REI Cooperative Action Fund nears $40M grantmaking milestone with announcement of spring 2026 grantees

SEATTLE — The REI Cooperative Action Fund, a community-driven nonprofit that supports organizations doing the essential work in making the outdoors more accessible and inclusive for everyone, announced the 44 organizations receiving a collective $3.4 million during its spring 2026 grant cycle.

The REI Cooperative Action Fund was founded in 2021 by REI Co-op with the mission of supporting nonprofits dedicated to strengthening the health and well-being of people and communities through time outside. Fueled by REI and donations from the co-op community, this latest investment brings the REI Cooperative Action Fund’s total giving to almost $40 million since its launch — a milestone showcasing the impact of cooperative action.

"This spring grantee cohort reflects a growing movement of organizations working at the community level to remove barriers to time outside,” said Kristen Ragain, executive director of the REI Cooperative Action Fund. “Their leadership is what brings our mission to life every day by helping more people experience a lifelong connection to the outdoors. Together, we are helping shape a future where everyone can experience the health and well-being benefits of life outside.”

Across communities nationwide, these 44 grantees represent the REI Fund’s Creating Space Outside, Centering Health Outside and Connecting People Outside grant initiatives, working to expand access, strengthen connection, and advance the role of nature in health and well-being, including:

• Grand Canyon Trust, AZ (Creating Space Outside), works to protect culturally significant landscapes and the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon through legal advocacy, community organizing, Indigenous-led partnerships, and on-the-ground stewardship.
• Nature and Health Alliance (NHA), Austin, TX (Centering Health Outside), is a nationwide network collaboratively advancing nature-based health solutions at the community and policy levels, and the understanding of the connection between nature and health to ensure equitable nature access for all.
• Black Men Run, Alpharetta, GA (Connecting People Outside), is a national organization with more than 40 chapters, dedicated to advancing health equity, increasing representation in outdoor spaces and empowering communities through running & wellness.

View the full list of all 2026 spring cycle grantees.

The REI Cooperative Action Fund also welcomes Chuck Sams as a new board member. He is also an active REI Co-op board member and previously served as the 19th director of the National Park Service where he oversaw 433 National Park units, with over 20,000 staff and an annual operating budget of $3.5 billion. We’re thrilled to have his three-decade expertise in protecting, preserving and enhancing land, water, air, flora and fauna.

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