When you support Parks California, you're helping build a future where nature truly belongs to everyone.
Parks California, created by the State of California to expand the reach and impact of its parks system, strengthens our public lands and inspires all people to experience these extraordinary places.
As a public-private partner, we work alongside California State Parks, public lands agencies, tribal nations, community and nonprofit organizations to design solutions that make these spaces more inclusive, climate-resilient and sustainable. Together, we’re advancing a new partnership model that supports healthy communities and ecosystems to meet the needs of a changing California.
Our work is guided by three pillars:
Through this work, we support programs that provide transportation and field trips for students, fund community-led cultural and arts experiences, strengthen urban parks and create career pathways for the next generation of park stewards.
Your unrestricted gift will help support the following areas and more:
Grant Programs
Route to Parks removes transportation barriers, has served more than 20,000 participants — with 75 percent visiting a park for the first time.
Arts in California Parks brings art and culture into parks and has supported more than 60 organizations and provided more than 200 free public arts events to date.
passPORTS is the 21st-century field trip model that connects students to parks through virtual and in-person experiences, operating in more than 55 parks and reaching more than 10,000 students.
Urban Parks strengthens local parks through community partnerships that make them welcoming, safe and culturally relevant.
Career Pathways prepares the next generation of park stewards through paid training, mentorship and hands-on experience.
Park Programs and Partnerships - Parks California supports efforts that protect landscapes, build climate resilience and strengthen park management across the state.
Climate Fellows contribute hands-on research and support climate resilience across California’s public lands.
California Landscape Stewardship Network strengthens collaboration across agencies, tribal nations and community partners to care for public lands at a landscape scale, supported by tools like the Collaborative Stewardship Toolkit.
Inclusive Planning advances climate-informed, community-driven planning for parks recovering from wildfires and storms, supporting rebuilding efforts shaped by local communities.
Prescribed Fire and Cultural Burns support the return of beneficial fire practices rooted in tribal knowledge.
Watershed Restoration Partnership helps protect and restore California’s rivers, streams and wetlands.
Immersive Educational Experiences connects students to parks through digital tools that expand access to learning statewide.
EVERY gift helps turn ideas in to action — opening doors, restoring landscapes and ensuring California's parks remain vibrant and welcoming for generations to come.
To help strengthen parks and inspire all people to experience these extraordinary places, working with State Parks to ensure resilience and meet evolving needs.
Essential behind-the-scenes work is the hardest to fund-this is where your support makes all the difference.
The biggest challenge we face is sustaining the long-term work required to care for California’s parks and natural landscapes. Many of the projects that strengthen habitat, improve climate resilience and expand access take years of planning, collaboration and community engagement before you ever see them on the ground.
Flexible funding helps us stay responsive, strengthen partnerships with State Parks and local communities and accelerate projects that protect wildlife, restore fire-impacted areas and open more welcoming outdoor experiences for everyone.
At Parks California, equity is not a separate initiative — it’s central to everything we do. From investing in community-led access programs to supporting climate resilience strategies shaped by local knowledge, our work is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves meaningful connection with nature. We collaborate with partners across the state to expand opportunity, reflect California’s diversity and build a more inclusive future for parks and the people they serve.
Organization name
Parks California
2018
Mission Category
Environment
Operating Budget
$10,000,001-$100 million
Organization Need
Funding: Unrestricted, Funding: Program, In-Kind Donations, Board Members
Demographics Served
Low-income individuals/families, Native Americans/Indigenous Groups, General population
Local Counties Served
El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo
Address
901 H Street Ste 120 #294CA, US