For the 15^th consecutive year, Friends of Saguaro National Park has been awarded with the prestigious “Top-Rated” Award by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. Fewer than 1% of nonprofits nationwide are able to achieve the “Top-Rated” distinction. The Top-Rated Nonprofit award for 2024 was based on the large number of positive stakeholders reviews that Friends of Saguaro received. The reviews were written by volunteers, donors, park staff and the public.

“Friends of Saguaro National Park is a great example of a nonprofit making a significant difference in their community,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits. “This award is well-deserved recognition; not only for their work, but also for the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews provided by people who have direct experience working with Friends of Saguaro.”

“We appreciate the extraordinary support from our donors and stakeholders,” said Fred Stula, Friends of Saguaro National Park Executive Director. “It’s only through their steadfast commitment that we are able to pursue our work in support of Saguaro National Park.”

GreatNonprofits is the leading website where people share stories about their personal experiences with more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits. The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities. A nonprofit’s placement on the Top-Rated list gives first-time donors, volunteers, foundations, and corporations more confidence in the credibility of the organization. The stakeholder reviews describe specific, on-the-ground results achieved by the by nonprofit within the community.

Excerpts from Friends Reviews:

"Friends of Saguaro National Park is an innovative, high-impact, efficient, and mission-driven nonprofit that I am very proud to have supported for many years. Their commitment to transparency, accountability, and being trustworthy stewards of your gifts is unmatched. Saguaro National Park would not be the place we know and love today without the work of this amazing organization!"

"Being involved with the FOSNP organization for a little over a year now has been nothing but impactful and rewarding! This organization is a mission driven organization that is crucial to the strategic success of Saguaro National Park. They fund various important programs at the park that contribute to the overall wellbeing and purpose of the park most notably the environmental education programs and the transformational NextGen Ranger internship program. The NextGen Ranger internship program has opened so many doors for me and countless others of diverse backgrounds. I have been able to educate the K-12 Tucson youth pipeline, as well as the public about the importance of current issues at the park. As well as being given the opportunity to build leaderships skills through leading Saguaro National Park's Eco-Discovery Project! I am very grateful for this program to be here for the Tucson community."

"FOSNP's NextGen program has done an outstanding job in encouraging young people to develop interest in preservation and conservation and assisting them to build a career path to serve the National Park Service."

"I'm incredibly proud to be affiliated with the Friends of Saguaro and am thankful for the support received from donors & supporters. The work the organization is doing to identify & secure grant funding from a variety of sources & entities is impressive. SNP is "Tucson's National Park" and the community has embraced our mission to Discover, Protect & Support this treasure!"

"Friends of Saguaro National Park is an absolutely amazing fundraising partner of the National Park Service, created to help preserve, protect and enhance the fragile environment and unique cultural heritage of the Sonoran Desert at Saguaro National Park. They help to protect wildlife and habitat, promote environmental education, improve recreational trails, enhance visitor experiences, build environmental stewardship for the Park, and more!"

"Well run, excellent program management, and spends donations wisely."

"Friends of Saguaro National Park (FOSNP) is an amazing nonprofit that delivers significant, tangible benefits to Saguaro National Park (SAGU) 24/7/365! .... From the groundbreaking NextGen Ranger Program, to directly protecting and managing natural and cultural resources, to adopting a roadway adjacent to SAGU for clean-up, FOSNP is the principal friends/support group for SAGU. The organization has an incredibly strong brand and a healthy balance sheet as well. I have served on the Board of Directors of FOSNP for over 8 years, and it's been an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience!"

"Friends of Saguaro does an incredible job to help promote Saguaro National Park and its programs. Their mission to Discover, Protect, and Support SNP has made lasting and tangible differences. They've helped fund trail maintenance, ecological studies, the Next Gen Ranger program and so much more. Truly an excellent nonprofit!"

"Friends of Saguaro National Park continues to be an amazing partner for the NPS. They add capacity to take on and complete important projects and have increased relevancy within nearby communities through the hiring of diverse youth and addressing important topics."

"I greatly value the assistance that the Friends of Saguaro National Park (FOSNP) offer through donations (thanks donors!) for the Next Generation Ranger youth program and other initiatives that enhance visitor experiences, promote sustainability, improve accessibility, and help protect natural and cultural resources. These programs are essential for the park's success and its role in fulfilling the NPS mission. Among all these initiatives, the Next Generation Ranger program stands out as a key effort to help the NPS address its challenge of remaining relevant. The mission to preserve and protect our natural resources for future generations relies heavily on supporting youth programs and providing education in resource stewardship. Without the commitment of future generations to stewardship, the preservation of our National Parks is at risk. This is where the Friends of Saguaro National Park are making a significant impact, alongside other youth programs, ensuring that "the best idea we ever had" regarding protected lands continues to fulfill the mission of protection and enjoyment for all forever."