Climbers of Color

What Climbers of Color does

Climbers of Color is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 that delivers climbing, mountaineering, alpine, ice, and backcountry winter education courses to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in the Pacific Northwest. Its mission is to increase access to outdoor recreation and create leaders of color in the climbing industry. The organization operates with approximately 10 core staff and instructors — all 100% BIPOC — supplemented by seasonal field instructors paid above regional average ($250/day for rock, $350/day for mountaineering), with instructors trained internally to meet or exceed AMGA terrain guide guidelines.

The core product portfolio is organized into three verticals: Rock Climbing Courses (anchors, rappelling, sport leading, trad, multipitch, Smith Rock programs), Mountaineering/Alpine/Ice Courses (glacier rescue, Mountain Leadership I and II, Alpine Leadership I, Ice Leadership I, expedition training on PNW volcanoes), and Winter/Early Spring Programs (AIARE Level 1 and 2, AIARE Rescue, and the Backcountry Leaders Initiative free mentorship program). Pricing is sliding-scale ($50-$1,600) with 50% and 100% scholarships available annually; entry-level programs are auto-scholarshiped to $50-$100 in 2025 due to REI and Arcteryx grants. Custom Courses and Climbs for individuals or small groups at $320-$655 per person/day are the only offering open to non-BIPOC allies. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations run on Wix-hosted website enrollment, Google Forms applications, and partnership with Miyar Adventures for course logistics.

The business model blends three revenue streams: sliding-scale course tuition (most courses POC-only), grants from REI, Arcteryx, and the REI Cooperative Action Fund, and premium custom courses. Tax-deductible donations are processed through The Mountaineers, which also serves as fiscal sponsor handling accounting. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via website application, supported by organic social (Instagram, Facebook group) and earned media. The organization maintains partnerships with The Mountaineers (fiscal), Miyar Adventures (operations), Queer Mountaineers (cross-community programming), and several minor partners (Alpine International, Momentum Climbing, Washington Climbers, Remote Medical Training).

Name

Climbers of Color

Legal name

Climbers of Color

Website

https://climbersofcolor.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Climbers of Color is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry education courses and mentorship to BIPOC participants to create leaders of color in the Pacific Northwest outdoor industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Education

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Rock Climbing, Mountaineering & Via Ferrata Guides (THAAADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climbing & Via Ferrata Guiding / Instruction (THAAALAH), Mountain Safety & Patrol Services (Avalanche Training, Rescue, Medical) (THAAAJAI), Climbing & Mountaineering Gyms/Guides (Indoor, Outdoor, Via Ferrata) (THAAAKAG)

Keywords

• Outdoor education
• Climbing instruction
• Mountaineering courses
• Backcountry mentorship
• Diversity programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Course Tuition: Revenue generated from course fees for mountaineering, rock climbing, and winter programs. Fees are charged on a sliding scale and range from $50 to $1,600 depending on course duration and complexity. Scholarships (50% and 100%) are available for most programs.
2. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations are accepted via The Mountaineers' website (Climbers of Color is a 501(c)(3) non-profit). Grants from corporate sponsors such as REI and Arcteryx subsidize scholarships and fund specific programs including the Backcountry Leaders Initiative and entry-level programs auto-scholarshiped at $50-100.
3. Custom Courses and Climbs: Private custom courses for individuals or small groups at premium per-day rates ranging from $320-$655 per person depending on group size and overnight requirements. These are open to both BIPOC and non-BIPOC allies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Climbers of Color is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers educational climbing, mountaineering, alpine, ice, and backcountry skiing/splitboard courses across the Pacific Northwest. Programs span beginner to leadership-level curricula and are paired with mentorship aimed at creating BIPOC leaders in the climbing industry. The organization also runs custom courses and a season-long Backcountry Leaders Initiative mentorship program.

Product overview

Climbers of Color is a BIPOC-led nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of outdoor education programs centered on climbing and mountaineering in the Pacific Northwest. The organization operates three main course categories: Rock Climbing Courses (covering beginner to advanced skills including anchors, rappelling, sport leading, trad climbing, and multipitch), Mountaineering, Alpine & Ice Courses (including glacier rescue, mountain leadership at various levels, alpine leadership, and ice leadership), and Winter/Early Spring Programs (including AIARE avalanche courses and the Backcountry Leaders Initiative mentorship). Additional offerings include scholarships for financial support, custom courses for personalized objectives, and collaborative programs with partner organizations like Queer Mountaineers. All programs are led by BIPOC instructors and emphasize creating leaders of color in the climbing industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rock Climbing Courses Comprehensive rock climbing curriculum covering beginner to advanced skills including anchors, rappelling, outdoor toprope, sport leading, traditional climbing, multipitch climbing, and Smith Rock-specific programs; delivered to BIPOC participants in the Pacific Northwest.
• Mountaineering, Alpine & Ice Courses Advanced mountaineering programs including glacier rescue, mountain leadership (5-day and 2-day formats), alpine leadership, ice leadership, and custom expeditions on PNW volcanoes; designed for BIPOC participants seeking leadership-level instruction.
• Winter/Early Spring Programs Backcountry ski and split-board programs including AIARE Level 1, Level 2, AIARE Rescue, and seasonal cohort activities for BIPOC participants in the Pacific Northwest.
• Backcountry Leaders Initiative Season-long free mentorship program for intermediate BIPOC backcountry skiers and split-boarders, including volcano expeditions and peer-led cohort activities aimed at producing AIARE-certified ski/splitboarders and couloir hunters.
• Custom Courses & Climbs Personalized courses tailored to individual schedules and goals, including Mountain Leadership, Alpine Leadership, Ice Leadership, and Glacier Skills, priced at $320-$655 per person per day depending on group size and overnight requirements; available to BIPOC and non-BIPOC allies.
• Queer Mountaineers x Climbers of Color Collaboration

