REI Cooperative Action Fund Celebrates Five Years of Building Connection, Joy and Belonging Outside

Timed with the celebration, the REI Fund announced its fall 2026 grantees, helping bring the health and well-being benefits of the outdoors to all

Nov 6, 2026

On the heels of its fifth anniversary, the REI Cooperative Action Fund, a community-driven nonprofit that provides grants to organizations working to connect everyone to the health and well-being of time outside, announced $5.62 million in funding through 305 grants during its fall 2026 grant cycle. 

The REI Cooperative Action Fund was launched in 2021 with the mission of supporting nonprofits dedicated to creating a more accessible and inclusive outdoors. Fueled by community donations, this latest investment brings the REI Cooperative Action Fund’s total giving to approximately $45 million thanks to the over five million donations since its launch. 

These grantmaking efforts support three key initiatives within the REI Fund: protecting and caring for outdoor places, connecting people to outdoor experiences and advancing a national movement that recognizes nature as essential to health and well-being. Together, these initiatives help everyone experience the boundless benefits of nature.  

“We launched the REI Cooperative Action Fund five years ago with a belief that time outside can strengthen the health and well-being of people and communities, and that everyone deserves the chance to experience its benefits,” said Kristen Ragain, founding executive director of the REI Cooperative Action Fund. “Today, thanks to the generosity of the co-op community, we’ve awarded over $5M in grants to nonprofits carrying this important work forward in communities across the country. We’re grateful to everyone who has helped build and support the REI Fund, and excited for what we can accomplish together in the years ahead.” 

The 2026 fall grant cycle will support local, regional and national grantees across all three grantmaking initiatives: Outdoor Places, Outdoor Experiences and Health and Nature, including:  

  • Conservation Lands Foundation (Durango, CO) | Outdoor Places: Building capacity of local organizations and coalitions to protect America’s treasured public lands and waters. This partnership supports a national network of grassroots organizations working together to care for outdoor spaces in their communities. 
  • LA County Parks Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) | Outdoor Places: Ensuring all Los Angeles County communities have equal access to quality green spaces. This partnership supports the restoration of trails and outdoor spaces impacted by the Eaton Canyon Fire.
  • Rochester Accessible Adventure (Rochester, NY) I Outdoor Experiences: Expanding access to outdoor recreation for people with disabilities. This partnership supports accessible outdoor education, inclusive recreation partnerships, and efforts to embed accessibility into parks, public lands, and community planning. 
  • HBCUs Outside (Elizabeth City, NC) | Outdoor Experiences: Connecting students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to outdoor experiences through student-led outdoor clubs. This partnership supports leadership development, campus outings, and resources that help strengthen outdoor club coalitions across HBCU campuses. 
  • Center for Health & Nature (College Station, TX) | Health & Nature: Convening leaders across health, conservation, recreation, and business to strengthen the connection between health and nature. This partnership supports the development of shared messaging, tools, and resources that organizations across the country can use to build awareness and strengthen public and policymaker support for nature-based health solutions.

You can explore the REI Cooperative Action Fund’s 2025 Impact Report to learn more about the impact of our grantees across the country. To see a full list of all fall cycle 2026 grantees, visit: reifund.org/newestgrantees/2026-fall. 

As a 501(c)(3) organization, the REI Cooperative Action Fund is led by its own board of directors with the support of a dedicated staff. REI Co-op continues to provide ongoing support for the REI Fund’s operations and grantmaking. Anyone can participate in the REI Fund’s mission from direct donations to recommending a grantee. For a full list of grantees, visit REIFund.org/grantees.  

About the REI Cooperative Action Fund

The REI Cooperative Action Fund is a 501(c)(3) public charity launched in 2021 by REI Co-op to support nonprofits doing the essential work in making the outdoors more accessible and inclusive for everyone. The REI Fund has inspired millions of REI members, thousands of REI employees and community members to support organizations that are improving the health and well-being of all people through time outside. With ongoing support from REI Co-op, 100% of donations from the general public to the REI Fund go to our grantees.