Live Your Dream Grant

Live Your Dream Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Alpine Club
Amount: US $500 - US $1,000
Last Updated: March 20, 2026

Summary

The Live Your Dream Grant, supported by The North Face, empowers climbers of all levels to pursue personal climbing goals and share their experiences with their communities. Open to all ages and disciplines, this grant encourages adventurers to embrace exploration in their local environments. Awards include the Hans Saari Memorial Fund for ski/snowboard mountaineering and the Dillon Blanksma Best Day of the Year Award, which emphasizes education, community engagement, and safety in climbing.

Overview

This is your climbing club | This is your climbing grant. The Live Your Dream grant, powered by The North Face, was founded on the belief that our definitions of exploration and our goals are unique to each of us. Meaningful exploration isn’t limited to the highest peaks in the farthest reaches of the world. Your local gym, crag, and backyard mountains are equally important resources to help stoke inspiration for adventure. When we seek new experiences, overcome obstacles, and connect with each other, through exploration, we change ourselves. This grant supports the every-day adventurers who harness this mindset for their own exploration. We are looking for individuals who have a personally ambitious climbing goal, a desire to take their abilities to the next level, and want to share the power of exploration with their communities. Open to AAC Members of all ages, all experience levels, and all climbing disciplines—from bouldering to big walls, alpinism to ski mountaineering, peak bagging to bolt clipping, and everything in between—we encourage you to dream big, let curiosity lead you, and apply. Awards Objectives involving Ski/Snowboard mountaineering components are funded in part through the Hans Saari Memorial Fund. The fund, dedicated to the memory of extreme skier Hans Saari, supports ski and snowboard mountaineering adventures that highlight the opportunity to accept physical and mental challenges, visit new places and people, and explore other cultures.The Live Your Dream grants are nationally funded through a partnership with The North Face along with generous donations from local individuals, organizations, and fundraising efforts by local AAC Sections & Chapters.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Here is what the SelectionCommittee Members are looking for:There is no cost to apply, but applicants must be active AAC members. The project must accurately demonstrate a progression in skills and experience and outline a specific obtainable yet personally difficult goal. The objective should be at the edge of your physical and technical ability level. However, your individual experience level should be appropriate for the proposed objective.Live Your Dream grants are for all ages, all ability levels and all climbing disciplines—ski mountaineering, peak bagging, mountain running, or any other challenging endeavor included.Travel to (or through) any park/land must be allowed or authorized by the land manager, and not be in conflict with the Native Americans who previously and/or currently lived on that land.Live Your Dream grants are awarded to individuals only. If you are attempting a project as part of a team, your teammates may apply separately. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.