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AAC Live Your Dream Grant?

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20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346

I heard someone complain the other day about the AAC and their Live Your Dream Grant. He was pissed that he felt like his donations basically amounted to funding someone's vacation. What's your thought on the topic? I can see his view point, the grant basically funds climbing trips, although AAC does have a reputation for spending their money fairly wisely.

Jacob Smith · · Seattle, WA · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 230

I'm curious as to what else he would like his donations to fund. Grants are, in my opinion, one of the most legitimate reasons for the aac to exist, and leading climbers don't deserve to go on trips any more than us lowly folk.

Pnelson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 635
20 kN wrote:I heard someone complain the other day about the AAC and their Live Your Dream Grant. He was pissed that he felt like his donations basically amounted to funding someone's vacation. What's your thought on the topic? I can see his view point, the grant basically funds climbing trips, although AAC does have a reputation for spending their money fairly wisely.
Your friend can always just donate to a specific aspect of the AAC that is separate from the Live Your Dream grants. The lodging program, conservation projects, the Copp-Dash award, the AAJ, etc.

I think the concept of the Live Your Dream grant is cool, though it would be nice if recipients did a bit more follow-up writing/reporting to show how they used the grants.
Stagg54 Taggart · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 10
Jacob Smith wrote:I'm curious as to what else he would like his donations to fund. Grants are, in my opinion, one of the most legitimate reasons for the aac to exist, and leading climbers don't deserve to go on trips any more than us lowly folk.
I agree. Did your friend complain about all of the other grants the AAC has?

How is funding some Steve House trip - not just funding his climbing vacation? (Not picking on Steve House, just an example).
bill k · · Fairfax, VA · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 100

I have never received a LYD grant, however I have met a few folks who have. From what I can tell, there seems to be a misconception about what "funding" a climbing trip really means. If you read the fine print of the LYD grant application, you'll see a statement somewhere along the lines of most grants awarded are in the amounts of $200 - $1000. IMO, that's hardly an amount to completely fund a climbing trip. Depending on your plans, that could just cover transportation, or a permit, or food supplies, but doubtful it would cover it all.

My local chapter of the AAC pushes the Live Your Dream Grant pretty hard. They've hosted some events, where local recipients gave a presentation on their trips. A nice touch to see how the grants are being used.

One more thing..expect to receive a 1099 in the mail as well...nothing is really for free, now is it?

sean o · · Northern, NM · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 48

I second what bill k said above about funding. An ambitious, up-and-coming amateur climber I know got something like $700-800 to go to Peru. That probably covered most of the plane ticket, but probably half or less of the total cost of the trip. I'm applying for one this year myself, to do something a step beyond my normal range of climbing activities, but getting it would probably just cut my out-of-pocket cost in half for one section of a longer trip. In return, the AAC gets some exposure and good-will, plus a trip write-up and slideshow if they want them.

TBH, I would prefer that the AAC spend most of its funds building awesome backcountry huts like the ACC does in Canada, but as long as they're helping climbers get out and do ambitious things, I don't see why they should not help some of us regular shmoes.

Jon Frisby · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 270

Pretty awesome IMO! As long as the selection gets done well, I think it's worthwhile. I'm actually applying this year myself to try to do a multi pitch climb in Norway.

Nic304 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2015 · Points: 0

RELATED QUESTION...

Anyone know if one partner winning the grant in one U.S. region affects the winning chances of their partner in another region?

Are certain U.S. regions more competitive than the other?

My partner and I have essentially the same application, but he didn't get the grant and I did.

lukeweiss · · St. Johnsbury, VT · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 30

Has everyone who applied heard from them? I still haven't gotten a response.

Andrew Blease · · Bartlett, NH · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 470

I've received an acceptance email already, but don't have the actual paperwork yet.

Limpingcrab DJ · · Middle of CA · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 1,055

A friend and I both got emails on the 15th that we didn't make the cut

B-dog · · Denver, CO · Joined Dec 2013 · Points: 30

Congrats Andrew.

Another "DENIED" here. :( Maybe next time.

MacM · · Tucson/Preskitt, AZ · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 675

I received a denial, for the second year in a row. However, to maybe supplement the idea that for someone applying in a different region (as your partner) affects whether you will receive the grant.

My friend and I applied for the same trip last year from different regions, he technically got the grant while I was denied. But I still went on the trip because that was my climbing partner. This year, I applied again and got denied. Another friend (from same region and got accepted) applied for a lesser amount for a different trip altogether and put me down as the partner. So again, I'll be going on a trip that was granted to a climbing partner.

If I were on the grant committee with the AAC I would provide funds to individuals that also plan on climbing with someone else that applied as well. Then provide the lesser of the two amounts. This equates to the most amount of satisfied applicants, by reasoning that the funds can be stretched further to more individuals.

Oh, also, if you get the Guidebook to Membership (AAC membership required or attend a AAC sponsored event) that the AAC puts out once a year the AAC grant stories are often put in there. The main issue with getting the stories out there is that the applicants would rather spend more time and money on climbing versus production of pictures/video that everyone is used to nowadays...We just write stories with a few pictures instead.

Cheers,
Mac

Jake wander · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 195

i got denied too. bummer, but still gonna make it to bugaboo. super pumped.

lukeweiss · · St. Johnsbury, VT · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 30

Denied as well.

Joseph DeGaetano · · Fayetteville, WV but curren… · Joined May 2008 · Points: 560

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!! I'm a SE region winner. The AAC is awarding me $400 to help fund my Return to Adventure Climbing Roots and Make Me a Better Crack Climber Trip. Can't wait for this summer's adventures in RMNP, Vedauwoo, and the Winds. Thanks AAC! I might not send Proper Soul this winter but I sure as hell will have some great memories from my Western Adventure.

Joe

sean o · · Northern, NM · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 48

Also denied (Rocky Mountain region). I'll be curious to see what they chose, as I think my project was pretty good according to their criteria. Hopefully I can still get some version of it done on the cheap.

lukeweiss · · St. Johnsbury, VT · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 30

Scratch that. Just got my grant! They found some more money.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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