Social Impact Grants

The Global Climbing Initiative’s Social Impact Grants aim to uplift underrepresented climbing communities by supporting grassroots initiatives that enhance access, inclusion, and leadership in both indoor and outdoor climbing. As a nonprofit committed to equity within global climbing culture, the Initiative centers lived experience and community leadership in its funding priorities. These grants are designed to counteract systemic barriers—such as racism, colonialism, ableism, and other forms of oppression—that limit full participation in the climbing world. By resourcing local leaders, particularly in marginalized or underserved communities, the program helps create spaces where climbers from historically excluded groups can thrive. Social Impact Grants focus specifically on projects that offer tangible and measurable community benefits. They are intended for initiatives that reduce barriers, promote representation, and strengthen community leadership. Eligible activities include training programs in safety and guiding, community-led festivals, events, or climbing access programs tailored for underrepresented groups. Importantly, the grant does not fund research, political advocacy, or general operating costs; rather, it emphasizes direct impact and measurable outcomes within a six-month project period. Each supported project should demonstrate a strong scope of work, clearly defined social goals, and sustainable change, with a maximum grant amount of $1,000 USD. To be eligible, applicants must represent a local climbing organization with a record of climbing-related impact. The project must be led by a local individual affiliated with the organization and be either located outside the continental United States or led by an Indigenous community within the U.S. Projects must directly address access and equity challenges in climbing. The Initiative excludes funding for groups operating solely within the U.S. unless they are Indigenous-led. Additionally, past recipients may not apply for the same grant category in consecutive cycles, although they are welcome to apply in alternate cycles or categories. Applications are evaluated on criteria including alignment with the Social Impact theme, leadership by impacted communities, organizational capacity, measurable outcomes, sustainability, and representation. GCI especially prioritizes projects led by climbers who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, or otherwise marginalized. Strong proposals must include a realistic budget, detailed timeline, and a clear explanation of how success will be measured. Grant recipients are expected to collaborate with GCI for communications, provide impact metrics, photos, and a project summary within 60 days of completion. The Spring 2026 application process began with an initial submission window from January 5 to January 28. Selected applicants were invited to submit full proposals between February 2 and February 25. Final decisions will be communicated by March 18, followed by onboarding meetings in late March. The performance period for funded projects runs from April 1 to September 30, 2026. This grant cycle recurs annually, with a structured timeline and expectations for follow-up reporting. All inquiries regarding this grant should be directed to [email protected]. The Initiative’s commitment to community-driven, inclusive programming is reflected not only in its funding criteria but also in its partnerships with organizations around the world, from India and Colombia to Cuba and Brazil. Through this grant, The Global Climbing Initiative continues its mission to make climbing a more accessible and inclusive global sport.

Clearly define goals, timeline, and budget; emphasize measurable impact and community leadership; align with inclusion and equity goals