The Global Climbing Initiative Social Impact Grants are aimed at empowering climbing communities worldwide to create positive change through innovative social initiatives. As the global climbing community continues to grow and evolve, there is a need to support sustainable community development at all stages. The focus is on increasing diverse voices in climbing and promoting inclusive projects. Working directly with local community groups, the initiative aims to promote responsible grassroots solutions in climbing areas and beyond.
Social impact is defined as the positive changes that result from community-centered initiatives. These changes enhance wellbeing, foster relationships, strengthen bonds, and counteract harmful patterns of prejudice and oppression. The belief is that climbing, as a microcosm of the greater world, can contribute to positive societal change.
The grants support direct impact projects with clear and measurable outcomes to foster the growth of inclusive climbing communities. Examples of supported projects include capacity-building training events, access to climbing facilities for underrepresented climbers, climbing competitions and festivals, and the purchase of necessary equipment for climbing development initiatives focused on expanding opportunities for underrepresented climbers.
To be eligible for the grant, proposed projects must meet certain requirements. These include being led by a local climbing organization or community group, having a budget request of under $1000 USD, being implemented between April and September 2024, having clear scopes of work, quantifiable impacts on the selected community, a detailed timeline and budget information, and activities that are sustainable beyond the grant term.
Priority will be given to climbing communities that lack avenues of financial support for such projects. Additionally, the initiative is specifically interested in supporting projects led by individuals who are currently underrepresented in the climbing industry, including climbers who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color.
The grant does not fund projects taking place inside the continental United States, projects not led by local climbers, projects without a significant relationship to climbing, projects not centered on social impact, or projects that are not aligned with the values of the Global Climbing Initiative or its partner organizations.
The application deadline for projects taking place between April and September 2024 is February 29, 2024. A second round of applications will open in August for projects between October 2024 and March 2025.