Guide to Applying for Grants
Text-only version
About the Global Climbing Initiative
The Global Climbing Initiative equips climbing communities worldwide with the knowledge and resources to thrive. Through our work, we have seen climbing strengthen leadership, create economic opportunity, and build community on a global scale.
Many communities face barriers such as limited access to gear, funding, training, or safe infrastructure. These gaps restrict who participates in climbing and how communities develop over time. GCI partners with local organizations to address these challenges in ways that reflect local priorities and knowledge.
We invest in climbing communities through grants, equipment, and education, supporting initiatives that build local leadership, expand access, strengthen environmental stewardship, and create more inclusive climbing spaces.
Our Community Grants Program
GCI’s Community Grants provide funding to climbing organizations with local leadership in under-resourced contexts, supporting community-driven initiatives that:
Promote environmental stewardship and sustainable climbing practices
Increase access to climbing and leadership opportunities for underrepresented groups
Strengthen local economic opportunities connected to climbing
We welcome applications from organizations addressing inequities and structural challenges within their climbing communities. We prioritize projects led by individuals from low-resource backgrounds and those underrepresented in the climbing industry, including climbers who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color. Our goal is to support local visions and help community leaders bring them to life.
Learn more on our website: globalclimbing.org/community-grants
Is this grant a good fit with your organization?
This grant may be a good fit if your project:
Is led by a local climbing organization or community group
Takes place outside the continental U.S. (or is led by an Indigenous community within the U.S.)
Focuses on climbing (indoor or outdoor)
Can be completed within six months
This grant is not a good fit if:
You are applying as an individual
The project is led primarily by someone outside the community
The project focuses on hiking, mountaineering, or alpinism
You are seeking general operating support or salaries
Project Period
Grant-funded work must be completed within six months: April-September for Spring Grants, and October-March for Fall Grants. Find information on the timeline and deadlines for the current cycle at globalclimbing.org/community grants.
If you have a long-term vision, focus your application on a component that can be completed within six months and explain how it fits into your larger goals.
Which grant category is the best fit for your project?
Use the descriptions below to help you choose the grant category for your project. When projects span multiple categories, apply under the category that reflects your primary outcome. During review, we may consider the project across more than one grant category if we see a fit.
1. Environmental Grants (up to $1,000)
Apply if your project’s primary goal is to:
Reduce environmental impact at crags and surrounding environments
Improve site infrastructure (such as trails, belay platforms, or sanitation)
Build stewardship knowledge and practices among climbers
2. Social Impact Grants (up to $1,000)
Apply if your project’s primary goal is to:
Expand access to climbing for underrepresented groups
Build belonging, leadership, or representation within a climbing community
Address barriers related to identity, access, or opportunity
3. Economic Development Grants (up to $2,000)
Apply if your project’s primary goal is to:
Create income, jobs, or small businesses connected to climbing
Support local guides, instructors, or climbing-related enterprises
Develop tourism infrastructure that benefits local communities
You may submit multiple applications across the same or different categories. Each will be reviewed independently.
Grants may be awarded in full or partial amounts depending on proposal strength and the competitiveness of that cycle.
Eligibility Requirements
Projects must be:
Related to climbing (indoor or outdoor)
Led by a local climbing organization with evidence of climbing-related impact
Proposed by a local leader of that climbing organization
Located outside of the continental United States (or led by an Indigenous community within the U.S.)
Eligibility for existing GCI partner organizations
Partner organizations that have received grants, gear, or training from GCI are eligible to apply if they have completed their past project deliverable requirements.
Current Gear Distribution or Community Grant partners are eligible to apply if their project deliverables are on track and applying for a grant in this cycle will not cause distraction or delay to the current project.
Current Climbing Leadership Fund partners are not eligible to apply, as these projects are ongoing, multi- year, and involve a deep level of investment.
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, applications from existing partner organizations will be evaluated equally against all other applications.
Application Process
We have a two-phase application process. The following deadlines apply to the Spring 2026 application cycle.
