This needs-based grant offers financial support for individuals pursuing therapeutic services based on being directly impacted by grief, loss, and/or trauma related to activities of 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 are reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Applicant is experiencing distress due to grief or trauma related to climbing, ski mountaineering, or alpinism
• The application contains an expressed and outlined plan to work with a specific professional or organization
• Awards are made through a comprehensive review that recognizes financial need while also valuing broader merit and context. Applicants will describe how this grant will help them overcome barriers, which may include financial barriers, to accessing the therapeutic services outlined
• 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
• The applicant is a U.S. citizen. 

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. Providers in the directory have agreed to provide 4-6 appointments for the $600 award amount, though there may be some variability depending on the specific services provided. You may select a therapist or program that is not listed in our directory.

Please note that applications will only be considered after 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. If awarded, the AAC will send the recipient a check at the address associated with their application. AAC does not pay the therapy service provider. Instead, the recipient will pay the service provider once they receive the grant money.

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

About the Catalyst Grant:

We love climbing, that’s obvious. When something brings so much joy and color to life, it’s natural to want to ensure it’s available to everyone who wishes to experience the same joy.  

The American Alpine Club (AAC) is committed to helping the climbing community become accessible to everyone. The Catalyst Grant funds historically underrepresented communities, specifically those with demonstrated need or those that are serving to close opportunity gaps. While the AAC has always encouraged all people to apply for our grants, we recognize that underrepresented groups traditionally face more barriers to pursuing their climbing dreams. The Catalyst Grant was created specifically to help breakdown those barriers. This grant supports all climbing disciplines including bouldering, sport climbing, trad, alpine, mountain running, ski mountaineering, peak bagging, or any other climbing endeavor.  

By celebrating our differences while also exploring our common interests, we broaden our perspectives, strengthen our relationships, and grow the entire climbing community.  

Criteria / Guidelines

• Applicants must be AAC members.
• Individuals and teams (2 - 4 people) of all ages, all experience levels, and all climbing disciplines who face barriers to accessing climbing resources and identify as a member of an underrepresented group within the climbing community. 
• Teams will apply on one application.
• The climb/expedition must accurately demonstrate a progression in skills and experience and outline a specific, attainable goal.
• Objective must be in the U.S. (includes Alaska and Hawaii).
• Applications are considered for trips that occur between July 30, 2025 and July 30, 2026.
• Objectives involving climbers who are supported financially by corporate sponsors will not be considered. However, proposals from “amateur” climbers who have received in-kind corporate support (e.g., gear) will be considered, but support levels must be disclosed.
• Projects must have the endorsement of the land manager or conservation professional, and not be in conflict with the Native Americans who previously and/or currently lived on that land.

About the Momentum Grant

The American Alpine Club established the Momentum Grant in 2026 in partnership with the family of Austin Mallet, a Texas native who developed a deep passion for big mountain objectives, but whose time was cut short by a tragic avalanche in 2024. Austin approached climbing with incredible discipline and sought to grow his skillset and develop his mountain craft at every opportunity. The Momentum Grant will preserve Austin’s spirit by supporting the projects of passionate climbers seeking to elevate their skills in big mountain environments. 

The grant aims to support intermediate to advanced alpine climbing projects, including establishing new lines or repeating a major route. Projects involving attempts on technical alpine routes, including ice, mixed, rock, and ski-alpinist objectives, will be prioritized. Pure sport climbing, bouldering or hiking/peak bagging objectives generally will not be considered for an award. 

Criteria

Types of Projects:

• The grant supports intermediate to advanced alpine climbing projects and projects in closely related disciplines that seek to establish new routes or repeat a major route. Projects involving attempts on technical alpine routes, including ice, mixed, rock, and ski-alpinist objectives, will be prioritized.
• The proposed project should represent a logical progression in the applicant’s alpinist career. The application should illustrate how their objective is a step up for them personally—in skills, experience, ambition, and/or destination.

Location:

• Austin felt that North American climbers sometimes underestimated the variety of the worthy climbing objectives sitting in their own backyards. In this spirit, the grant will be limited to funding trips or projects in North America.

Who Should Apply:

• The grant is intended for individuals or small teams (2-4 people) of all ages, though applicants should be able to demonstrate that they have attained at least an intermediate level of experience in their discipline
• The grant has no demographic restrictions—persons of all backgrounds (including all ages, ethnicities, genders) are welcomed to apply and no preference will be given for one demographic over any other. 
• The grant is designed for intermediate to experienced alpine climbers and ski-alpinists looking to further hone their skills and push their comfort zones on big objectives.   The grant is not intended for brand new climbers focused on entry-level objectives.

Tips for a Successful Application

• A strong application should outline a specific climbing goal/objective—something that illustrates a focused approach to the applicant’s objective and also a measure of success or failure.
• Applicants should clearly define how they will apply their previous experience to attain their objective, and ideally, define how this objective fits into their big-picture, climbing/outdoor adventure goals.
• Applicants should demonstrate appropriate planning and research for their proposed objective. While uploading supporting images is optional, providing route maps and other materials will help reviewers understand your level of preparation.
• The grant selection working group will seek diversity among selected project types and locations.
• A past history of grants from the AAC will not preclude anyone from receiving a grant. A history of past grants may contribute to your application as an indicator of progress within the sport.

The Live Your Dream grant was founded on the belief that our definitions of exploration and dreams are unique to each of us. Meaningful exploration isn’t limited to the highest peaks in the farthest reaches of the world. Your local gym, crag, and backyard mountains are equally important resources to help stoke inspiration for adventure. When we seek out new experiences, overcome obstacles, and connect with each other, through exploration, we change ourselves.  

This grant supports the every-day adventurers who harness this mindset for their own exploration. We are looking for individuals with a personally ambitious climbing goal, a desire to take their abilities to the next level, and the hope to share the power of exploration with their communities.  

Open to all ages, all experience levels, and all climbing disciplines—from bouldering to big walls, alpinism to ski mountaineering, peak bagging to bolt clipping, and everything in between—we encourage you to dream big, let curiosity lead you, and apply.  

The American Alpine Club (AAC) Research Grants support scientific endeavors in mountains and crags around the world. We fund projects that enrich our understanding of the ecosystems and landscapes that are a part of the climbing experience, contribute vital knowledge to the management of climbing environments, and improve the health and sustainability of the climbing community.

Successful candidates will demonstrate how their research directly addresses pertinent issues facing climbing landscapes and the climbing community.