Giving Back
Taking on Social and Environmental Responsibility
We use adventure travel as a force for good. We not only to connect our clients with their climbing and trekking dreams we connect them with philanthropic opportunities in the communities we visit, all while striving to take the most environmentally and socially responsible approaches we can.
We believe that sustainable approaches to travel sustain all of us. Wherever we go, we invest in local training, conservation, and social development programs to help ensure that the net impact of our company is positive. We also give back to communities and organizations on our home turf. Want to do a climb that’s also a fundraiser? That’s right in our wheelhouse, too — let us help you make it happen!



Opportunities for You
Whether it’s planting some trees for an orphanage in Cusco before your Inca Trail trek, bringing a basketball hoop and gathering the supplies in Arusha to build a court for a local school before your Kilimanjaro climb, doing a clothing drive for women porters in Uganda, helping with natural disasters in Nepal, or bringing school supplies and sharing the experience of a book or computer with kids, the opportunities are endless. Or if you have a shared passion with an organization that does work abroad or domestically, you can organize a fundraiser climb or trek to raise money for their programs. Take a look below at some examples of things you can get involved with and give us a call and we’ll get the ball rolling.


Making a Difference
Mountain Madness makes strategic donations to non-profit organizations at home and around the world, focusing on programs with long-lasting impact in the areas of the environment, human rights, and education. Here are just a few of the organizations we support and have been involved with:
Changing Lives Nepal
Co-founded in 2008 by Mountain Madness guide Deana Zabaldo, Changing Lives Nepal is a non-profit that works with farmers to build sustainable organic cash crop programs and also supports a family-style orphanage. Read a blog about our efforts here.
Rescue Freedom
Rescue Freedom International’s mission is to prevent slavery in developing countries and provide victims assistance in reestablishing their lives. In addition to providing auction items at their annual fundraiser, we provide fundraiser climbs.
Mateves Secondary School
Mountain Madness is a staunch supporter of the Mateves Secondary School in Ngorbob, Tanzania, which brings education to the thousands of students in the area. Each year, we help raise money and send supplies to support the schools expanding enrollment. Our guests can participate in various ways here before or after their Kilimanjaro climb.
Microsoft Global Citizenship Team
Thanks to a Global Citizenship team at Microsoft that was established by a Mountain Madness client, our staff and clients have delivered over 60 donated laptops to schools in Nepal, Tanaznia, and Peru. Read a blog about our efforts here.
Classroom in the Clouds
As part of an ongoing mission to improve educational opportunities in Lukla, Nepal, we’ve been involved with fundraisers through Classrooms in the Clouds to help build the Himalayan English Boarding School. This school lessens the current trend of school-age children of all ages fleeing to Kathmandu for a better education, which usually means a loss of their traditions, language, and cultural history.
EmBOLDen Alliances
EmBOLDen Alliances believes every person deserves and has a right to life with health, dignity, and an opportunity for fulfillment. They support organizations, students, and individuals working in Global Health and Humanitarian Assistance, so they can maximize capacity and resources to actualize their communities’ visions.
Himalayan Stove Project
The Himalyan Stove Project improves the health of the people in the trans-Himalayan region by providing free, clean-burning, highly fuel-efficient cook stoves to individuals, families and communities who currently cook with traditional, rudimentary stoves or open fires in their homes, consuming excessive amounts of precious fuel and polluting the indoor air to dangerous levels.
Pack for a Purpose
We are proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and take supplies for area schools or medical clinics in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for the Changing Lives Nepal orphanage, and here to see what is needed for the Mateves Secondary School in Tanzania.
CARE
Our roots with “giving back” go to the early days of the company and work done CARE. Of several fundraiser climbs it began with Scott Fischer and a climb up Kilimanjaro, read blog here. Subsequent to that trip, MM did additional trips in South America.
Team Survivor Northwest
Team Survivor provides women fighting and that have recovered from cancer through outdoor adventures. Activities include hiking, boating, and climbing. Mountain Madness has worked with Team Survivor by providing guided fundraiser climbs.
Empowering Kids
We believe outdoor adventure brings with it the opportunity for kids and young adults to gain confidence, connect with nature, and develop trust and team building skills. Through fundraiser climbs and Mountain Madness being able to take kids out on adventures, we’re able to do this. Here are some of the organizations we work with:
Big City Mountaineers
Big City Mountaineers works with under-served kids across the country providing outdoor adventure not otherwise accessible to them. Mountain Madness is proud to be able to provide our service and guides for fundraiser climbs.
Girl Scouts
The Girl Scouts join us year after year for rock climbing adventures in Leavenworth, WA where they learn the power of trust and team building.
Refugees Northwest
Refugees Northwest works with refugee kids from across the globe. Teaming up with their foster-kid program we’ve had the privilege of taking these teenagers on a variety of adventures.


Mountain Madness Supports
Mountain Madness also has a long history and supports a wide range of other non-profit organizations either through direct involvement by offering our services, providing auction items for fundraisers, fundraiser climbs or treks, or donations. These include the following: