California League of Parks Associations

What California League of Parks Associations does

California League of Park Associations (CALPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1983 and headquartered in California, operating as the statewide umbrella organization for nonprofit cooperating associations that support California State Parks and its 280 park units. For over 35 years, CALPA has served as the central convening body and collective advocacy voice for these park partners, facilitating communication with the California Department of Parks and Recreation leadership, brokering shared resources and best practices, and providing direct access to the Department's Partnerships Chief and Director for member organizations.

CALPA's product portfolio centers on a tiered membership program (organization dues ranging from $100 to $2,500 per year based on operating budget, plus individual memberships at $100/year or $10/month with a $1,000 lifetime option), quarterly educational webinars archived on YouTube, a biennial conference and training event (most recently held November 12–15, 2024 at Asilomar Hotel & Conference Grounds), partnership resource pages, and a social-change blog. The underlying technology stack is a NeonCRM-based web portal for member enrollment, registrations, and donations, layered on a Squarespace-hosted public website and YouTube for content distribution.

The organization is governed by a working board of directors with no paid staff; board members represent member organizations and execute day-to-day operations directly. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues, biennial conference fees and sponsorships, and donations processed through NeonCRM. In July 2023, CALPA ended its joint membership program with the Public Lands Alliance to refocus exclusively on California State Parks-specific benefits, and in 2022 it completed a Theory of Change workshop with Potrero Group that informed new strategic priorities around a network of resilient nonprofit partners.

Name

California League of Parks Associations

Legal name

California League of Park Associations

Website

https://calparksleague.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CALPA is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella association founded in 1983, serving nonprofit cooperating associations that support California State Parks' 280 park units through tiered membership dues, quarterly webinars, a biennial conference, and collective advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Association Services for State Parks

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAGAD

Forestry & Reforestation

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Environmental & Conservation Organizations

SECONDARYBPAIAMAH

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAIACAI

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

Keywords

• Nonprofit association services
• State park advocacy
• Membership dues programs
• Educational webinars
• Conference and training events

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Organization Membership Dues: CALPA charges tiered annual membership dues based on an organization's annual operating budget. Dues range from $100 to $2,500 per year. This is the primary recurring revenue stream.
2. Individual Membership Dues: Individual members pay $100/year or $10/month. Lifetime individual membership available for $1,000 one-time.
3. Conference Revenue: CALPA holds a biennial conference (and training events). Members receive a discount on conference fees. The 2024 conference was held November 12–15 at Asilomar Hotel & Conference Grounds. Session presentations, sponsorships, and ticket sales generate revenue.
4. Donations: CALPA accepts donations through its website donation portal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

California League of Park Associations (CALPA) is a statewide nonprofit umbrella organization that supports California State Parks through a tiered membership program for nonprofit cooperating associations and individual members, quarterly educational webinars, a biennial conference and training event, partnership resources (including DPR Form 973 and nonprofit compliance guidance), and a social-change blog. The organization convenes the park-partner community, advocates collectively with California State Parks leadership, and shares best practices across all 280 California state park units.

