PARTNERSHIPS OFFICE August 21, 2002

PARTNERSHIPS OFFICE

August 21, 2002

Mission

The National Capital Region(NCR) Partnerships Offices provide leadership, technical financial and information assistance to develop, maintain, and enhance partnerships with park units, and public and private entities in furtherance of the mission of the NPS, and mutually benefical goals and objects of NPS partners.  

The Office responds to requests from the Directorate, park superintendents, and non-NPS interests to assist the development and implementation of policies, strategies and projects to help NPS successfully work with partners and promote partnerships internally and externally as a method of achieving the Service’s mission.  Topics are broad ranging and encompass such elements as messaging, friends-raising, fundraising, training, dialogue, strategic planning, consensus-building, and landscape protection.   

This work involves taking a holistic and consensus-based approach toward bringing many different NPS, and non-NPS, activities, programs and disciplines to bear on common challenges.  It involves facilitating an approach to partnerships that encourage different leaders, and organizations, to work together in harness for identified joint initiatives.  

Partnership offices and formal activities are a recent phenomena in NPS.  There are currently no agency strategies, guidance, or measures of success.

1.  Friend-raising & Fundraising

Strategy: The Partnerships Office will continue to assist the Greater Washington National Parks(GWNP) Fund “to ensure that the National Parks in the National Capital Region are more prominent and relevant to the diverse communities they serve and to supplement funds appropriated by Congress”.  This office will respond to requests made by the GWNP Fund Parks Council by providing subject matter expertise, logistical support, and technical assistance in identifying ways to increase public and financial support for the fund.

FY 03 Goal:  By September 30, 2003, the number of private non-profit groups, federal, state and local governments, and corporations, assisting to implement GWNP Fund priorities, financially or through inkind services, will have increased from 50 to 75.

FY 04-08 Goal:  By September 30, 2003, the number of private non-profit groups, federal, state and local governments, and corporations, assisting to implement GWNP Fund priorities, financially or through inkind services, will have increased 20% from 2003 levels.

1. Training & Dialogue  

Strategy:  The Partnership Office will share information on the art of partnering, fundraising, consensus-building, strategic planning, and landscape protection within the the National Capital Region. The office will share perspectives from the parks, park-partners, Regional Offices, Headquarters and the Hill on best practices and innovations.

FY03 Goal:  By September 30, 2003, the number of NCR park and program managers and staff, and non-NPS partners, participating in formal NCR partnership training and dialogue, that furthers the NPS Mission, will have increased by 5%, from 2002 levels(180), based on the seminar registrations.

FY04-08 Goal:  By September 30, 2008, the number of NCR park and program managers and staff, and non-NPS partners, participating in formal NPS partnership training and dialogue, that furthers the NPS Mission, will have increased by 15% from 2003 levels, based on seminar registrations.

1. Strategic Planning

Strategy:  The Partnership Office will work with the NPS Partnership Council to develop a strategy for assisting parks and NPS-partners to increase the use of partnerships to acchieve the NPS Mission and other mutually beneficial partner goals and objectives.

FY03 Goal:  By September 30, 2003, partnership guidance and an Action Plan will be prepared for NPS regions and programs.

FY 04-08 Goal:  By September 30, 2008, partnership guidance and an Action Plan will be prepared for the National Capital Region.