I recently came across an initiative of the American Alpine Club, namely the Alpine Conservation Partnership (ACP)(which aims at the restauration and protection of high mountain eco-systems in for example the Himalaya or the Andes).

Now I was just wondering how the ACP is financed. The american Alpine Club isn't really a big Alpine club compared to some European Associations (like for example the Austrian Alpine club with over 400.000 members or the Swiss with 300.000 member), so I would think their financial ressources are rather small as well (or am I wrong?). That's why I was wondering how they manage to finance some (probably expensive) ecological projects around the globe?
Anybody who has an idea of this?

I was mixed cragging with the AAC president this past Feb, Steve Swenson. He said that they were trying to bring the AAC back from decline.

I think the AAC only does start up funds, then petitions or directs other more substantial institutions toward what they have started.

from the ACP page on AAC

http://www.americanalpineclub.org/p/acp

""The project will build upon the successes of the Everest Alpine Conservation and Restoration Project, Nepal, officially launched in 2004 with start-up funding from the AAC.

Although less that three years old, the Everest program has already established the Khumbu Alpine Conservation Council (KACC), the world's first alpine NGO.

In February, 2006, a $50,000.00 capacity building grant from the United Nations Development Programme/Nepal was awarded to the KACC that will strengthen their ability to manage and sustain the Everest project in perpetuity. This capacity building strategy is key to the long-term success of the Alpine Conservation Partnership Project and will be replicated in all of the project's work sites.""