Become a Conservation Partner With the CPC

Plant Conservation Professional Partner

Individuals who have conducted research on rare plants and published on plant conservation and related topics may apply to join the CPC network. Plant Conservation Professional Partners are welcome to attend CPC National Meetings, may serve on standing committees, or task forces, and contribute expertise and data to CPC best practices for plant conservation as co-authors. Where appropriate, they may be eligible to receive contracts for plant conservation activities.

Emerging Professional Partner

Individuals who have become professional plant conservationists within the past 3 years may apply to join the CPC network. Emerging Professional Partners are welcome to attend CPC National Meetings. Where appropriate, they may be eligible to receive contracts for plant conservation activities.

Students

Individuals enrolled full-time at a university or college and actively studying conservation (plant biology, environmental sciences) may apply to join the CPC network. Students are welcome to attend CPC National Meetings. Please send a resume to show relevant coursework and/or extra-curricular conservation activities.

All Individual members will have access to cutting edge tools, data, and information through our exclusive members-only web portal, in addition to networking opportunities with the CPC network.

Plant Conservation Professional Partners may:

• Receive a reduced registration fee for the CPC National Meeting;
• Have the opportunity to present conservation research to a body of conservation experts at CPC National Meeting;
• Serve on standing committees or task forces;
• Contribute expertise and data to CPC best practices for plant conservation as co-authors; and
• Be eligible to receive contracts for plant conservation activities (where appropriate).

Emerging Professional Partners may:

• Receive a reduced registration fee for the CPC National Meeting;
• Have the opportunity to present conservation research to a body of conservation experts at CPC National Meeting; and
• Be eligible to receive contracts for plant conservation activities (where appropriate).

Students may:

• Receive a reduced registration fee for the CPC National Meeting; and
• Have the opportunity to present conservation research to a body of conservation experts at CPC National Meeting.

NOTE: Application Fee is equivalent to the annual dues.	Annual Fees
Individual Conservation Partner
Plant Conservation Professional	$250
Emerging Professionals	$100
Student	$35
Note: Membership fees will be increasing effective June 1, 2022.

CPC Individual Member Application Process

Applying to CPC is straightforward and simple. Our goal is to assess your capacity to support our shared mission to Save Plants. Our Board of Trustees and staff review your application and other accessible information to determine your eligibility and potential role in our network. We strive to be as inclusive as possible while maintaining our high standards of excellence that have made CPC an effective organization. In 2021, our Board of Trustees approved new institutional and individual membership categories.

INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS: Submit the following items via email to info@saveplants.org with the subject line “Individual Member Application: [Your First and Last Name]”

• The completed Application Form
• A resume with publications and employment history.
• Students, please send documentation of relevant coursework and/or extra-curricular conservation activities.

Applications can be submitted at any time. Our New Conservation Partner Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to our Board of Trustees. Individuals will be notified in writing after the CPC Board considers the Committee’s recommendation. Once an application is approved, applicants may expect to hear from CPC with further instructions on finalizing the application process including fees (see our membership fee structure for more details).

Participating Institution

Participating Institutions (PIs) have mission statements either partially or wholly concerned with the conservation and appreciation of native plants. They use quality, science-based principles and recognized best conservation practices in their rare plant work including those specified in the CPC Best Plant Conservation Practices. They formally maintain and are responsible for documented ex situ collections of regionally rare taxa of conservation concern as part of the CPC National Collection. They are non-profit organizations, exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Examples of participating institutions include botanical gardens, arboreta, museums, or zoos.

PIs are welcome to: 1) attend CPC National Meetings, 2) contribute to best practices for plant conservation, 3) showcase conservation achievements on plants in the National Collection in plant profiles posted on www.saveplants.org, 4) participate in joint grant writing and funding, and 5) enter into contracts for work related to plant conservation actions. PIs may be eligible for benefits of any agreements or permits CPC holds that facilitate plant conservation work for PIs and may be featured in CPC outreach materials, where appropriate.

Collaborating Partner

Collaborating Partners may conduct research, may make conservation collections of rare plant species, or perform other related work that directly supports the CPC mission. They may be either profit or not-for-profit organizations. IRS exemption is not required. Collaborating Partners may perform basic research or provide technical skills and services that support the CPC National Collection or the CPC mission in tangible ways. Collaborating Partners differ from Participating Institutions, as they do not hold ex situ collections of rare species that are part of the National Collection. They may be new practitioners, who do not currently have facilities for ex situ collections, but may send their seeds or plant materials to a CPC PI for long-term storage. Should Collaborating Partners obtain seed banking or cryopreservation capacity, they may apply to become Participating Institutions.

