Important Dates | Responsibilities & Expectations | Submit Your Application 

About Natural Areas Association

Natural Areas Association (NAA) serves practitioners who manage ecologically significant natural landscapes to protect biodiversity. Protecting natural areas in perpetuity requires quality science to inform practices and access to reliable resources. NAA curates and shares research, best practices, and methodologies with those who steward natural areas every day.

Board of Directors and Committee Applicants

The NAA Board of Directors is actively seeking experienced, dedicated leaders to guide a growing organization. There are opportunities for Board of Director applicants and Committee volunteers who work with the board and staff to deliver programs and services that support natural areas. Board and Committee members need not exclusively be natural areas professionals; any individual with an interest in natural areas or biodiversity conservation is invited to apply. 

During 2026, a priority will be placed on applications with professional experience in nonprofit operations, management & leadership, and fundraising. 

Service on NAA's Board of Directors

Board of Directors are: 

• Experienced leaders
• Generous with their time and talent
• Passionate about natural areas preservation and management
• Committed to serving land management practitioners
  
  

Commitment:

Board of Directors serve 3-year terms. New board members begin their terms at the NAA Annual Membership Meeting. A Board member may be appointed sooner if there is an existing vacancy. To apply, please submit a completed application form and a resume or CV. 

Important Dates

NAA invites applications throughout the year, but the following deadlines ensure that submissions are reviewed promptly.

• Application Round 2: Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13
• Application Round 3: Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 7
  
  
  

Responsibilities & Expectations 

NAA has expectations of its board and committee members in order to leverage everyone’s skills and talents, and to work effectively and efficiently to achieve the mission of the organization.

Responsibilities

• Join NAA and remain in good standing.
• Commit to attending regular remote meetings via conference call or video conference and attend one in-person meeting per year.
• Demonstrate their support of NAA through an annual donation that is above and beyond annual membership dues donation, and at an amount of their choosing.

Knowledge and Preparation

• Support the mission of Natural Areas Association.
• Become educated on the organization's purpose, history, and needs.
• Keep current on external trends affecting this organization.
• Actively identify and develop opportunities to promote and strengthen natural areas, natural area programs, and the natural areas profession.
• Keep current on the roles and responsibilities of board involvement including understanding the differences between board responsibilities and staff responsibilities within NAA.

Commitments

• Demonstrate your support of the organization with an annual financial contribution of personal significance.
• Attendance:
  • Attend all appropriate committee meetings
  • Attend all board meetings including in-person board meetings, retreats and the Natural Areas Conference, at whatever location they may be held, understanding that board members or their employer must cover the costs of attending these in-person meetings. (Board Members Only)
  • Board members and committee members may ask to be excused from a meeting by communicating with the Board President or committee chair ahead of the meeting.
• Complete assignments and come prepared to meetings.
• Serve as an ambassador of NAA to promote the organization to your professional network, identify and recruit members, expand connections to funders, professionals, and scientists.
• Participate in board and organizational fundraising activities.

Participation

• Recruit new participants for NAA programs.
• Support the Executive Director and other NAA staff by being a strategic thought partner and timely follow-through on commitments and communication.
• Act as an advocate for the organization including representing NAA at public and private events as appropriate.
• Participation in board and committee meetings is required. A board member who is absent without cause from two consecutive meetings may be deemed to have resigned from their post.
• Participate in the governance of NAA by (Board Members Only): 
  • Helping to set strategic direction by assisting in the development and review of strategic plans and monitoring the success of those plans. 
  • Overseeing organizational finances through review and approval of the annual budget and annual audit.
  • Participating in the development, review, and approval of policy and major decisions.
  • Providing fiduciary responsibility through review of quarterly financial reports, annual reports, and ongoing evaluation of investments.
  • Hiring, managing, and terminating the executive director.
  • Recruiting, selecting, and approving candidates for the Board of Directors and Officers for presentation to the membership.
  • Participate in the ongoing work of the board including:
    • Serving on at least one committee.
    • Taking initiative and a leadership role in at least one committee or project.

Contact us with Questions

Questions? Contact Holli Redekop, Chair, Board Development Committee.