We’re thrilled to share that we’ve submitted an application for a $50,000 annual grant through the Rick Steves Climate Smart Commitment program — an initiative that funds non-profits through a self-imposed “$1 million/year carbon tax” on his company’s tours to mitigate the carbon impact of flights. These grants go to two types of organizations: those advocating for climate-smart US policies in Congress and those promoting climate-smart agriculture and forestry techniques in the developing world. The program focuses on supporting communities affected by climate change and restoring ecosystems.
Our request focuses on creating a Policy Coordinator position to align and amplify advocacy emerging from our two core programs: Cascadia BioRegen and Cascadia BioFi. This role would support policy efforts rooted in the lived experiences and priorities of the communities we work with—ensuring that climate-smart development is shaped not by disconnected agencies or corporations, but by those actively regenerating land, culture, and local economies.
If funded, this position will:
- Coordinate place-based policy advocacy across landscape groups.
- Promote regenerative, climate-smart policy solutions at the local, state, and federal level.
- Build accountability systems to hold extractive industries and polluters responsible.
- Ensure community-driven priorities shape bioregional and national climate discourse.
We’re inspired by the alignment between Rick Steves’ values and our mission—especially the belief that travel, culture, and global responsibility go hand-in-hand with local, systemic change. Thank you to the Climate Smart Commitment team for this opportunity—and for investing in a future where people and planet thrive together.
Learn more about the Climate Smart Commitment: ricksteves.com/climate