Collaborating Partner staff are welcome 1) to attend CPC National Meetings, 2) to contribute expertise and data to best practices for plant conservation, 3) to participate in joint grant writing and funding, 4) to enter into contracts for work related to plant conservation. Collaborating Partners may be eligible to be included in permits that CPC holds on behalf of the network to facilitate plant conservation work and they may be featured in CPC outreach materials, where appropriate.

Network Partner

Network Partners are organizations, consortia or other regional, national or international organizations, whose mission aligns significantly with CPC either by promoting information sharing related to plant conservation, amassing ex situ conservation collections, building capacity and/or engendering public support for plant conservation. Network Partners hold a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with CPC. They do not hold ex situ collections of rare species that are part of the National Collection. Benefits to Network Partners are: 1) One to five employees of Network Partners are eligible to attend CPC National Meetings at member rates, 2) opportunities to contribute data and/or expertise to CPC publications, and 3) opportunities to be featured in CPC outreach materials, where appropriate.

What we provide to our Participating Institutions

CPC is committed to supporting its Participating Institutions, collectively known as the “CPC Network” or “Network”, by providing technical and scientific expertise both directly and through other CPC Participating Institutions, by advocating for the National Collection and the organizations dedicated to the conservation of plants in the National Collection, and through securing and distributing direct funding to support conservation efforts when possible. CPC also works extensively to assist organizations aspiring to become CPC Participating Institutions and works with these institutions and their staff to build capacity, enabling them to achieve sustained conservation outcomes.

Here are just a few of the benefits of being part of the CPC network of Participating Institutions:

• Access to cutting edge tools, data, and information through our exclusive members-only web portal.
• Member invitation to the annual CPC National Meeting, the country’s premier opportunity for front-line information on plant conservation science.
• Opportunities to receive funding through CPC National Office disbursements for seed collection, plant propagation, scientific research and more.
• Technical support, guidance, and community, facilitated through the CPC National Office, your go-to connection on how to Save Plants.

What we ask of our Participating Institutions

The Center for Plant Conservation expects Participating Institutions to:

• Work actively towards our shared goal of ending plant extinction and are expected to uphold the highest standards in scientific and professional integrity.
• As custodians of some of the rarest plants on the planet, Participating Institutions promote ex situ conservation of plants, advocate for living collections as safeguards in preserving plant species, and for some partners (Conservation Partners; see below), maintain living collections of endangered plants as part of the CPC National Collection.
• Understand the responsibility of managing imperiled plants and work with the CPC Network to ensure their long-term survival, including contribution to building the body of scientific expertise in plant conservation.
• Communicate the scientific understanding of plants and their vital role in global health.

Participating Institution and Collaborating Partner
NOTE: Application Fee is equivalent to the annual dues.	Annual Fees (based on Institution Annual Operating Budget)
More than $20 million US	$3,500
$15– 20 million	$3,000
$10– 15 million	$2,500
$5– 10 million	$2,000
$2.5–5 million	$1,550
$1.5-2.5 million	$950
$750,000 – $1.5 million	$700
$100,000-$750,000	$375
Less than $100,000	$100

Network Partner
Fee is based on the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the organization and CPC.

CPC Participating Institution Application Process

Applying to CPC is straightforward and simple. Our goal is to assess your institution’s capacity to support our shared mission to Save Plants. Our Board of Trustees and staff review your application, your website, and other accessible information to determine your institution’s eligibility and potential role in our network. We strive to be as inclusive as possible while maintaining our high standards of excellence that have made CPC an effective organization. In 2021, our Board of Trustees approved new institutional and individual membership categories.

INSTITUTION APPLICATIONS: Submit the following three items via email to info@saveplants.org with the subject line “Participating Institution Application: [Your Institution Name]”

• A signed letter of intent to join CPC, normally from the board of trustees (for non-profits) or by another authorized agent for other types of organizations. We need this to know that you have institutional support at the highest level to join CPC.
• Your most recently filed IRS Tax Form 990 (US non-profits only). We use this to determine what fee structure will be applied to your institution, if accepted into the network. For organizations other than US non-profits, such as Canadian charitable organizations and for-profit corporate entities, we will contact you for more financial information as needed.
• The completed PI Application Form

Applications can be submitted at any time. Our New Conservation Partner Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to our Board of Trustees. Organizations will be notified in writing after the CPC Board considers the Committee’s recommendation. Applicants may expect to hear from CPC within 6 months of the application date of submission with further instructions on finalizing the application process including fees (see our PI fee structure for more details). Newly inducted PIs begin formally being part of the network as of January 1 of the year following their approval by the Board of Trustees.