Intrepid Travel’s nonprofit arm, The Intrepid Foundation, today announced 2025 as its largest year of global giving, as detailed in the company’s 2025 Impact Report, marking a significant milestone with the recent establishment of The Intrepid Foundation U.S. as a registered 501(c)(3).
In 2025, the Foundation distributed US$2.4 million to 58 grassroots partner organizations across 45 countries, supporting initiatives focused on inequality, environmental protection, wildlife conservation, and strengthening local communities. Intrepid Travel absorbs all administration costs so that 100% of donations can go directly to community causes and each of its 900+ itineraries is aligned to a local or global partner.
For travel companies facing growing pressure from travelers to prove tourism delivers real benefits to destinations, the report also highlights a model for reinvesting travel revenue directly into the communities that make those experiences possible.
“The Intrepid Foundation operates on the belief that no one understands a community’s challenges better than the people working in local organizations every day,” said Biheng Zhang, General Manager of The Intrepid Foundation.
“The impact we achieved in 2025 was made possible by these individuals leading change in their communities, alongside the generosity of our global travel community.”
Expansion in the United States
The report also highlights increased activity across North America, reflecting growing engagement from U.S. travelers and partners.
-
National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), supporting protection of America’s national parks and cultural landscapes
- Trust for The National Mall, preserving one of Washington D.C.’s most significant historic public spaces
These partnerships connect directly with destinations frequently visited by North American travelers and reinforce the role tourism can play in supporting conservation and public lands.
The report also marks a major milestone in North America with the launch of The Intrepid Foundation U.S. as a registered 501(c)(3). It gives advisors a clearer story to tell, better tools to tell it, and real results they can stand behind. Advisors can now offer travelers tax-deductible ways to support the destinations they visit, while also creating opportunities for advisors and industry leaders to fundraise, collaborate with nonprofit partners and deepen engagement with purpose-driven clients.
“This is about putting purpose at the center of how travel grows. When purpose is built into the business model, everyone benefits. Advisors, travelers, communities and the industry as a whole,” said Leigh Barnes, President of the Americas at Intrepid Travel and Chair of the Board for The Intrepid Foundation U.S.
“Today’s travelers want more than a great itinerary, they want their trips to mean something,” Barnes continued. “As advisors look for ways to stand out in a crowded market, purpose and impact are becoming part of the sales conversation. This gives them a trusted way to connect great travel with positive change.”
Looking Ahead
The 2025 results were made possible by 16,293 donors, with nearly half being Intrepid travelers. Since its establishment in 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has now disbursed more than USD $14 million globally.
In 2026, the Foundation aims to raise USD $3 million, moving closer to its long-term ambition of becoming a $10 million foundation by 2030.
The Intrepid Foundation operates through a locally led funding model, where regional Intrepid teams identify grassroots organizations working in destinations the company operates in. Rather than concentrating support among a small number of large NGOs, funding is distributed across a broad network of community partners connected to destinations visited on Intrepid trips.
To read The Intrepid Foundation Impact Report, visit here
If you’re interested in being a TIF corporate partner and becoming a leading industry voice in purpose-led growth, please reach out to [email protected]