Community Grant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Photo by Chiguanoikos Climbing Festival

What are The Global Climbing Initiative’s Community Grants?

GCI Community Grants support locally led climbing organizations around the world working to strengthen their communities. Grants fund projects in four categories: Environmental, Creative, Social Impact, and Economic Development.

Who is eligible to apply?

Locally-led climbing organizations located outside of the continental US (or representing an Indigenous community within the US) may apply. Proposals must be related to climbing (outdoor or indoor) and submitted by a member of the local climbing community.

We specifically aim to support projects led by individuals from low-resource backgrounds, as well as those who are currently underrepresented in the climbing industry, including climbers who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color, as individuals of these identities tend to experience greater barriers in accessing recognition and support for projects.

Are individuals eligible to apply?

No. Applicants must represent a climbing organization or community group—not apply as individuals. We cannot fund projects led by a single person without an established group leading the planning and implementation.

Can I apply if my local climbing community doesn’t have a climbing organization?

We prioritize partnership with community groups that have put in the time and effort to define their mission, establish a team, and collaborate on projects together to demonstrate capacity and follow-through. If you do not yet have a group of local climbers ready to lead the project you’d like to propose, we suggest you focus your efforts on shaping that group first before applying.

We do not require proof of official/legal registration as a nonprofit, business, or association, because we know that can be a difficult process in some countries. However, we do look for evidence of your activities and communications through website or social media to demonstrate that you are an active climbing group/organization engaged with your local community.

What is the application process?

The Initial Application asks for information about your climbing organization, your team, and your project idea. After reviewing these, applicants who align well with our grant criteria are invited to submit a more detailed Project Proposal. Dates for each step of the process are posted here. All applications must be submitted online through our application form, found on the GCI website. We cannot consider applications sent by email.

Where can I find a list of the application questions?

You can preview the Initial Application questions here. If invited to submit a Project Proposal, you will be asked to provide a project overview, plan, team, timeline, metrics, and budget. Dates for each step of the process can be found here.

What makes a strong application?

A strong application:

• Follows instructions carefully

• Clearly explains why the project matters and the impacts you expect

• Describes the stakeholders involved and who is coming together to make this feasible

• Provides examples of measurable impact metrics

• Includes detail and clarity in the project plan

• Reflects your community’s own voice and your own words (not written by ChatGPT).

For more tips, check out this resource.

What is the size of your grants?

We invite proposals for up to $1,000 for Environmental, Creative, or Social Impact projects, or up to $2,000 for Economic Development projects. Grants may be awarded in full or in part depending on proposal strength and the competitiveness of that cycle.

Can I submit applications for multiple projects (in the same category or different categories)?

Yes. You may submit multiple applications across the same or different categories. Each will be reviewed independently.

How many grants are awarded per category?

We do not have a set number of awards per category. Grants are awarded based on the strength of the applications, regardless of category. The number of grants per cycle depends on donor and sponsor support. You can see how many grants we awarded in past cycles on our social media. As our donor and sponsor support grows, we aim to increase the size and number of grants we can award.

Can I apply in this cycle if my organization received a grant from GCI in the past?

Yes. We will not award grants to the same organization in the same category in back-to-back cycles (e.g. Fall 2025 and then Spring 2026). If applying in a different category, or applying in non-back to back cycles, the application will be evaluated equally against other applicants. The outcomes of your past grant project, quality and timeliness of deliverables, and level of partnership engagement in past projects with GCI will be weighed in to selection decisions for subsequent grant cycles.

Can I apply in this cycle if my organization received a gear distribution from GCI in the past?

Yes. Past gear partners are welcome to apply. They will be considered equally against all other applications regardless of past partnership. The outcomes of your past gear partnership, quality and timeliness of deliverables, and level of partnership engagement in past projects with GCI will be weighed in to selection decisions for subsequent grant cycles.

Can I apply in this cycle if my organization is a current Climbing Leadership Fund (CLF) partner of GCI?

No. Climbing Leadership Fund partnerships involve a deep level of investment, so we do not award grants to current CLF partners. If your community’s CLF partnership with GCI has ended, you may submit a grant application and it will be considered equally against all other applications. The outcomes of your past CLF partnership, quality and timeliness of deliverables, and level of partnership engagement in past projects with GCI will be weighed in to selection decisions for subsequent grant cycles.

Can I submit an application written by ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools?

No. We understand that AI tools can feel helpful. However, they often create generic applications that lose the voice of the community. We would strongly prefer to hear your proposal in your own voice. If writing in English feels difficult, we highly encourage you to submit your application in your native language, and we will translate it.

Do I need to write in English?

No. Please write in the language you feel most comfortable. We will translate all submissions made in languages other than English, and they will be reviewed equally.

I’m not local to the country that I want to suggest a project for. Can I apply?

No. The primary applicant must be local to the country that the project would take place in. This is because, in alignment with our values, we understand that local vision is key to developing projects that best meet the needs of the community, maximize long-term positive impact, and foster the growth of local leaders stewarding the growth of climbing in their area.

