Social Responsibility, Outreach & Charitable Work
From the beginning, Concept2 has focused on charitable efforts in the areas where we have the strongest connection: close to home in Vermont and in the sports we know best. As our products and reach have expanded, so too have our efforts. We continue to focus our giving in ways that directly influence our local and athletic communities.
Supporting Vermont
We support local 501c3 organizations that improve the quality of life and strengthen the state where we work and live. Our employee-led Donations Team targets their efforts towards efficient grassroots organizations. We try to balance our giving among organizations that promote social justice, environmental conservation, education, equality, arts, sports, and health. These include:
- Schools and childcare centers, including the annual Concept2 scholarships given to two graduates at each of our local high schools.
- Organizations focusing on land conservation, including Vermont Land Trust, Nature Conservancy VT, Northern Woodlands, Lake Champlain Land Trust, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, and Friends of Green River Reservoir.
- Groups working toward racial equity, including our local Racial Equity Alliance of Lamoille, Clemmons Family Farm and Black Lives Matter of Burlington.
- Organizations focused on gender equity, including Vermont Works for Women, Planned Parenthood, and organizations helping victims of domestic abuse, such as the Clarina Howard Nichols Center.
- Organizations working for social justice, including Outright Vermont, Peace and Justice Center, Migrant Justice, Capstone Community Action, and Habitat for Humanity Lamoille County.
- Efforts to support sustainable agriculture and reduce food insecurity, including The Center for an Agricultural Economy, Salvation Farms, Vermont Foodbank, and Hunger-Free Vermont.
- Organizations working on climate issues, including VT Natural Resources Council, 350VT, Energy Action Network, and Renewable Energy Vermont.
- Organizations that bring the arts to our local Vermont communities, including the Flynn Theatre, Catamount Arts, and River Arts in Morrisville.
- Youth sports organizations and teams.
- Our local volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, libraries and food shelves.
Nationally
As a major supplier in the world of rowing, Concept2 strives to play a significant role in making the sport welcoming to diverse and underserved populations. We support boathouses, teams and organizations through our Pulling Together program, with a goal of making rowing more accessible.
Our partnership with Arshay Cooper’s A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund is our most significant ongoing activity dedicated to breaking barriers within the sport of rowing. This fund aims to increase and maintain access to rowing as well as diversity throughout youth rowing programs across the country.
We also work with the Pocock Foundation’s Erg Ed program, bringing ergs to underserved schools across the US.
