regular: $400

Government - Individual Registration
      Early (by August 31, 2014): $295            Regular: $345     

Payment is due at time of online registration either by credit card (MasterCard and Visa only) or check (mailed to APPL after registering online).

If you're interested in registering groups of five or more people contact Chuck Benjamin for special group registration rates.

Academy Agenda*
* Subject to change.

Monday, September 15
How the Other Half Lives: Developing a Partnership Culture
We’ll explore the bridging of cultures, and what the “other half” needs to know in order to understand operations (nonprofit operations and best practices, agency policies, etc.).

Tuesday, September 16
The New Reality: Trends, Barriers, and Challenges 
We’ll discuss the introductory material and get some feedback on hindrances to forming healthy partnerships. What have participants encountered? How do they overcome them? What strategies are implemented to counter any potential obstacles? (discussion and case studies)

Wednesday, September 17
Everyone at the Table: Nonprofit Governance
An in-depth look at nonprofit best practices, for governance. Agency participants will gain better knowledge of the importance of boards in guiding the strategic direction and planning of nonprofits, elements that could affect the partnership with a nonprofit.

Who’s Got the Money?: Financial Management and Sustainability
Financial literacy for both partners is paramount, and fully necessary in the development of a shared vision. Without understanding funding and budget cycles, programmatic opportunities within a partnership could potentially deteriorate.

Thursday, September 18
Building Relationships, Building Trust
Successful partnerships strategically build new relationships and expand networks  to accomplish their priorities. Their relationship building work is deliberate and proactive rather than reactive or coincidental. It is based on a clear strategy of engaging the specific organizations and individuals within the broader community who can advance the work of the partnership.

Friday, September 19
Putting it All Together
With newfound knowledge, participants need to put that knowledge into use. Through partnership scenarios and group work, we’ll find and discuss creative solutions to partnership problems or issues.

Register Now