At the AAC, we believe that addressing equity issues in climbing is not mutually exclusive from best business practices. That is why, in partnership with The North Face, we designed a Pay What You Can (PWYC) toolkit, a free resource for gyms who want to offer alternative payment models alongside—or in place of—traditional membership structures. Although much of our work is outdoor-centric, we recognize that many climbers are introduced to the sport through a gym, and therefore a holistic approach to climbing access requires us to consider challenges across the climbing spectrum, including indoor climbing. Our hope is that with our toolkit, gyms can implement sustainable PWYC models that offer a product that is attainable for those in under-represented income brackets, with the added benefit of increasing these gyms’s memberships and maintaining a profitable business.

To support PWYC initiatives, the AAC and The North Face will be awarding a series of grants to support gyms with one-time costs associated with beginning a PWYC program. The application period will run from July 13th to August 31st, 2024, with grant amounts between $1,000 and $4,000

Applicants for PWYC Grants are asked to submit a brief description of their PWYC program, along with an explanation of how the funds will be used to support PWYC programming. This may include (but is not limited to) increasing rental fleet capacity in order to offer free or reduced rentals to PWYC participants, upgrading gym software to better accommodate a variety of membership rates and data tracking capabilities, training staff to help with program design and implementation, or developing initial PWYC marketing to attract new members. PWYC Grant funds cannot be used to pay staff salaries, and cannot underwrite recurring costs of PWYC programs. 

After grant funds are spent, applicants are required to provide the AAC with a brief statement (max 1500 words) indicating how the funds were spent and how it supported their PWYC programming. 

This financial needs-based grant offers financial support for individuals pursuing therapeutic services based on being directly impacted by grief, loss, and/or trauma related to climbing, ski mountaineering or alpinism. The grant award is up to $600 and is intended to be used toward individual therapy or a professional program that engages a grief or trauma framework.  

Grant applications will be reviewed for the following criteria:

• Applicant is experiencing distress due to grief or trauma related to climbing, ski mountaineering, or alpinism;
• Application contains an expressed plan to work with a specific professional or organization; 
• Applicant states financial need
• Applicant has not previously received a Climbing Grief Fund grant. 
• Applicants who have not been able to access prior therapy or treatment shall be prioritized

You may apply for this grant at any time.  Please fill out our application and use our mental health directory to find a therapist or program of your choosing. You may select a therapist or program that is not listed in our directory. 

Please note that applications will only be considered when applicants have identified and contacted their chosen therapist or program organizer. Providers are often willing to work with individuals who have limited funds. We recommend discussing rates and availability with your provider ahead of time.

Please reach out to us at grieffund@americanalpineclub.org if there are questions concerning the application process (such as selecting a therapist or program).

All Grant applications will remain confidential. We will notify you of approval within 2 weeks of submission. 

Together we are building a community that gets support and gives support.