Finding a Social Cause to Get Behind

Many outdoor brands stand for a cause and/or support a project. By asking yourself these three questions, you’ll be able to find a brand (or a charity) with values that match your own. We’ve also included a few of our favorite brands and organizations that give back in one way or another.

What do you want to protect: places, people or the plant and animal kingdoms?

No question that these three are all intertwined.  Still, when it comes to charities or company-sponsored projects, one normally gets primary funding and attention. 

tentree

tentree plants precisely ten trees (hence the name) to restore endangered environments.  With a staggering amount of trees planted at this point, by both volunteers and newly employed locals, the brand transparently allows customers to track the impact of each individual purchase.
Model: “You buy, we do”

Fishpeople Seafood

Fishpeople, a sustainably minded purveyor of vacuum-packed seafood entrees and soups, buys from fishing families with standardized environmental practices and high quality products. 
Model: “You buy ours, we buy theirs” 

Do you want to put anticipatory protective measures into place or step in to allay an existing problem? 

Pull back from the brink or keep a crisis from occurring? This is a tough one. In the wake of a sudden tragedy, there’s often a quick flood of support, but in the face of a gradually oncoming issue, say with the reaction to climate change, non-profits have to rely on a steady trickle. 

Sherpa Adventure Gear

Sherpa Adventure Gear employs abused and homeless Nepalese women in Katmandu to produce quality garments at a fair wage. As they increase production, the impact spreads throughout a marginalized group of Nepali society.
Model: “You buy, we train and hire more” 

The Access Fund

The Access Fund protects and conserves climbing areas through a myriad of methods, including education, outreach, procuring private lands and more. They state that one in five of our climbing areas needs protecting (be it to avoid crossing private land, minimizing the impact of high traffic routes, etc.). Companies like Black Diamond, Clif Bar, REI and Patagonia are all corporate partners of the Access Fund, but you can also purchase sweet collaborations with Stanley, La Sportiva, Metolius and more from their store.
Model: “You give, you can go” 

Start a new project or contribute to an existing one?

Some brands prefer to contribute to an ongoing project with documented statistics and case studies that articulate impact.  Conversely, the allure of charting new territory draws other companies into the fray as they examine problems that have yet to be solved.

MiiR

MiiR turns each hydration bottle purchase into clean water for one person in need for one year.  Newer efforts have harnessed the power of purchases to fund over 3,000 bikes and a high school in Liberia 
Model: “Buy and we’ll multiply through existing, documented non-profits”

Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi funds, through efforts tied directly to specific luggage and apparel purchases, poverty-reduction efforts abroad—with health, education and livelihoods being their main areas of concern. A relative newcomer, Cotopaxi’s inspiration occurred on a personal trip to South America a few years back.  
Model: “Buy and we’ll create unique and impactful projects.” 

Use these three questions to help guide your commerce with a conscience—and feel a sense of contribution in the process.