Patagonia – Environmental Grants & Grassroots Funding Programs (Invitation Only)

Grants of $30,000–$40,000 and Strategic Funding for Grassroots Environmental Organizations

Patagonia provides charitable grants to grassroots environmental organizations working to protect land and water, advance climate solutions, transform agriculture, and strengthen communities affected by environmental harm.

Through its commitment to donating 1% of annual sales, Patagonia supports small, frontline, and community-led organizations advancing environmental change.

Its North American grantmaking operates through three primary programs: the Grassroots Collaborative Program, Retail Partnerships Program, and Environmental Catalyst Program.

Applications are invitation-only. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited grant applications, but Patagonia accepts recommendations of nonprofits for potential future consideration.

Application Timeline: Invitation only; annual selection process

Organization: Patagonia, Inc.
Support Type: Corporate environmental grants
Geographic Focus: United States and Canada, with additional international grantmaking
Funding Amount: $30,000–$40,000 over two years for specified programs; other amounts vary

About the Funder

Patagonia is an outdoor apparel and equipment company founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973 and headquartered in Ventura, California.

Environmental protection and activism are central to the company’s mission.

Since 1985, Patagonia has supported grassroots organizations working to defend, protect, and restore the natural world.

In 1996, the company committed to donating 1% of annual sales to environmental causes, regardless of profitability. Patagonia continues that commitment as a founding member of 1% for the Planet.

In 2022, the company’s ownership was transferred to the Patagonia Purpose Trust and Holdfast Collective, establishing a structure intended to direct company profits not reinvested in the business toward environmental protection.

Patagonia’s grantmaking prioritizes small organizations, frontline leadership, community partnerships, and environmental campaigns capable of producing lasting change.

What This Program Supports

Patagonia identifies five environmental priorities.

Healthy Lands

Patagonia supports organizations working to protect important landscapes, preserve biodiversity, and advance durable conservation outcomes.

Priority activities include:

• Opposing extractive industry projects threatening biodiversity hotspots
• Protecting landscapes with significant carbon storage potential
• Advancing permanent land protection
• Promoting terrestrial biodiversity
• Supporting solutions that increase carbon sequestration

The emphasis is on strategic conservation efforts and environmental advocacy rather than routine restoration activities alone.

Healthy Waters

Patagonia funds organizations protecting rivers, watersheds, oceans, and aquatic ecosystems.

Priority activities include:

• Opposing extractive projects threatening critical watersheds
• Protecting biodiversity-rich aquatic ecosystems
• Restoring and maintaining free-flowing rivers
• Advancing ocean and coastal protections
• Protecting aquatic habitats and species

Organizations working on river protection, watershed defense, or marine conservation campaigns may be particularly well aligned.

Climate Solutions

Patagonia supports efforts to address the causes and consequences of climate change.

Priority activities include:

• Opposing new oil and gas infrastructure
• Holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for pollution
• Addressing climate-related environmental harm
• Advancing renewable energy solutions that benefit communities
• Supporting community-led climate initiatives

The company prioritizes approaches that combine environmental outcomes with community benefit.

Agricultural Transformation

Patagonia supports initiatives advancing healthier and more sustainable agricultural systems.

Priority activities include:

• Reducing or eliminating toxic synthetic agricultural chemicals
• Training regenerative agriculture practitioners
• Expanding organic farming
• Increasing adoption of regenerative agricultural practices
• Supporting long-term transformation of agricultural production

Organizations should demonstrate how their work advances systemic agricultural change.

Thriving Communities

Patagonia recognizes that environmental protection depends on strong communities and inclusive leadership.

Priority activities include:

• Expanding meaningful connections to nature for underrepresented communities
• Strengthening leadership in underrepresented communities
• Supporting frontline environmental leadership
• Building community participation in environmental decision-making
• Advancing community-led environmental solutions

Patagonia emphasizes organizations that work directly with people affected by environmental harm.

