Many organizations throughout the United States have a stake in building the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) together. The FGDC welcomes participation by state, local and tribal governments, the academic community, and the private and non-profit sectors in building the NSDI.  Non-federal organizations may serve as Collaborating Partners by requesting official stakeholder status in writing to the Chair of the FGDC.  Collaborating Partners are encouraged to participate on subcommittees and working groups and provide input into all decisions.  Voting privileges are not extended to Collaborating Partners.  The current Collaborating Partners are the following:

• American Congress on Surveying and Mapping

• Association of American Geographers

• Cartographic Users Advisory Council

• Geospatial Information & Technology Association

• International City/County Management Association

• National Association of State Chief Information Officers

• National Association of Counties

• National League of Cities

• National States Geographic Information Council

• Open Geospatial Consortium

• University Consortium for Geographic Information Science

• Urban and Regional Information Systems Association

• Western Governors' Association