REI Co-op invests in the future of the outdoors by giving back nearly 70 percent of our profits to the outdoor community. Out of that 70 percent, in 2017 alone we invested $8.8 million in more than 400 nonprofit partners working to create and protect access to the outdoors. That means that last year through grants, advocacy and stewardship projects, we impacted more than 1,000 outdoor places across the country.
“Our view of success has a quadruple bottom line, looking at the health of our employees, our members, our society and the business,” said Kristen Ragain, philanthropy and community partnership manager. “Our philanthropic investments allow the co-op to make positive impacts on society by increasing access to outdoor places and enabling transformational outdoor experiences for all. At the heart of this work is awakening a lifelong love of the outdoors.”
Interested in what that investing in the outdoors looks like? Peruse this interactive map, which highlights each of our 2017 grant recipients.
Read more about some of our nonprofit partners:
- Latino Outdoors: connecting Latinx communities with the outdoors
- Hike it Baby: getting more kids and families outside
- Connecticut Forest & Park Association: maintaining the state’s trail system
- GirlTrek: empowering Black women to walk every day
- GOLD: teaching girls about leadership in the outdoors