The REI Cooperative Action Fund, the charitable arm of outdoor recreational company REI Co-op, has announced a $4 million investment in 40 nonprofit organizations collectively working to create a more equitable outdoors. 

The fund, which aims to bring together the collective strength of the co-op community, is fueled by donations from REI Co-op, its customers, members, and employees, as well as corporate partners and foundations. The latest investment includes support for 22 existing partners and 18 new recipients. The fund supports outdoor-focused organizations that are led by and serve Black, Indigenous, and people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, women, and low-income communities; efforts to increase equitable access to outdoor spaces and recreational opportunities—with a specific focus on community-led solutions that bring environmental benefits closer to home for marginalized communities; and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, which demonstrates that time outside improves mental, physical, and emotional health and well-being. New grantees include Bikes Not Bombs, Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, and Campus Nature Rx. 

“This new investment is our largest to date, demonstrating the power of our community when we come together to make a positive impact,” said REI Cooperative Action Fund managing director Kristen Ragain. “This generosity has allowed us to continue funding our existing partners, while engaging new organizations that strengthen the health and well-being of people and communities through time outside.” 

For a complete list of recipients, see REI Cooperative Action Fund website. 

(Photo credit: Getty Images/FG Trade)