Our Purpose 

  • Provide networking opportunities that facilitate communication among members of ACA from nonprofit organizations of all types (including, agency, faith-based, and independent nonprofits).
  • Serve as a vehicle for discussion of nonprofit camp issues and trends.
  • Provide a platform to investigate and launch new initiatives to meet the key challenges of ACA nonprofit camps.
  • Provide support for the work and mission of ACA, in particular the nonprofit sector, through the development of tools and resources. 

Be Part of the Conversations

Upcoming Conversations about Fundraising - 2022/2023

Join us! Join your nonprofit camp colleagues for conversations about fundraising

  • October 11, 2022 - Panel Discussion covering a variety of fundraising topics, including: Cultivation, engagement, and acknowledgments, grants, matching grants, time grants, resources for fundraising professionals, and volunteers - View Recording

  • January 17, 2023 - Managing Donor and Alumni Relations: Presented by Dail Ballard, Executive Director of North Carolina United Methodist Camps - View Recording

  • April 11, 2023 - Fundraising Events: from dodgeball and golf tournaments to family camp weekends, BBQs, and evening soirees. Understanding the connection to major milestones, alumni relationships, annual appeals, managing and targeting larger donors, acknowledgments. Presented by Jimmy Dickson and Sara Hazel of Geneva Glen. - View Recording

Previous Conversations about Boards – 2021/2022

  • Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month & Discussion Diversifying Boards of Directors – October 12, 2021 – recording – A conversation about diversifying your board facilitated by Roberto Gil, member ACA Board of Directors and deputy director of camping at The Fresh Air Fund.  Panelists include (1) Diana Noriega, assistant executive director of Anti-Racism and Equity at Good Shepherd Services NYC, (2) Fatima Shama, executive director and CEO of The Fresh Air Fund, advisor to NYC Mayor Blumbergh administration, member of the Boards of Directors of the New York Foundation, Coro Leadership New York, the New York Immigration Coalition, the National Summer Learning Association, and as a Trustee of the Pinkerton Foundation and (3) Rafael Alvarado, member ACA Board of Directors and owner/director of KeeBees Camp, 
  • Got Risk? The Board's Role – January 25, 2022 – Melanie Herman, executive director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center – recording and slides 
  • Critical Training for Boards of Directors – April 19, 2022 – recording and slides – Ann Sheets, past executive director Camp Fire First Texas Council, Fort Worth, past president ACA Board of Directors, chair ACA Board Development Committee, member American Camping Foundation Board.   

Resources Supporting Your Nonprofit Work

Here are just a few resources that will help support your work as a nonprofit entity.

Membership in the Not-for-Profit Council

The Not-for-Profit Council is an organization of the American Camp Association and operates with guidelines created by ACA to serve the special interests of the not-for-profit camp community. Membership in the Not-For-Profit Council is open to any member of the American Camp Association with nonprofit affiliation who is willing to pay dues. 

Join ACA online!

Benefits of Membership

Join Now

If you are already an ACA individual member and would like to join ACA's Not-for-Profit Council, please reach out to us. 

If you are NOT already an ACA individual member and would like to join, please do so online and chose the ACA Not-for-Profit council also.

Questions? Contact Grechen Throop 765-349-3517 or gthroop@ACAcamps.org