Program and Scholarship Funds


Contributions to program-specific funds assist us in providing learning opportunities for APPL members and young professionals. Growth in support for these initiatives helps us to offer scholarships and educational programs that respond to the needs of our members and emerging public lands leaders.

APPL thanks our board members, organization members, and friends for their personal support of these funds. If you would like to make a contribution to any of these initiatives, please download a donation formPDF or contact the APPL office directly by email or phone (301-946-9475).

Next Generation Fund

The Next Generation Fund provides opportunities for young people to gain career experience by serving in APPL internships. This fund has enabled APPL to be enriched by the involvement of many outstanding young people – but we need continued support. Our efforts to engage these young and diverse voices in the work of our organization is only beginning – and with your help we can continue to involve young leaders as APPL interns and as committee members, convention participants and speakers, and advocates for our nation’s public lands and nonprofit partnerships.


In past years, APPL intern Jessica (Jones) Walter researched online auction tools and set the stage for our first members’ auction of exciting public lands travel experiences. Along with Jessica, former intern Sade Demery joined the task force "The Bridge to Tomorrow" at the 2010 San Diego convention, a gathering of young leaders and professionals from within the public lands community planned and engaged in a pre-convention summit and participated fully in the 2010 APPL convention in San Diego. Through APPL’s Next Generation Fund, we were able to provide sponsorships to other young leaders who would otherwise lack funding to participate in the summit and the convention.

Education and Scholarship Fund

The Education and Scholarship Fund sponsors participation at APPL conventions and other APPL training programs for member associations that could not otherwise afford to participate. Applicants for scholarship funds must be APPL members and must be approved by the APPL executive committee.

Murfin Fund

Established in 1988 “to sponsor guest faculty in the publications field at APPL training programs and conventions,” this memorial fund carries on the legacy of James V. Murfin who, as NPS servicewide cooperating association coordinator from 1974 to 1985, did much to improve the quality of association publications. The fund is made up of voluntary contributions.