The American Alpine Club has inspired and supported cutting-edge climbing achievements for more than 100 years.  From funding the first ascent of Mt. Logan in 1925, the exploration of the Karakoram in 1938, the 2019 first ascent of Link Sar in the Central Pakistani Karakoram, and the countless expeditions in between, the AAC has encouraged climbers to push their physical and mental limits, by supporting their pursuits and celebrating their accomplishments.

The Cutting Edge Grant continues this tradition, supporting "state-of-the-art, cutting-edge climbing through financial support of small, lightweight climbing teams attempting bold first ascents or difficult repeats of the most challenging routes in the world's great mountain ranges."
 

AWARDS
Cutting Edge Grant awards are intended to significantly contribute towards total expedition costs. Awards typically fall in the $5,000 to $10,000 range, however award amounts will vary based on project and budget.
 

CRITERIA
 Proposals will be evaluated upon:

• Goal. The Cutting Edge Grant seeks to fund individuals planning expeditions to remote areas featuring unexplored mountain ranges, unclimbed peaks, difficult new routes, first free ascents, or similar world-class pursuits. Objectives featuring a low-impact style and leave-no-trace mentality will be looked upon with favor. Previously climbed routes and guided expeditions will not be considered.
• Experience. Applicants should possess a strong resume of past climbing achievements and/or experiences that illustrate their ability to have a reasonable potential for success. They must demonstrate that they are an advanced and capable climber. Experience must be in keeping with the difficulty of the stated objective.
• Eligibility. Individuals who are U.S. citizens and members of the American Alpine Club are eligible to apply. The Cutting Edge Grant is open to all climbing athletes, including those receiving financial support or in-kind support from corporate sponsors, however the level of sponsorship must be disclosed. Other team members need not be U.S. citizens.

The AAC encourages all capable athletes seeking worthy objectives to apply. If you have a question or a doubt regarding your project goal, experience level, or eligibility, please reach out to the AAC Climbing Grants Manager.

JONES ADVENTURE GRANTS
The American Alpine Club and Jones Snowboards are proud to offer two splitboarding-specific grants that encourage human-powered exploration of the winter wilderness by amateur backcountry snowboarders.

JONES BACKCOUNTRY ADVENTURE GRANT: Supports a multi-day splitboarding expedition with a strong exploratory and adventure component. The project objective may focus on a single descent/summit or a tour/traverse of a region. The Jones Backcountry Adventure Grant offers $1500 plus a Jones splitboard, skins and backpack to the grant recipient.

JONES LIVE LIKE LIZ AWARD: The same criteria as the Jones Backcountry Adventure Grant, but the grant is open only to female applicants. In September 2014, Jones ambassador and aspiring mountain guide Liz Daley was killed in an avalanche accident in Argentina. This award is dedicated to Liz and the radiant passion for splitboard exploration that she was known for. The Jones Live Like Liz Award will also offer $1500 plus a Jones splitboard, skins and backpack to the grant recipient.

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. 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 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. If awarded, the recipient will be sent a check to 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.

The Zack Martin Breaking Barriers (ZMBB) Grant was created in memory of Zack Martin, an avid climber and humanitarian who died just before his 25th birthday. Concerned about the failure to ‘pay it forward’ and help those in the places he climbed, Zack committed himself to perform humanitarian services in the local communities in which he explored. His efforts were supported through multiple grants including ones from the American Alpine Club (AAC) and the Anatoli Boukreev Grant. Zach championed “breaking barriers” in the alpine environment, and “breaking barriers” in the heart of man.

This grant seeks to fund expeditions that focus, primarily, on humanitarian efforts and, secondly, on an objective involving alpinism, mountaineering, rock/ice climbing and bouldering. Exploration in other areas such as ski mountaineering, river exploration etc. that lead to a greater understanding and improvement of the alpine environment could be considered for the grant.  Successful candidates will demonstrate how their expedition fully encompasses both tenets of this grant.

CRITERIA / GUIDELINES
Humanitarian objective
Must have immediate impact, be sustainable, feasible and assure continuity to provide benefits to local people after initial implementation. Ideally, objectives will teach locals “how to”, enable ‘infrastructure’ and provide some level of continued support and funding.
Alpine objective
Must focus on alpine related adventure and/or discovery in the natural environment. A non-alpine adventure or exploration activity could be considered if the non-alpine objective leads to enhancement of the alpine/climbing/mountaineering environment.

• For individuals of all ages and all experience levels.
• Awarded to individuals and/or small teams (one application).
• Objective can be for domestic and/or international expeditions.
• Applicant(s) must be U.S. citizens or green card holders to apply.
• Applicant(s) do not have to be current AAC members, but will be asked to become a member if selected.
• Applicant(s) are strongly encouraged to obtain additional funding and sponsors.