National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance

A community caring for Wilderness

The National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance (NWSA) represents a nationwide network of nonprofit organizations that provide stewardship for America's public lands and wilderness areas. Our role is unique. We are the only national organization that is laser-focused on increasing nonprofit capacity for wilderness stewardship, bringing support to the wilderness stewardship community, driving our community forward, and supporting positive relationships between all working toward a better future for Wilderness. 

Advocating for Wilderness Stewardship

NWSA works behind the scenes on a national level to secure funding for wilderness stewardship and serves as voice for our non-profit partner organizations in national planning and budgeting processes. 

Funding Programs 

NWSA currently offers two grant programs, sourced through challenge cost share agreements with the Forest Service, to support nonprofit partners completing wilderness and trails stewardship on national forests: Wilderness Stewardship Performance (WSP), and Trail Stewardship Partnership (Trail Partners). To date these programs have applied $4.5 million in federal funding to on-the-ground projects and have connected over 175 member and partner organizations with federal land management agencies to address a backlog of stewardship needs. NWSA’s grantees have leveraged this funding at a 6:1 ratio, contributing over $24.5 million in cash and in-kind contributions, including over half a million volunteer hours, to accomplish essential stewardship work on America's wilderness and public lands. 

Connecting and Equipping the Wilderness Community

Connection is at the core of our work whether we are connecting stewardship organizations with each other, connecting stewardship organizations with Federal agency partners; connecting our community with training, funding, and other resources; or bridging the communication divide between an increasingly essential nonprofit workforce and the Federal land managers who need their help. The National Wilderness Workshop is our annual gathering designed to make these connections in person while providing an essential networking opportunity between nonprofit organizations and Federal land management agencies.