Climbing For Change (C4C) has launched a grant program aimed at creating a more equitable outdoor industry. Founded by professional rock climber Kai Lightner, the organization continues to revolutionize climbing by bringing more diversity into the sport and removing barriers.
The C4C grant takes Lighter’s vision a step further and addresses the shortcomings of the broader outdoor industry by connecting brands with talented professionals for paid, project-based work.
“The diversity gap in the outdoor sector is well known,” says Kai Lightner, professional rock climber and founder of C4C. “Company executives have expressed a desire to hire diverse talent but cite difficulty in identifying qualified applicants. I have worked with talented BIPOC individuals that are creators, engineers, programmers, … we have skilled professionals in all fields”.
Lightner developed this grant program to address this need. “We want to connect companies with highly skilled individuals from diverse backgrounds. In doing so, we will be providing grantees with the opportunity to work with national and international brands to showcase their talents, and perhaps open the door for future opportunities.”
Current projects are centered around graphic design, market research and app development. However, the future of the program hopes to encompass all facets of business from sales, marketing, finance, product development, HR, project management and more.
If you’re an individual interested in applying for the upcoming projects, visit www.climbing4change.org/apply. To learn more or to get involved, email grants@climbing4change.org .
