.jpg)
Expedition Fund - Financial Assistance
Applying for a Grant | Conditions of Grants | Support for other Climbing | Expedition Objectives | Endorsements | Letters of Introduction | Equipment
Follow this link to make a donation to the Expedition Fund: Expedition Fund Donation
Follow this link to see a list of past recipients: Expedition Fund History
If you are going on an overseas trip with defined and significant mountaineering objectives the Club may be able to make a grant from the Club's Expedition Fund to help meet your expenses. Assistance is also given for overseas rockclimbing but, because of the smaller financial commitment for such trips, they would be less likely to qualify. Trekking with climbs of minor peaks and informal trips with no defined objectives do not usually qualify for support. Financial assistance is available to Club Members only.
The Expedition Fund is financed directly from donations from Members and not from core subscriptions. When paying their subscription Members can make optional donations to the Fund.
Many factors determine whether you get any money, not the least of which is the state of the Expedition Fund. NZAC expeditions, particularly those organised by Sections, have in the past been supported more substantially. Some preference is given to those on their first trip (ahead of hardened expeditionists) and to expeditions with extraordinary expenses such as peak fees and porters.
Please use our Expedition Fund application form (Word 122kb) when applying for a grant. Once completed, this form can be either emailed to expeditionfund@alpineclub.org.nz or posted to The Convener, Overseas Climbing Committee, New Zealand Alpine Club Inc., PO Box 786, Christchurch Mail Centre 8140.
The Club Committee considers applications in May and November each year. An application form may be sent to you upon request. Please email, or phone the club via the contacts listed below. Applications must be received by the end of March or the end of September to ensure that it is considered in time for the Club Committee meetings in May and November. Applications received outside these times will not be considered. Grants can not be made to expeditions that have already left the country.
These vary but will always include the following:
- Agreement to supply an article with photographs for the next edition of the NZ Alpine Journal
- Agreement to provide a short summary for The Climber with up-to-date information on local conditions and problems
- Agreement to give a lecture to your local Section and, on an expense reimbursement basis, to any other Sections of the Club which may request a talk
- A grant may be tied to a particular expense such as purchase of equipment or payment of a peak fee. Any equipment purchased through a grant or borrowed is the property of the Club and to be returned. Consideration may be given in special cases to a loan with repayment from surplus expedition funds or from Members.
Even if the Club cannot provide funding it may be able to give useful support for your application for funding from government and private organisations. The Mount Everest Foundation in England welcomes applications from New Zealand climbing expeditions and has made grants to a number of these over the last few years.
That's for you to decide but the NZAC may be able to provide contact addresses for climbers (in New Zealand and overseas) who have been there before, or have access to published information. This could include Club Members or other contacts in the countries you are visiting. The Club libraries contain sets of overseas climbing journals which are available for reference.
Some governments and authorities, particularly in Asia e.g. Nepal, require that your credentials are verified. An endorsement on the Club's letterhead can open doors for you. How do you get an endorsement ? Just write to The Convenor, Overseas Climbing Sub-Committee, PO Box 786, Christchurch giving brief details of exactly what you want. An endorsement can usually be given promptly. What you will get is a suitable endorsement - the Club will not guarantee that you'll "perform" or undertake to rescue you from jail for illegal activities.
These are similar to an endorsement, are given on the Club's letterhead and read something like: "We want to introduce you to ............. and .............who are members of the Club /experienced climbers. Give them as much help as you can."
Such letters have been provided routinely in Spanish for climbers and trampers visiting South America. They could be handy when foreign Customs start giving you the once over.
The Club is not in the business of hiring or maintaining great stashes of gear. The Club may also be able to put you in contact with others who have specialized gear or with other New Zealand climbers going to the same region before or after you. You may be able to share gear and thus reduce costs.
Printer-friendly version