Florida Park Service Ranger Association

What Florida Park Service Ranger Association does

The Florida Park Service Ranger Association (FPSRA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1989 and headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, that supports current, retired, and former employees of the Florida Park Service and their families. Its core programs include the James A. Cook Humanitarian Relief Fund (established 1994, which has distributed nearly $250,000 in grants to approximately 300 individuals facing financial hardship), the Annual Gathering, Family Fun Day, monthly lunch gatherings, and three recognition awards (Park Ranger of the Year, Carlos Maxwell, Joe Knoll Heritage). The organization also maintains a digitized archive of Florida State Parks history, including 1989 Park Service staff photographs, and preserves heritage through named awards honoring figures such as Carlos Maxwell and Joe Knoll.

Revenue is generated through four membership tiers (Regular $15/yr, Associate $15/yr, Lifetime $300 one-time, Partner $50/yr), donations via PayPal/Venmo/Apple Pay (including monthly Give$10 subscriptions and legacy planned giving), an online branded merchandise store (RANGER FIRST apparel and accessories with 100% of proceeds directed to the Relief Fund), and a partnership with First Magnitude Brewing Company producing P.A.R.K. Pale Ale, a portion of whose sales benefit FPSRA. The primary fundraiser is the Arnold Kuenzler & Family Auction held during the Annual Gathering.

The technology stack is minimal and entirely SaaS-based: Wild Apricot powers membership management and the website (fpsra.org), standard payment processors handle donations, and Google/Microsoft/Apple SSO enable member login. There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capability, and no API offering. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth within the Florida Park Service workforce and recurring in-person events across the state's 175-park system as the dominant engagement channels, supplemented by a Facebook page for community updates.

Name

Florida Park Service Ranger Association

Legal name

Florida Park Service Ranger Association, Inc.

Website

https://fpsra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Florida Park Service Ranger Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that supports Florida Park Service employees, retirees, and their families through financial hardship grants, community events, recognition awards, and heritage preservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Membership Association Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Park ranger association
• Nonprofit member services
• Humanitarian relief fund
• Membership organization
• Park service community

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallahassee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from Regular Members ($15/year), Associate Members ($15/year), Lifetime Members ($300 one-time), and Partner Members ($50/year). Membership categories include current, retired, or past Division of Recreation & Parks employees, spouses, and supporting businesses or organizations.
2. Donations and Contributions: Accepts donations through PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, debit/credit card, and check. Offers monthly giving options ($5, $10, or custom amounts). Legacy giving through wills/trusts, IRA beneficiary designations, stock gifts, and tangible property donations. Donations can be designated for specific funds including the James Cook Humanitarian Relief Fund, FPSRA Endowment Fund, Family Fun Day, Scholarship Fund, or general unrestricted use.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, hats, visors, stickers, tumblers, and apparel. All proceeds support the James Cook Memorial Humanitarian Relief Fund. Items include RANGER FIRST merchandise, P.A.R.K. Pale Ale branded items, and various FPSRA logo apparel.
4. Partnership Fundraising: Partnership with First Magnitude Brewing Company produces P.A.R.K. Pale Ale, with a portion of sales donated to the association. Also includes raffles and special event fundraisers.
5. Event-Based Fundraising: Annual Gathering includes Arnold Kuenzler & Family Auction as primary fundraiser for James Cook Relief Fund. Raffles and craft camper raffles held during events. Fundraising events are open to members and non-members alike.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership association founded in 1989 that supports Florida Park Service employees, retirees, and their families through a humanitarian relief fund, membership program, awards programs, annual gatherings, and community events such as Family Fun Day.

Product overview

The Florida Park Service Ranger Association is a non-profit organization established in 1989 that supports Florida State Park employees (past and present) through financial assistance programs, community events, and recognition awards. Its core offerings include the James A. Cook Humanitarian Relief Fund (grants for rangers in financial hardship), membership programs with four categories, and an online merchandise store (selling branded apparel, hats, stickers, and accessories). The organization hosts annual events including the Annual Gathering (featuring the Arnold Kuenzler & Family Auction as the primary fundraiser) and the Family Fun Day reunion. Recognition programs include the Park Ranger of the Year Award (sponsored by Tyler Technologies), Carlos Maxwell Award, and Joe Knoll Heritage Award. The association maintains historical archives including the 1989 Park Staff Photos collection. The organization's website is powered by Wild Apricot membership software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• James A. Cook Humanitarian Relief Fund Financial grants provided to Florida Park Service employees, retirees, and immediate family members who experience catastrophic events such as house fires, natural disasters, accidents, or serious illnesses.
• Membership Program Annual membership program open to active Florida Park Service employees, retirees, past employees, spouses, parents, children, and supporting businesses, providing access to association benefits and community.
• Annual Gathering Annual association event bringing together members of the Florida Park Service community for networking, recognition, and fellowship.
• Family Fun Day Community event hosted by the association for members and their families, focused on recreation and family engagement.
• Awards Programs Recognition and award programs honoring Florida Park Service employees and association supporters for service and contributions.
• Association Merchandise Branded merchandise such as stickers and shirts sold to members and supporters, with proceeds supporting association programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $250,000 in financial assistance to nearly 300 individuals since 1994
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• First Magnitude Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to create P.A.R.K. Pale Ale (Protect, Acquire, Restore, Keep Florida's Parks). Beer inspired by rangers protecting Florida's 175 state parks. A portion of sales and event donations benefit FPSRA's James Cook Relief Fund. Held Party for the P.A.R.K.s! launch event on September 14. First Magnitude also sponsors Spring and Summer/Fall Crafty Camper Raffles For The Rangers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Student Conservation Association: Nonprofit mobilizing volunteers and young professionals in U.S. parks; overlaps with FPSRA's volunteer-recognition and parks-workforce-development mission.
• National Park Trust: 501(c)(3) nonprofit that protects national park lands and supports park experiences; comparable mission framing around U.S. parks and similar nonprofit fundraising mechanics.
• National Forest Foundation: 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting National Forest System employees and conservation programs; structurally similar member-and-donor-funded model focused on public-land professionals.
• Association of National Park Rangers: National membership association for National Park Service employees — the closest direct analogue to FPSRA at the federal level, with similar award programs, advocacy, and relief-style support structures.
• California State Park Rangers Association: State-level membership association for California State Park rangers, mirroring FPSRA's model of dues, recognition awards, and community-building events for a single state's park workforce.

Regional players

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation: Nonprofit fundraising arm for Texas state parks; analogous role to FPSRA but for a different state park system, making it a regional peer rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• National Park Foundation: The official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service; a much larger incumbent in the parks-support space that demonstrates the scaled version of what FPSRA does for one state at the national level.

Others

• Fraternal Order of Police: National fraternal membership organization for sworn law enforcement — adjacent peer because it shares the public-employee mutual-aid, lodge-style, dues-and-relief-fund architecture that FPSRA also operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FPSRA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fpsra

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Florida Park Service Ranger Association