Patagonia
/OVERVIEW: Clothing retailer Patagonia supports environmental conservation, marine and freshwater conservation, journalism and film via its international, corporate, retail and media grantmaking programs.
IP TAKE: Patagonia designates 1% of its total sales each year to its four grantmaking programs. Retail and corporate grants support conservation in the U.S. and Canada, while international grants fund conservation efforts in select countries in South America, Europe and Asia. This funder does not outline specific grantmaking goals, but tends to support grassroots and community organizations with innovative approaches to conservation and environmental justice.
The organization accepts proposals for all four of its grantmaking programs. Due dates vary by program. Patagonia, a collaborative and approachable funder, provides guidelines and examples of funded projects on its website.
PROFILE: The U.S. outdoor clothing retailer Patagonia supports environmental and marine conservation via its 1% for the Planet Program, through which Patagonia donates 1% of its sales to environmental nonprofits. Established in 2002 by the company’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, the program has since expanded to include other conservation-oriented retailers and corporations. In total, the program has generated more than $140 million “in cash and in-kind donations to domestic and international grassroots environmental groups making a difference in their local communities.” The program prioritizes “environmental organizations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change” and runs retail, corporate, international and media grantmaking programs. Retail and wholesale grants support projects that take place in communities where Patagonia operates retail stores, while corporate grants support national projects or projects in areas of the U.S. and Canada that are not near Patagonia stores. Global funding takes place through the international grantmaking program and mainly goes to organizations in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. Patagonia’s media grants mainly support film and journalism projects that “transform audiences into activists.”
In a letter posted to the company’s website in September 2022, Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, his spouse, and two adult children announced they are giving away their ownership in the company, dedicating all profits to organizations and projects that will protect wild land and biodiversity and fight the climate crisis. According to the letter: “100% of the company’s voting stock transfers to the Patagonia Purpose Trust, created to protect the company’s values; and 100% of the nonvoting stock had been given to the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting the environmental crisis and defending nature. The funding will come from Patagonia: Each year, the money we make after reinvesting in the business will be distributed as a dividend to help fight the crisis.”
Grants for Environmental Conservation and Justice
Patagonia supports conservation through its retail and wholesale, corporate and international grantmaking programs and works broadly to support the conservation of land, species, habitats and natural resources. Grassroots conservation efforts appear to be a priority for this funder. In California, where Patagonia is based and maintains its largest number of retail stores, grants have gone to the California Institute of Environmental Studies, the Ojai Raptor Center, Los Padres Forest Watch and CAUSE, an organization that works toward social, economic and environmental justice for the Central Coast area. Other U.S. grantees include the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Ohio Citizen Education Action Fund, the North Carolina Conservation Network and ReLEAF Utah. Global grantees include Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental, Friends of the Earth Scotland and Extinction Rebellion Germany.
Grants for Marine and Freshwater Conservation
Patagonia works broadly towards marine and freshwater conservation by funding organizations in the U.S. and Canada via its retail and wholesale and corporate grantmaking programs, and in other countries via its international program. Patagonia does not name specific goals for its marine and freshwater grantmaking but tends to prioritize grassroots organizations that involve local communities in conservation efforts. U.S. grantees include Marine Mammals of Maine, the Western Watersheds Project, Riverwatch, the Native Fish Society, the Stichting Plastic Whale Foundation and Pacific Rivers, among others. Global grantees include the European Rivers Network, the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland.
Grants for Journalism and Film
Patagonia supports journalism projects related to conservation and climate change via its media grants program. One grantee, Mountain Journal, “is devoted to celebrating and defending the public land heritage of America and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.” Another grantee, Grist, is a nonprofit e-magazine that covers environmental news and related activism.
Film grants also stem from Patagonia’s media grants program, which supports filmmakers and production companies whose work aligns with the company’s environmental priorities. Past grantees include Ceiling Fan Film’s documentary about open-cast coal mining in the U.K. and Germany and Hourglass Films LLC, which “uses film to tell stories about social and environmental injustice and sustainability.”
Important Grant Details:
In a recent year, this funder gave away about $29 million in grants. Patagonia’s grants generally range from $5,000 to $20,000 but have been larger in some cases. This funder prefers to support community-led organizations with hands-on or innovative approaches to conservation and public awareness. In addition to its U.S. grantmaking, Patagonia makes grants to organizations in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K. Additional information about past grantees is available at Patagonia’s Who We Support page.
Patagonia accepts funding proposals for all four of its grantmaking programs, but applicants are limited to one proposal per year per organization. The company has traditionally run two grantmaking cycles per year but consolidated these in 2020, due to the COVID-19 crisis. Prospective grantees should consult both the general guidelines page as well as the page for the specific program to which they are applying. Due dates vary by program. General inquiries may be addressed to Patagonia’s grants team via email.
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