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% and 100% scholarships offered annually for courses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The MountaineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mountaineers serves as Climbers of Color's 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor and handles accounting and donation processing. Climbers of Color receives tax-deductible donation infrastructure through this partnership. The organizations have an ongoing collaborative relationship supporting leaders of color in the Pacific Northwest outdoor community.
• Miyar AdventurescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMiyar Adventures is the operational partner that runs Climbers of Color's programs. They handle logistics, provide additional guiding infrastructure, and their cancellation policies apply to all courses. Climbers of Color provides instructors and curriculum.
• Queer MountaineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueer Mountaineers is a Seattle-based organization sharing similar missions of community, access, and leadership in the outdoors. Climbers of Color provides field courses with professional instructors in shared affinity spaces for both BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. Courses include Top Rope, Mountaineering Leadership, Glacier Rescue, Ice Leadership, and more. Many courses are subsidized to lower barriers of entry.
• Alpine International (AAI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlpine International (AAI) is listed as a partner/sponsor on the organization's About page, suggesting collaboration on instructional programming, certifications, or promotional support.
• Momentum ClimbingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMomentum Climbing (Seattle/SODO location) is listed as a partner/sponsor. The partnership may involve promotional support, gear access, or collaborative programming for the climbing community.
• Washington ClimbersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington Climbers is listed as a partner organization, likely supporting advocacy, access, or community programming within the Washington climbing community.
• Remote Medical TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRemote Medical Training is listed as a partner, likely providing wilderness first aid and medical training support or certification pathways for Climbers of Color instructors and participants.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• GirlTrek: National nonprofit mobilizing Black women and girls through outdoor walking and community health. Comparable as a BIPOC-focused outdoor recreation nonprofit, but operates in health/walking rather than technical climbing instruction.

Broad incumbents

• Outdoor Afro: National nonprofit connecting Black communities to outdoor recreation and nature. Comparable mission in diversifying outdoor participation and developing BIPOC outdoor leaders, but operates at broader national scale across hiking, paddling, and camping rather than technical climbing.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Large U.S. outdoor education nonprofit offering technical wilderness courses including mountaineering, climbing, and backcountry skiing. Comparable in course catalog and instructional model, but operates at national/international scale and is not BIPOC-focused.

Direct peers

• Miyar Adventures: Operational partner running Climbers of Color's courses. Miyar Adventures is a Pacific Northwest guiding outfitter providing mountaineering, alpine, and glacier instruction, directly comparable as a course operator in the same PNW terrain.
• Queer Mountaineers: Seattle-based affinity-focused outdoor organization running shared courses with Climbers of Color. Comparable as a community-driven outdoor education nonprofit serving LGBTQIA+ participants in PNW terrain.
• American Alpine Institute (AAI): AMGA-accredited mountain guiding school offering rock, alpine, ice, and ski courses. Listed as a partner and directly comparable as a provider of technical mountaineering and climbing instruction at varying skill levels.
• The Mountaineers: Fiscal sponsor and core partner based in Seattle offering PNW mountaineering, climbing, and backcountry courses. Directly comparable as a regional outdoor education nonprofit serving the same geography and skill domains.

Emerging players

• Brown Girls Climb: BIPOC-focused climbing community and advocacy organization offering instruction, meetups, and ambassador programs. Comparable as a peer addressing representation gaps in the climbing industry, though it emphasizes indoor gym access over alpine instruction.
• Flash Foxy: Women's climbing community and event organizer running women's-specific festivals and clinics. Comparable as a community-driven DEI-focused climbing organization addressing underrepresentation, but focused on women rather than BIPOC specifically.
• Melanin Base Camp: BIPOC outdoor media platform and community covering climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry travel. Comparable as a BIPOC-focused outdoor organization in the PNW and national climbing space, though primarily media-driven rather than instructional.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ClimbersofColor
• Instagraminstagram.com/climbersofcolor
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climbersofccolor

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Climbers of Color