Impact Giving | Your Donations Go Farther in FY2024

The Mountaineers strategic plan and vision, Adventure with Purpose, is shaped by the wisdom and passion of our volunteer-led community. We believe the impact of our adventures can extend beyond our own personal enjoyment. We’re working toward a future where all people can confidently enjoy the natural world and are inspired to protect it.

Some people initially come to The Mountaineers seeking a particular outdoor skill or book. And many end up plugged into a community beyond what they imagined. When members of our community are inspired by our vision, they often look for ways to pay it forward as volunteers and donors. 

Everyone who pays dues, signs up for our programs, or buys our books supports the mission and vision of The Mountaineers. And we are especially grateful to those of you who go above and beyond in support of our mission and community — from chipping in an extra $10 when buying a book to choosing an elevated membership to leaving a legacy donation with your estate plans.

Is an elevated membership right for you?

Earned revenue such as course fees, the sales price of books, and membership dues, funds most of our operations. Donations take our mission impact to the next level. Philanthropic support helps our community go beyond fun and exploration. Donations support ongoing mission-driven efforts like reducing barriers to inclusion for youth and adults, creating and sustaining innovative outdoor education opportunities, and strengthening our voice as advocates for our land, waters, and climate. 

Unrestricted donations also allow us to pursue strategic investments when the need or opportunity arises. With the start of a new fiscal year on October 1, we are excited about some new opportunities to invest in our top mission-driven priorities.

Building momentum for Adventure with Purpose 

In addition to ongoing efforts, we’ve identified a few specific areas for new or increased investments in the next 12 months:

• Increasing support for volunteers. Volunteers are our most valuable asset. A new Associate Director of Operations will provide more dedicated support for volunteer leaders and work to understand and address capacity challenges in courses. Read more: How donations continually support volunteers.
• Improving the website. The Mountaineers website plays a huge role in the experience of leaders and members alike. We budget for incremental improvements every year, but we slowed investments in the website during the pandemic due to resource constraints. In fiscal year 2024 we aim to double the typical number of improvement projects in order to catch up on pressing issues. Read more: see technology improvements and even peek at what projects are in the priority queue.
• Expanding mission-driven publishing. Mountaineers books are resources for inspiration, education, and conservation for readers across the globe. A new Production Coordinator will help to grow the number of books we publish and re-print, strengthening our platform for emerging authors, local expertise, and conservation storytelling. Read more: as a nonprofit publisher, Mountaineers Books makes values-based decisions about new projects.
• Addressing permitting challenges. A new Associate Manager of Policy & Planning will partner with agencies and land managers to promote our shared values at the intersection of outdoor education and conservation. We hope to create better pathways for courses and activities to grow while also conserving fragile ecosystems and access to the natural world for future generations. Read more: the panel discussion at An Evening of Advocacy scratched the surface of this issue.
• Nurturing a culture of philanthropy. Donors, leaders, and members entrust The Mountaineers with their time, their financial resources, their wisdom, and their experiences in order to support our mission and community. Our ability to deliver on the impact and vision outlined in our strategic plan will rely on our ability to properly resource the plan. We have been working on a formal assessment of our philanthropic capabilities to support types of giving options for members inspired to give back to the outdoor community through charitable donations. Read more: A couple of years ago, we did a deeper dive on how philanthropy fits into our financial model.

Have you considered elevating your membership?

Donations in the form of elevated membership are an essential part of how we accelerate impact, and will be an essential part of funding our vision for positive community impact. They support ongoing and strategic spending that helps more people get outside and join in conserving our natural world.

If you have found value in your Mountaineers experience, if your personal values align with our vision to Adventure with Purpose, and if you are inspired to pay it forward with a donation of $500 or more, an elevated membership may be right for you!

There are now two options to support our mission with elevated membership types: Peak Society and, new for 2024, Ridgeline. Both options can be chosen as a membership type in your renewal process or activated with a donation.

Peak Society Membership

Those who give $1,000 or more per year are members of our leadership giving circle.

In recognition of their generosity, Peak Society members receive optional benefits including:

• Family-style Mountaineers membership (up to two adults and all children under 18 in one household) with access to courses, activities, lodges, deals, and more.
• Invitations to exclusive events, including the Banff Film Fest opening night reception.
• An annual gift of a popular Mountaineers Books title.
• Priority access to our BeWild speaker series.
• Invitation to an annual donor appreciation event.
• Recognition in The Mountaineers annual Impact Report.
• Deeper engagement with our strategic plan and organizational updates from staff.

Ridgeline Membership *NEW*

New this year, those who give $500 or more become Ridgeline members. 

In recognition of their generosity, Ridgeline members can receive optional benefits including:

• Family-style membership (up to two adults and all children under 18 in one household) with access to courses, activities, lodges, deals, and more.
• Priority access to our BeWild speaker series.
• Invitation to an annual donor appreciation event.
• Recognition in The Mountaineers annual Impact Report.

If you would like to upgrade your membership, you can log in to your profile, click “Renew now”, and select “Peak Society” or “Ridgeline.” If your membership is not yet in the three-month renewal window, or if you would like to discuss alternative ways to make a membership donation, contact Mckenzie at mckenziecd@mountaineers.org. Membership donations can be made in many ways, including online, via check, through a Donor Advised Fund, through workplace giving, or donations of stock.

The Mountaineers® is a 501(c)(3) organization supported through earned revenue and elevated through charitable contributions. Our staff work to support our seven branches (Bellingham, Everett, Foothills, Kitsap, Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma), three lodges (Baker, Meany, and Stevens), and our Kitsap Forest Theater. Tax ID: 27-3009280. 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115.