Access Fund is a left-of-center environmentalist advocacy group that claims to support “incorporating the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) into our work to protect America’s climbing.” 1 Since its founding in 1991, Access Fund has expanded its scope to include the purchasing and conserving land to ensure free climbing access. 2
Access Fund has been previously sponsored by National Geographic, Riverview, and the Conservation Alliance, as well as tobacco company Winston Salem Foundation. This group has also partnered with automobile maker Jeep/Chrysler LLC, Google, and Clif Bar. 3
Advocacy
Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI)
According to its website, Access Fund claims to support “incorporating the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) into our work to protect America’s climbing.” 1 The website also states that the group works to make itself “a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable place” through increasing staff and board diversity. 4 The group claimed that before 2018, “Access Fund had never had more than one person of color on staff at a time,” but following its JEDI Associates position being opened in late 2018, as of 2022, the number of Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC) staff “increased to roughly 35% of all staff and 40% of VP level and up staff.”4
According to its 2020 Climbing Advocacy Report, following its acquisition of climbing rights in the Texas-based Inks Ranch, Access Fund advocated for more experienced climbers to plan public routes in the new territory though claimed that route planners “did not reflect the diversity of the climbing community in Texas.” 5 Access Fund later announced a program to invite a more diverse group of climbers to be hosted with experienced climbers, who developed the routes together. 5
Access Fund has also signed the Outdoor Industry CEO diversity pledge, which commits to minority representation in leadership hiring and marketing practices. It is also a financial supporter of the PGM One summit and Color the Crag Festival, both of which encourage minority participation in rock climbing. 6
Conservation Corps
In June 2020, Access Fund released an article proposing the creation of a new “Conservation Corps,” which it compared to the “Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)” created during the Great Depression, to create landscaping and maintenance jobs in various wilderness areas. The group further claimed that the new program could create “economic opportunity for all—including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ communities—while promoting equitable access to our public lands.” 7
Moab, Utah Auction Protest
In the spring of 2020, Access Fund was part of advocacy efforts to halt the auctioning and sale of over 85,000 acres of land in Moab, Utah by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The land, which was originally slated to be sold and developed for gas and oil leasing, contained several popular climbing spots. Access Fund organized a protest of nearly 5,000 climbers to secure the halt of the sale. Following this, Access Fund called for Congress to restrict the Bureau’s ability to lease or sale land for resource extraction. 8
Great American Outdoors Act
Access Fund advocated in favor of the “Great American Outdoors Act,” a bipartisan bill signed into law by then-President Donald Trump which allocated over 2.8 billion in national park upkeep and provided permanent funding to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Access Fund had previously criticized the Trump Administration by claiming it had undermined the National Environmental Policy Act by limiting the amount of public review necessary before the issuing of construction and development permits. 9 10
People
Heather Thorne is the executive director of Access Fund as of January 2025. Joining the organization in February 2024, she has previously worked for Google and was previously vice president of the Grameen Foundation. 11
Shelma Jun is the president of the board of directors for Access Fund as of January 2025. Jun is also the founder and managing director for advocacy group Flash Foxy. Prior to this, she worked in several roles with Hester Street Collaborative, including community design manager as well as program and operations associate, as well as a community planner for Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE). 12
References
- Access Fund. “Our JEDI Journey.” Access Fund. Undated. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.accessfund.org/meet-the-access-fund/our-jedi-journey
- Access Fund. “Our History.” Access Fund. Undated. Accessed November 15, 2021. https://www.accessfund.org/meet-the-access-fund/our-history
- Access Fund. “2020 Climbing Advocacy Report.” Access Fund. Undated. Accessed November 15,2021. https://d1w9vyym276tvm.cloudfront.net/assets/2020AdvocacyReport_AccessFund.pdf?mtime=20210506135604&focal=none
- “Our Internal JEDI Work.” Access Fund, Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.accessfund.org/about/internal-jedi-work
- Access Fund. “2020 Climbing Advocacy Report.” Access Fund. Undated. Accessed November 15, 2021. https://d1w9vyym276tvm.cloudfront.net/assets/2020AdvocacyReport_AccessFund.pdf?mtime=20210506135604&focal=none
- “Color the Crag.” Sending in Color. Accessed November 15, 2021. https://sendingincolor.com/index.php/color-the-crag/
- “A Bold Plan: Can Climbers Help Save the Economy?” Access Fund. June 10, 2020. https://www.accessfund.org/latest-news/open-gate-blog/a-bold-plan-can-climbers-help-save-the-economy
- “BREAKING: BLM Cancels Plans to Auction 85,000 Acres Around Moab Amid Pressure From Climbers.” Access Fund. August 11, 2020. https://www.accessfund.org/latest-news/news-and-events/news/breaking-blm-cancels-plans-to-auction-85-000-acres-around-moab-amid-pressure-from-climbers
- “Victory: Outdoor Climbers Help Pass Great American Outdoors Act.” Access Fund. July 21, 2020. https://www.accessfund.org/latest-news/news-and-events/news/victory-climbers-help-pass-great-american-outdoors-act
- Friedman, Lisa. “Trump Weakens Major Conservation Law to Speed Construction Permits.” New York Times. July 15, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/15/climate/trump-environment-nepa.html
- “Access Fund Announces Heather Thorne as New Executive Director.” Access Fund, January 24, 2024. https://www.accessfund.org/latest-news/access-fund-announces-heather-thorne-as-new-executive-director
- “Shelma Jun.” LinkedIn, Accessed January 30, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelmajun