National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation

For more than two decades, the NALP Foundation (a 501c3 organization) has supported education, research, and scholarships to strengthen the future of the landscape and lawn care industry. These efforts are furthered through programs that connect educators and students with professionals by developing initiatives to build and sustain a stronger industry.

The Foundation relies solely on the support of their donors to facilitate these initiatives and welcomes contributions year-round.

High School Program

Through partnerships with schools, counselors, state, and non-profit organizations as well as industry leaders, we are inspiring and educating the next generation of landscape professionals.

The Foundation has launched a program to help engage and excite young people about the many professional career opportunities in our industry. Through a virtual platform designed to reach students across the country in their classrooms, industry professionals provides live presentations sharing career pathways, experiences, and insights. To get involved and/or become a presenter, email the foundation.

In addition, through a partnership with SkillsUSA, the foundation developed a landscape-specific competition for high school students at their National SkillsUSA Championships. These competitive events begin at the local level and include state and national contests. The Foundation participated in a Landscape Technology Competition Demonstration event June 2022 with the intent to coordinate a national competition in the future. For more information about the NEW High School Landscape Horticulture National Competition, click here, or email the foundation.

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High School Program


Diversity and Inclusion Study

The Foundation conducted an industry wide a survey focused on providing solid data to support and assist with recruiting efforts as well as supplying a demographic assessment of the industry’s workforce. By obtaining this data, the Foundation developed tools to help companies make informed decisions in their recruiting and retention efforts. The project consists of four phases.

Phase I (demographic workforce survey) 
  • Provide concrete demographic workforce data by state, region and nationwide.
  • Compare demographic information with national databases (DOL, BRS, FEWA, etc.)
  • Identify underrepresented groups and areas of high unemployment rates.
Phase II (Building a Diverse Workforce Toolkit)
  • Identify and outline best ways to attract underrepresented workforce in different work areas (office -vs- production).
Phase III (Retaining a Diverse Workforce Toolkit)
  • Develop best practices to retain underrepresented workforce, while cultivating inclusivity
Phase IV (Cultivating Growth Toolkit)
  • A collection of resources to identify leadership and entrepreneurship opportunities for underrepresented workers
     

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Diversity and Inclusion

Benefits and Measurement of Healthy Landscapes Research Project

The Benefits of Healthy Landscapes Research Project is designed to identify the elements of properly constructed and well-managed landscapes that contribute essential social, economic, and environmental value to create healthy, sustainable environments and develop an ecosystem service framework that will measure the value of these environmental contributions.

The Foundation is in the early stages of this project and has engaged with key partners to prepare a work plan and strategy to move forward. More information to follow as we progress. In the meantime, view background research that includes shareable facts about the benefits of healthy landscapes. 
 
 

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Benefits of Healthy Landscapes


Scholarships

Through generous support from donors, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million in academic scholarships to students in college-level landscape and horticulture programs. For more information about applying for a scholarship or becoming a scholarship ambassador, please email foundation@landscapeprofessionals.org. 


Scholarship Program




 

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