We recognize that visiting or foreign resident climbers often have a profound impact on the trajectory of crags and communities. As a visitor or foreign resident, you may co-envision a project in partnership with local climbers and support them in shaping the application. To meet GCI requirements, please select a local member of the project team to be the primary applicant and primary responsible for the project. List all other team members in your application.

Can I be the primary applicant if I am from the community that my project would serve, but I live in another country?

No. Local climbing leaders (physically based in the community the project serves) are essential to ensuring the project is carried out well and catalyzes long-term positive impacts after the project is finished. Individuals living outside of the location where the project would take place may be listed as collaborators on the project in the Project Proposal phase, but not the primary applicant.

I am not a climber, but I have an idea for a climbing-related project. Can I apply?

No. Climbing and related projects require a great amount of contextual knowledge. It is essential that climbers shape the vision for each project and carry the responsibility for project oversight and completion. The project overview should describe any collaborating organizations involved, including non-climbing organizations, and contextualize the relationship between them.

My project is focused on hiking, mountaineering, or alpinism. Is it eligible?

No, we cannot fund hiking, mountaineering, or alpinism projects at this time. Only projects connected to climbing (outdoor or indoor) may be considered.

What types of expenses are eligible?

Eligible costs may include project materials, training costs connected to the project, transportation directly tied to project activities, and instructor or certification fees.

Climbing gear/safety equipment may be a small part of the budget, but not the entire grant amount. If gear is your primary need, we suggest submitting a gear distribution application instead.

Our grants cannot fund salaries, project management hours, administrative costs, or general operating expenses at this time. For further restrictions, please see the “What we can’t fund for this grant” section of the environmental, social impact, creative, and economic development grant pages.

Are bolting or rebolting projects eligible?

Yes, if the project is community-led, demonstrates a plan for long-term stewardship, aligns with local ethics, and is shaped with a clear plan for measuring environmental, economic development, or social impact (such as trainings for climbers who are historically underrepresented in crag development). Hardware purchases are permitted if they directly support the project.

I see this grant is for a 6 month project. Can I propose a longer-term project?

Grant-funded work must be completed within six months:

• Spring cycle: April-September

• Fall cycle: October-March

If you have a long-term vision, focus your application on a component that can be completed within six months and demonstrates progress toward the larger goal.

Is there flexibility in the six-month project window?

We ask you to apply for the cycle that aligns with your project timeline so that we can report outcomes to donors and sponsors. If you face a unique circumstance, email grants@globalclimbing.org before applying.

My project spans multiple countries. Is this permitted?

Yes, as long as the application is co-envisioned, co-led, and co-written by individuals who are local to each area. Please list all individuals involved in your application.

Can the project propose investing in the skills of one or a few individuals?

Projects should create broad community benefit. Skill-building for individual leaders may be included as one part of your plan if you clearly show how it will lead to measurable, community-level impact.

My organization is in a country where it is unsafe for us to use social media or share photos. What should I do?

Please explain your situation in the application. Safety is our priority, and we will adjust requirements when needed.

My project overlaps multiple grant categories. Which one should I select?

Choose the category that feels like the best fit. If we identify overlap and want to consider it across categories, we will do so.

Can I add photos, a slide deck, or other supporting materials?

No. We are not accepting additional materials at this time.

Will I receive a copy of my application?

Yes. A copy will be emailed to the address you enter at the start of the form. Please ensure your email address is correct.

Can I edit my application after submitting it?

Please submit only when your application is final. If you need to make a small correction before the deadline, email grants@globalclimbing.org to request permission to resubmit.

What is the application deadline?

You may submit up until 11:59 pm UTC-12 on the date of the deadline (the last time zone in the world where that date is still active).

When will I receive a response?

For Fall 2025:

• Initial Application notifications and Project Proposal invitations: August 4

• Project Proposal deadline (for invited applicants): August 29

• Grant finalist decisions: September 17

For future cycles, view the dates at globalclimbing.org/community-grants.

Please add grants@globalclimbing.org to your contacts, and check your spam folder if you do not see an email.

What deliverables are required?

Each grant partner must commit to the following as a condition of the grant:

• Signing an ethics code of conduct, photography agreement, and memorandum of understanding (MOU) 

• Attending a project kickoff meeting with GCI before the project begins

• Naming us as a supporter/sponsor in any events, media, or social media related to this grant project

• Within 60 days of the completion of the grant project:

  • Providing quality photos

  • Reporting on impact metrics

  • Writing a brief project summary

  • Completing a survey

• Collaborating with our team to produce a social media post

If my project is not selected, can I receive feedback?

Yes. You may reply to your notification email and request feedback.

Can I ask further questions not answered here?

Yes. Email grants@globalclimbing.org.

Apply at globalclimbing.org/community-grants (click the Environmental, Creative, Social Impact, or Economic Development grant categories).