Out of the Conference Room and Onto the Land
I often say that if you care about public lands, you need to get out of the office and onto the land. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to do just that. The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) El Centro Field Office invited me to lace up my trail runners and explore the other […]
Supporting Your Public Lands
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands Park works hand-in-hand with local communities and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to invest in projects and partnerships that ensure our shared public lands thrive. From building new campgrounds and improving popular off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation sites that support the EXPLORE Act, to piloting innovative technologies like virtual fencing that […]
What We Told Congress About America’s Hardest-Working Lands
This week, I Ling Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight with a simple, urgent message: America’s public lands and waters are essential to who we are and caring for them requires all of us. Watch I Ling Thompson’s Testimony: As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, this moment invites reflection […]
Foundation for America’s Public Lands Announces 20 New Grants That Advance Restoration and Recreation Access on BLM Lands
WASHINGTON, DC (February 9, 2026) — Today, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the official Congressionally chartered charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), announced nearly $4 million in new grant funding to support 20 projects across 10 states, leveraging $3.9 million to generate nearly $8 million in total impact for local communities. This is the Foundation’s largest round of grant funding to date. These projects will expand recreation access, strengthen […]
The Foundation’s Latest Round of Lands to Love® Catalyst Fund Grants Expand Recreation Access on Public Lands
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is announcing its latest round of Lands to Love® Catalyst Fund grants. These grants will support stewardship on public lands, expand recreation access, celebrate community heritage, and create more opportunities for people to experience America’s public lands and waters. From expanding multi-use trails in Moab, Utah, to supporting on-the-ground stewardship efforts of over 6,000 volunteers for National Public Lands Day, Lands to […]
Foundation for America’s Public Lands Welcomes Three New Members to its National Leadership Council
WASHINGTON, DC (January 9, 2026) — The Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the official charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), appointed three new members to its National Leadership Council: Jessica Leary of The Ball Foundation, Blake McKinlay of ZOMALAB, and Brian Steed of Utah State University’s Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air. These leaders bring decades of […]
Reflecting on a Year of People and Projects
As I close out my second year as the Foundation’s inaugural CEO, I am struck by how much possibility has become progress. I am energized by what is possible when we invest early, listen deeply, and stand alongside the communities that care for America’s public lands. The Foundation began with the ambition to bring partnerships […]
Celebrating Local Volunteers: The Heart of Public Lands
People visit the outdoors for many reasons. Some come for the quiet. Others come for the views. Most come because these places make them feel more like themselves. What many do not see are the people who work hard every day to care for America’s hardest-working public lands. The volunteers who pull weeds, check fences, flag damaged trails, and […]
Celebrating Stewardship: Foundation for America’s Public Lands Receives 2025 AllTrails Steward Fund Award
The Foundation for America’s Public Lands is honored to be named a recipient of the 2025 AllTrails Stewards Fund. This award will support our project to expand ADA access to the outdoors at Montana’s Scratchgravel Hills Recreation Area in the Helena Valley. As the official Congressionally chartered charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management […]
Teaching Beyond the Classroom: Connecting Students to Public Lands
This story was written on September 8 and published on October 5 in honor of World Teachers Day. On this World Teachers’ Day, the Foundation for America’s Public Lands proudly celebrates educators who take learning beyond the classroom and connect young people to the wonder, responsibility, and lasting value of our public lands and waters. […]