Patagonia’s Primary Grant Programs

1. Grassroots Collaborative Program

Funding Amount: $30,000 over two years

The Grassroots Collaborative Program supports community-led environmental organizations throughout the United States.

The program awards two-year grants to more than 100 organizations.

Funding decisions are guided by five advisory councils, each focused on one of Patagonia’s environmental priorities:

• Healthy Lands
• Healthy Waters
• Climate Solutions
• Agricultural Transformation
• Thriving Communities

Each council awards approximately 20–30 two-year grants.

The program prioritizes frontline organizations advancing environmental change through community leadership, collaboration, and long-term strategies.

Application Status: Invitation only

Program Information: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/grassroots-collaborative-program/

2. Retail Partnerships Program

Funding Amount: $40,000 over two years

Patagonia’s Retail Partnerships Program supports local environmental organizations working in communities served by Patagonia retail stores in the United States and Canada.

Each partnership includes a two-year grant and ongoing engagement with the local retail team.

Patagonia retail employees participate in reviewing applications and making funding decisions.

Beyond financial support, stores may collaborate with nonprofit partners through:

• Community engagement
• Organizational capacity building
• Local environmental campaigns
• Store resources and connections
• Long-term nonprofit partnerships

The program is intended to establish sustained relationships rather than provide one-time charitable donations.

Application Status: Invitation only

Geographic Focus: Communities served by Patagonia retail stores in the United States and Canada

Program Information: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/retail-partner-program/

3. Environmental Catalyst Program

The Environmental Catalyst Program supports U.S.-based environmental organizations and coalitions advancing Patagonia’s major campaigns and strategic initiatives.

The program emphasizes organizations working collaboratively on environmental priorities where targeted support can contribute to meaningful change.

Application Status: Invitation only

Geographic Focus: United States

Funding Amount: Not publicly specified in the general program overview

Program Information: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/

Eligibility & Preferences

Patagonia seeks organizations that:

• Advance at least one of its five environmental priorities
• Maintain meaningful relationships with communities affected by environmental harm
• Incorporate community perspectives into organizational priorities and advocacy
• Collaborate with other organizations, coalitions, and movements
• Demonstrate strong leadership and a long-term vision
• Invest in frontline leadership
• Can use relatively modest grants effectively
• Operate with budgets small enough to benefit meaningfully from Patagonia’s support

U.S. Nonprofit Requirements

U.S. applicants must be:

• Recognized 501(c)(3) public charities, or
• Organizations working through a comparable fiscal sponsor

Patagonia prioritizes small, grassroots organizations, particularly those operating in under-resourced communities and regions.

Community Leadership & Collaboration

Patagonia looks for organizations that build reciprocal relationships with affected communities and work collaboratively toward environmental change.

Organizations should demonstrate that community members influence their priorities, strategies, and advocacy.

Geographic Eligibility

Patagonia’s grantmaking includes the United States, Canada, and selected international countries.

North America

International Grantmaking

Patagonia also supports organizations based in:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Chile
• Czechia
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Luxembourg
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

International grantmaking has separate program guidelines and eligibility considerations.

International Grants Information: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/international-grant/

Ineligible Requests

Patagonia does not fund organizations that devote 50% or more of their programming to the following activities:

• Bicycle advocacy
• Trail building
• Beach cleanups
• Volunteer service days
• Habitat restoration
• Tourism or eco-adventure activities
• Research or citizen science
• Conservation easements or land acquisition
• Fundraising campaigns
• Endowment campaigns
• K–12 environmental education
• General environmental education not connected to a specific campaign or public action

Important: These restrictions apply when an organization devotes at least half of its programming to the listed activities.

An organization with a smaller component of these activities is not necessarily excluded, provided its overall work aligns with Patagonia’s funding priorities.

Patagonia also excludes organizations that perpetuate systemic discrimination.