Product overview

California League of Park Associations (CALPA) operates as a membership-based nonprofit umbrella organization supporting California State Parks and its 280 park units. The organization provides a unified portfolio of services including membership programs with tiered dues, quarterly educational webinars featuring expert-led sessions on park management and conservation, biennial conferences for collaborative learning and networking, partnership resources including DPR Form 973 support and nonprofit compliance guidance, presentation submission platforms for annual conferences, and a social change blog addressing equity and inclusion in parks. The organization has 35 years of history supporting park cooperating associations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 28,000+ people helped to experience California State Parks through partner network programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia State Parks is the government agency that CALPA exists to support. As the umbrella organization for organizations working to support California State Parks and its 280 park units, CALPA maintains a close partnership with the department, facilitating communication between cooperating associations and State Parks leadership. CALPA board members have direct access to the Partnerships Chief and Director of California State Parks.
• Parks CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParks California is the official statutory non-profit partner to California State Parks, launched in 2019. It partners statewide with over 100 nonprofits and tribal groups to help people experience California state parks. Parks California and CALPA collaborate on webinars and shared initiatives, with both organizations presenting together at CALPA conferences.
• California State Parks FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia State Parks Foundation is an independent, member-supported nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving the California state park system. It is a conference sponsor and a key partner, presenting webinars on climate resilience and legislative updates. CALPA and CSP Foundation collaborate on educational content and conference programming.
• California Parks Hospitality Association (CPHA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCPHA represents companies and individuals providing hospitality services under contract with the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Formed in 1992, CPHA has been an integral part of the California State Park System since 1913. CPHA is a conference sponsor and represents concessionaires who pay over $20 million annually in rent and maintenance fees to the state.
• Public Lands AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic Lands Alliance is referenced as a partner organization on CALPA's website. CALPA was historically modeled after the Conference of National Park Cooperating Associations (related to Public Lands Alliance). The relationship includes co-sponsored conference attendance and networking.
• Crystal Cove ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrystal Cove Conservancy is the nonprofit public benefit organization partnered with Crystal Cove State Park. It is a conference sponsor and represents a model for how park partners can restore, educate, and protect parks. Listed on CALPA's partners page.
• California State Railroad Museum FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe California State Railroad Museum Foundation is the official nonprofit partner to California State Parks for the California State Railroad Museum and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. It sponsors the CALPA conference and is led by President & CEO Tim Schroepfer who presents at CALPA sessions.
• Potrero GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPotrero Group is a leadership consulting firm serving public lands partner organizations, including the National Park Foundation, NatureBridge, and regional land trusts. They facilitated a Theory of Change workshop for CALPA's board in 2022 and are a conference sponsor.
• Friends of California Citrus ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Friends of California Citrus Park is a nonprofit established in 1994 to support California Citrus State Historic Park. It is a conference sponsor and actively participates in CALPA events and sessions.
• Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMIA is an all-volunteer, nonprofit association that supports interpretative and education programs at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. CALPA board member Henry Bornstein represents AMIA. AMIA is a conference sponsor.
• Fiesta de ReyesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiesta de Reyes is the anchor concession in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. It is a conference sponsor and its representative attends CALPA events and sessions.
• Big Sur Natural History AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Big Sur Natural History Association supports interpretation of the natural and cultural history in Big Sur area parks through interpretive displays, programs, nature centers, and publications. It is a conference sponsor.
• CalNonprofitsminorOthersCALPA shares CalNonprofits resources on its Other Resources page as part of general nonprofit management guidance for member organizations. No formal partnership is described beyond resource sharing.
• TechSoupminorOthersTechSoup is referenced on CALPA's Other Resources page for IT/Technology resources for member nonprofits. No formal partnership is described beyond resource sharing.
• River PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiver Partners is a conservation organization that partnered with California State Parks to create Dos Rios, California's newest state park. President Julie Rentner presented at the 2024 CALPA conference on the Dos Rios partnership model.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• California State Parks Foundation: An independent, member-supported nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving the California state park system. It is a CALPA conference sponsor and active webinar collaborator, operating in the same California State Parks advocacy and supporter ecosystem with overlapping stakeholders.
• Parks California: The official statutory nonprofit partner to California State Parks, partnering statewide with 100+ nonprofits and tribal groups. It functions as a peer California-focused park-supporting nonprofit that collaborates with CALPA on webinars and conferences while operating complementary program and fundraising capacity.
• Public Lands Alliance: The national membership association for cooperating associations and friends groups supporting public lands (federal, state, and local). It is CALPA's most direct peer — CALPA was historically modeled after the Conference of National Park Cooperating Associations (Public Lands Alliance's predecessor) and ran a joint membership program with PLA until 2023.

Broad incumbents

• National Park Foundation: The official national charitable partner of the National Park Service. Comparable in role and mission (umbrella nonprofit raising funds and awareness for a public park system) but at the national/federal scale rather than California state-park scale, making it a broader incumbent rather than direct competitor.
• Trust for Public Land: A national nonprofit working to protect land for public use, including parks, with active California programming. It overlaps thematically with CALPA's park-supporting role but operates at much larger scale and a broader conservation mission.
• National Park Trust: A national land conservation and park-support nonprofit that connects people to parks and acquires land for national parks. It is a broader-scope incumbent that overlaps with CALPA's mission of supporting park partners and stewarding park experiences, though at the federal rather than state level.
• Outdoor Recreation Roundtable: The national coalition of outdoor recreation trade associations, supporting outdoor recreation businesses and policy. Thematically adjacent to CALPA's role convening park partner organizations but focused on the recreation industry rather than state-park cooperating associations.

Emerging players

• California Wildlife Foundation: A California-focused nonprofit supporting wildlife-related conservation and outdoor education programs. It intersects with CALPA's environmental/conservation nonprofit membership audience but is more specialized on wildlife, making it a partial-overlap emerging peer.

Others

• Potrero Group: A leadership consulting firm serving public lands partner organizations including National Park Foundation and NatureBridge. Potrero Group facilitated CALPA's 2022 Theory of Change workshop and is a conference sponsor — making it an adjacent enabling partner rather than a direct peer.

Regional players

• California Outdoor Recreation Partnership: A California-based coalition advancing outdoor recreation policy, funding, and access. Comparable to CALPA in California focus and stakeholder base but oriented toward the broader outdoor recreation economy rather than state-park cooperating associations specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CALPACAPARKS
• Facebookfacebook.com/CALPA.CalParksLeague

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California League of Parks Associations