Behind every climbing area is a community of advocates working to keep it open and protected. From building relationships with landowners to maintaining trails and bolts to responding to access threats, local climbing organizations (LCOs) are often the first line of defense for the places we love.

Access Fund works alongside LCOs across the country, connecting their local knowledge and relationships with national advocacy, conservation expertise, funding, and resources. Together, we're building a stronger future for climbing.

Attendees at the 2026 Climbing Advocacy Conference © Karen Lane

How Access Fund Supports LCOs

Climber at Lower Ghost Town, acquired by Carolina Climbers Coalition with support of Access Fund’s Climbing Conservation Loan Program © Kyle Hackley

Imagine a local climbing organization facing a sudden crag closure, negotiating with a private landowner to open up access, or working to address the impacts of growing visitation at a popular crag. These can be complex challenges, especially for organizations powered primarily by volunteers. That's where the strength of our local-national partnership comes in.

Through Access Fund's Affiliate program, LCOs have priority access to experts who can help navigate landowner negotiations, risk management, conservation easements and acquisitions, climbing management plans, state-level policy, stewardship projects, and organizational development.

Access Fund provides opportunities for training, networking, and collaboration through our Climbing Advocacy Resource Center, regional LCO calls, and annual Climbing Advocacy Conference.

We also help amplify local voices through national communications, regional outreach, and marketing support, connecting LCOs with more climbers, volunteers, and potential supporters.

Any strong local organization also needs funding to carry out their work. Access Fund invests directly in local conservation by reserving 75% of Climbing Conservation Grant Program funding and 100% of Anchor Replacement Fund funding for affiliated LCOs, both of which were increased by over 40% in 2026. Affiliates receive priority access to our one million dollar Climbing Conservation Loan Program, along with preferred pricing for professional Conservation Team projects and training.

Joint Membership is another major piece of Access Fund's investment into local climbing—by handling Joint Membership administration, fulfillment, and reporting, we help local organizations spend more of their time doing what they do best: boots on the ground climbing advocacy.

That partnership is the foundation of Access Fund's Joint Membership program. And beginning November 2, we're making it even stronger.

What Is Joint Membership?

Joint Membership is built on a simple idea: Climbers shouldn't have to choose between protecting their home crag and supporting climbing access nationwide. Through a single membership, climbers can support both Access Fund and their local climbing organization.

Your joint membership helps fund the local advocates protecting the places you climb most often, while also supporting Access Fund's nationwide work to conserve climbing landscapes, defend access and public lands, and advance climbing-friendly policies.

It's one membership supporting two organizations working toward the same goal: keeping climbing areas open and protected.

Volunteers at Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition Adopt a Crag © Billy Simek

Access Fund’s Investment in Local Climbing Organizations

We've heard feedback from Joint Members and LCO partners about the importance of directing more funding into local climbing communities. And we're taking action.

Beginning November 2, 50% of net Joint Membership contributions will go directly to participating LCOs, replacing our previous fixed payment structure of $25 per qualifying one-time gift or $3 per monthly gift.

More funding for LCOs means more opportunities to invest in the work that matters most to their communities, whether that's protecting threatened access, improving climbing infrastructure, or building the organizational capacity to take on bigger challenges.

More Benefits for Joint Members

Climbers at the 2026 International Climber’s Festival in Lander, Wyoming © Daniel Bolding

We're also making Joint Membership more accessible to climbers. Beginning November 2, Joint Membership is now available for any member level starting at $5, instead of the previous $50 minimum, and Joint Members contributing $75 or more annually will qualify for an Access Fund membership t-shirt, lowering the former $100 threshold.

Joint Members will continue to receive Access Fund membership benefits, including partner discounts, while knowing their contributions support climbing access at both the local and national levels.

Whether you give once a year or make recurring monthly contributions, your membership helps build a stronger climbing community. And for members who are able to give at the $100 level or above, that additional support translates into more resources for local climbing advocacy.

Our goal is simple: Give local climbing organizations the funding, expertise, and support they need to thrive. We couldn’t do this without our members. Supporters like you make this impact and funding possible.

Joint Membership FAQs

• How much of my Joint Membership goes to my LCO?

  Under the updated program, 50% of your net donation supports your selected LCO. After administrative and fulfillment expenses, this equals approximately 40% of your gross gift. For individual gifts above $1,000, the LCO allocation is capped at $400 per gift.

• What's changing for monthly Joint Members?

  Previously, LCOs received a fixed $3 per monthly membership gift. Under the new program, monthly gifts follow the same percentage-based revenue-sharing structure as one-time gifts, directing 50% of net contributions to participating LCOs.

• What benefits do Joint Members receive?

  Joint Members receive eligible Access Fund membership benefits, including partner discounts and an Access Fund membership t-shirt at the new $75 annual giving threshold.

• How can my local climbing organization participate?

  Joint Membership is available to participating Access Fund-affiliated LCOs. To learn more about affiliation and the resources available to local climbing organizations, contact localsupport@accessfund.org.

• I have an existing recurring membership, how can I update my donation to add a joint membership or increase my giving?

  You can manage your recurring giving through our Donor Portal.