NACD helps conservation districts use their collective voice to influence conservation policy in America. NACD’s member-driven Board of Directors decides conservation policy priorities to guide leaders and staff. These priorities are used to develop and review environmental and natural resource legislation and to secure adequate federal funding through legislation for natural resource conservation programs.

Some conservation funding comes through the annual discretionary spending, or appropriations, process. Other programs are funded through mandatory programs for such as the omnibus Agriculture legislation, also known as the Farm Bill.

NACD influences legislation largely through it grassroots Action Center, where the association’s members can directly communicate with their elected Members of Congress.

Finally, NACD helps to guide the decision making process as programs are administered, by providing testimony and input to Congress and to Federal agencies under the executive branch.