For updated dates in future cycles, visit globalclimbing.org/community-grants.
Initial Application
Due Wednesday, January 28 2026
Preview Initial Application questions: globalclimbing.org/preview-grants-initial-application-questions
Project Proposal (by invitation only)
Due Wednesday, February 25 2026
Preview Project Proposal questions: globalclimbing.org/preview-grants-project-proposal-questions
All submissions must be made through the Google Form links on the grant category pages at
globalclimbing.org/community-grants. We are unable to accept applications sent by email.
Project Requirements and Deliverables
All grant partners must commit to the following as a condition of the grant:
Signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU), photography agreement, and code of conduct
Attending a project kickoff meeting with GCI before the project begins
Naming us as a supporter/sponsor in public communications (such as social media) related to the project
Within 60 days of the conclusion of the project, grant partners must submit the following deliverables:
Folder of quality photos
1-2 page project summary
Qualitative and quantitative metrics
Quotes/testimonials from the project team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Applicants must represent a climbing organization or community group. We cannot fund projects led by a single person without an established group collaborating on the planning and implementation.
2. Can I apply if my local climbing community doesn’t have a climbing organization?
We prioritize partnership with climbers 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.
3. 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 can 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 person responsible for the project. Additional collaborators may be listed as project team members in the Project Proposal.
4. 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, but not the primary applicant.
5. 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.
6. 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 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, and economic development grant pages (globalclimbing.org/environmental-grants, globalclimbing.org/social-impact-grants, globalclimbing.org/economic-development-grants).
7. 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, or social impact (such as trainings for climbers who are historically underrepresented in crag development).
8. 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.
9. What makes a strong application?
A strong application:
Reflects your community’s own voice and your own words (not written by ChatGPT)
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
Demonstrates that your climbing organization and team have the skills to accomplish this project
Instead of describing a program in general terms, explain who will be involved, what will change during the six-month period, and how you will know it made a difference.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Can I add photos, a slide deck, or other supporting materials?
No. We are not accepting additional materials at this time.
13. 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.
14. What is the two-phase application process?
The Initial Application asks for information about your climbing organization, team, and project idea. Select 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 at globalclimbing.org/community-grants. All applications must be submitted online through our application form, found on the GCI website. We cannot consider applications sent by email.
15. 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).
16. Will I receive a copy of my application via email?
Yes. Please ensure your email address is correctly entered at the start of the form.
17. 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.
18. How will I be notified?
You will receive an email on the application notification date. Please add grants@globalclimbing.org to your email contacts, and check your spam folder if you do not see a notification email.
19. If my project is not selected, can I receive feedback?
Yes. You may reply to your notification email and request feedback.
20. Can I ask further questions not answered here?
Yes. Email grants@globalclimbing.org.
Tips for Applying to Grants
1. Do your research on the funder
What can you infer about the grant funder’s priorities based on their mission, values, programs, and partnerships?
2. Learn about past successful projects
What do you think was strong about their proposals? What makes yours unique?
3. Read the application instructions and questions closely
Read again, and again. Make sure you understand exactly what they’re asking for.
4. Answer questions thoroughly
Adhere to length minimums and maximums, and ensure you’ve addressed everything they request in each question.
5. Reach out early if you need help
If they’ve given contact info to ask questions, take the opportunity to seek clarity about anything you’re unsure of.
6. Communicate impact and outcomes
Explain the before and after: what will be different if you are awarded this grant? What are your measurable project goals?
7. Explain thoroughly
Assume the reader knows nothing about your organization or project, and give them the info they need to understand.
8. Read it out loud
Review your own application and ask yourself: does it flow? Is the proposal easy to understand? Have I answered fully?
9. Get advice from other reviewers
Ask experts in your field, individuals who would be affected by the grant, and others to offer feedback before submitting.
10. Provide evidence of your capacity
Earn trust by incorporating examples of past successful project outcomes to demonstrate your credibility.
To apply, visit globalclimbing.org/community-grants and select your grant category.
If you have a question not answered in this document, email grants@globalclimbing.org