Nature Friends Los Angeles Foundation

In January 2025, the Nature Friends Clubhouse — the historic lodge built over a century ago in Little Santa Anita Canyon — was lost in the Eaton Fire.

The Nature Friends Los Angeles Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public-benefit charity, was created to help rebuild and preserve this historic gathering place for future generations.

You can support our recovery through contributions to the Foundation — which are fully tax-deductible — or by volunteering your time to help restore trails, gardens, and community spaces.

The Nature Friends Los Angeles Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to conservation, education, and historic preservation. While operating independently, the Foundation is led by Nature Friends members and works in close partnership with the Tourist Club on projects that serve the public good.

Nature Friends Los Angeles Foundation supports the restoration of century-old Nature Friends spaces and landscapes while developing education, youth, and internship programs that serve the public good. We preserve local history, engage the community in conservation, and rebuild the historic lodge in Little Santa Anita Canyon, Sierra Madre—lost in the January 2025 firestorm that swept Los Angeles County—and restore it as a place for learning, celebration, and connection with nature.

We protect and restore the land, history, and culture of Nature Friends by:

• Conservation & Land Stewardship – wildfire prevention, habitat restoration, and trail care.

• Education & Community – internships, school partnerships, and youth programs.

• Historic Preservation – research, documentation, and recovery of historic structures.

• Facility Restoration – funding the rebuilding and upkeep of community facilities.

• Public Engagement – hosting events, fundraisers, and volunteer opportunities.

Your support safeguards hillside habitats, restores fire-damaged lands, and preserves nearly century-old structures. Most importantly, it allows us to bring back the **heart of our community—the Nature Friends Los Angeles Clubhouse—**where people can gather, learn, and celebrate for decades to come.

• Donate – Every contribution directly supports the Clubhouse Rebuilding Fund and other conservation programs. 

• Join as a Supporter – Supporting and Sustaining Memberships are available for individuals, businesses, and organizations. While these do not include voting rights, they offer recognition, event invitations, and the satisfaction of making a lasting impact.

• Partner With Us – Schools, universities, and organizations can collaborate on conservation and educational initiatives.

A Foundation Membership is a direct investment in our mission of conservation, education, and historic preservation. Unlike Club memberships, Foundation Memberships do not include voting rights or privileges within the International Nature Friends network—they exist solely to support the Foundation’s charitable work and recovery efforts.

All Foundation Memberships are fully tax-deductible and recognized for the calendar year in which they apply. Memberships purchased during the fourth quarter will be credited to the following year. Each level offers public recognition, invitations to Foundation events, and the satisfaction of helping rebuild our historic clubhouse and protect the natural lands that surround it.

• $250 – Supporting Membership
  One-year Supporting Membership; fully tax-deductible with recognition for helping rebuild historic spaces.

• $500 – Sustaining Membership
  One-year Sustaining Membership; fully tax-deductible with special recognition for advancing recovery efforts.

Not everyone can join at the membership levels above, but every contribution helps. You can make a fee-free donation of any amount through our PayPal Giving Fund page. Your entire gift goes directly to the Foundation — no processing fees are deducted — and supports our rebuilding, conservation, and educational programs.

Our governing documents outline how the Nature Friends Los Angeles Foundation is structured, how decisions are made, and how we remain accountable to our mission and supporters.  For those who want more detail, please read our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

Articles of Incorporation PDF
Bylaws PDF