Discover Funding Opportunities

Mountaineering Fellowship Fund Grant

Started in 1966, the Mountaineering Fellowship Fund Grant has long encouraged American climbers age 25 years and younger to go into remote areas and seek out climbs more difficult than they might ordinarily be able to do. Unexplored mountain ranges, unclimbed peaks, and difficult new routes are looked upon with favor. The review committee encourages applications from teams emphasizing the fellowship component of their objective. Grants are awarded based on the proposed project's excellence and evidence of appropriate mountaineering experience. Recipients are expected to act as American Alpine Club ambassadors to the domestic and international climbing communities, practice environmentally low impact and leave no trace ethics, and submit expedition reports upon return.

McNeill-Nott Award

The McNeill-Nott Award was established by the American Alpine Club in partnership with Mountain Hardwear in memory of Sue Nott and Karen McNeill, who died on Mt. Foraker in 2006. This award preserves the spirit of these two talented and courageous climbers by providing grants to amateur female climbers exploring new routes or unclimbed peaks with small and lightweight teams. The award focuses on projects with strong exploratory and adventuresome mountaineering objectives, with these elements being more important than the technical rating of the climbing objective. Two or three grants between $700 and $4,000 are awarded annually to amateur teams that best meet the criteria for pursuing an exploratory objective. The program is only open to female-led teams, with preference given to teams composed entirely of female or female-identifying members. Teams must climb with the highest ethical standards using a minimum of fixed ropes, camps, personnel, and equipment. Commercial, professional, and principally cause-related expeditions are ineligible.

Cutting Edge Grant

The American Alpine Club has inspired and supported cutting-edge climbing achievements for over 100 years. The Cutting Edge Grant, presented by Black Diamond, continues this tradition, aiming to fund advanced climbing athletes in pursuit of world-class climbing and mountaineering objectives. The 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 are looked upon with favor. Cutting Edge Grant awards significantly contribute towards total expedition costs, typically falling in the $4,000 to $10,000 range, though award amounts vary based on project and budget. Recipients are expected to provide comprehensive documentation including trip reports, photography, articles for the American Alpine Journal, and may be asked to give presentations at AAC events.