Additionally, the company does not fund organizations promoting or endorsing:

• Dam renovations
• Human-assisted fish passage infrastructure
• Hatchery programs

Organizations should carefully review these restrictions before seeking consideration.

Funding Amounts

Patagonia publishes the following award amounts for two of its primary programs.

The Grassroots Collaborative Program supports more than 100 organizations throughout the United States.

The Retail Partnerships Program provides one local environmental nonprofit with a two-year grant and a sustained partnership with the participating Patagonia store.

Award amounts and grant arrangements for other programs may differ.

Timeline & Review

📅 Application Timeline: Invitation only

📅 Invitation Selection: Annual process

📅 Public Application Deadline: None

📅 Grant Period: Two years for Grassroots Collaborative and Retail Partnerships

📅 Reporting Requirements: No progress or final reports required for North American grants

Patagonia’s grants team and advisors determine invitations through an annual selection process.

The company does not issue invitations upon request or outside its established annual grant cycle.

Organizations that receive grants are not required to submit progress or final reports for North American grant programs.

However, recipients must acknowledge receipt of grant payments through Patagonia’s grant management system.

Application / Request Process

Patagonia does not accept unsolicited grant applications for its North American grant programs.

However, the company provides a public form through which individuals can recommend environmental organizations for future consideration.

Step 1: Review Patagonia’s Environmental Priorities

Organizations should determine whether their work aligns with:

• Healthy Lands
• Healthy Waters
• Climate Solutions
• Agricultural Transformation
• Thriving Communities

Step 2: Confirm Organizational Alignment

Potential grantees should demonstrate:

• Community-led environmental work
• Frontline leadership
• Collaboration with other organizations
• A clear environmental strategy
• Strong relationships with affected communities
• Appropriate nonprofit or fiscal sponsor status

Step 3: Recommend an Organization

Patagonia provides an online form to recommend nonprofits that may be appropriate for future grant consideration.

This is a recommendation form, not a grant application.

Submitting a recommendation does not guarantee an invitation, funding, or a response.

Step 4: Await an Invitation

Patagonia’s grants team and advisors identify organizations for potential funding through their annual process.

Selected organizations receive invitations to apply.

Step 5: Submit an Invited Application

Invited organizations follow the instructions supplied by Patagonia.

The company uses the Fluxx grant management platform for application communications and grant administration.

Recommend an Organization: https://forms.office.com/

Apply / Learn More: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/

Grant Program FAQ: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/grant-faq/

Grassroots Collaborative Program: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/grassroots-collaborative-program/

Retail Partnerships Program: https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/retail-partner-program/

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

Patagonia’s environmental grantmaking is particularly well suited for organizations that:

• Are small, grassroots environmental nonprofits
• Lead community-based conservation or environmental advocacy
• Protect important lands, rivers, watersheds, or marine ecosystems
• Advance community-centered climate solutions
• Promote organic or regenerative agriculture
• Work with communities experiencing environmental harm
• Build coalitions and environmental movements
• Demonstrate frontline leadership
• Have a strong long-term environmental strategy
• Seek sustained funding and partnership rather than one-time donations

The program is especially relevant to organizations working on environmental campaigns, policy change, and community-led solutions.

It is generally less suitable for organizations whose primary activities involve environmental education, trail construction, routine habitat restoration, or research without a broader advocacy component.

Although applications are invitation-only, Patagonia’s public recommendation process provides a way to bring qualified grassroots organizations to the company’s attention.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Invitation only
Invitation Cycle: Annual
Public Application Deadline: None
Funding Amount: $30,000–$40,000 over two years for specified programs
Geographic Focus: United States and Canada; selected international countries
Primary Focus Areas: Environmental conservation, climate solutions, regenerative agriculture, environmental justice, community leadership
Eligibility: U.S. 501(c)(3) public charities or comparable fiscal sponsors; separate international requirements
Best Suited For: Small, frontline, community-led environmental organizations pursuing strategic conservation and environmental change
Application Access: Invitation required; public organization recommendation form available