When the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF) was founded a decade ago, its premise was straightforward: the travel industry should directly protect the places it depends on. While celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the organization can point to a record that speaks for itself, with over $800,000 in grants awarded to more than 50 projects across 30 destinations worldwide.
“The travel industry has a responsibility to give back to the places that make our work possible,” said ATCF Executive Director Soraya Shattuck. “Ten years in, we’ve built something truly unique: a conservation fund created by and for the adventure travel industry—turning collective action into real impact on the ground. And we’re just getting started.”
Join ATCF and ATTA at the Summit in Québec in September 2026 to celebrate these achievements – a portion of every ticket sale directly supports ATCF's conservation work. ATCF will also host its annual members breakfast at the Summit, offering a chance for the community to come together, hear directly from conservation leaders, and explore how to deepen their impact.
Learn more about the Adventure Travel World Summit 2026
A Community-Driven Model
The ATCF's strength lies in its collective approach . With a membership of more than 200 destinations and brands, the fund functions as a collective conservation arm for the adventure travel industry. Member organizations can nominate up to two projects per grant cycle, and applications are rigorously vetted by the ATCF team, board members, and technical advisors before a curated ballot is presented to the full membership for a final vote.
The current grant cycle, with over 50 global applications already received, is a testament to the program's growing momentum. Every funded project is rooted in community-driven, tourism-connected conservation, ensuring that dollars flow directly to the places and people who need them most.
“This program has a remarkable ability to direct funding straight into the heart of communities,” said ATCF Board Chair, and Eagle Creek Founder, Steve Barker. “And just as importantly, it helps tell the stories of what conservation looks like on the ground. That visibility creates impact far beyond the grant itself.”
A Founding Partnership
The ATCF's deep ties to the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) have been central to its success from day one. ATTA was a founding member of the fund, and that partnership has only deepened over the years.
"ATCF represents exactly the kind of long-term commitment the adventure travel industry needs to make," said ATTA CEO Shannon Stowell. "Ten years of sustained, community-rooted conservation funding is something we're deeply proud to have helped build — and we're excited to keep growing this work together."
"We are so proud of what ATCF has built," said board member Deirdre Campbell. "This is what collective industry action looks like. It turns shared values into real support for communities and conservation.”
For adventure travel companies and destinations looking to put their conservation values into action, the ATCF's anniversary milestone is both a celebration and an invitation. With its next grant cycle underway and a growing global network, the fund is focused on scaling its impact in the decade ahead.