At Ned, our mission is to help people feel better and live better through the healing power of the natural world. That’s why Ned became a proud 1% For the Planet member the very same week the company was incorporated. Since that time, we have contributed 1% of all revenue (more than $100K) towards organizations and charities helping to make outdoor spaces and experiences more accessible to the communities that need them most. Together we are driving positive change for people, the planet and future generations. Learn more about some of the organizations we support.
COBS – COLORADO OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL
Outward Bound is a non-profit devoted to helping kids across America connect with nature and become compassionate leaders in their communities. Outward Bound’s mission is to change lives through challenge and discovery. By sponsoring adventures and nature expeditions for childrens and teens, we hope to foster a sense of awe and appreciation for our nation’s national parks and spaces so the next generation of leaders and voters takes action to protect them.
Ned: How has Ned supported your organization?
COBS: Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) is incredibly grateful for Ned’s meaningful partnership and generous support over the past four years. We are fortunate to have Ned’s co-founder, Ret Taylor, serving on our Board of Advocates and building awareness of our mission in his community. Not only has Ned committed to donating back a percentage of profits to our organization, but this year Ned also stepped up as a Presenting Sponsor of our 60th Anniversary Celebration. As part of that partnership, COBS is creating a scholarship fund in honor of Ret’s late mother to ensure that youth can receive the same opportunities to get on course, find direction, and gain lifelong skills.
Ned: What did Ned’s support go toward?
COBS: COBS is on a mission to change lives through challenge and discovery. Our experiential outdoor education courses are designed to cultivate more compassionate and resilient leaders. Ned’s support over the years has enabled COBS to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, rebuild our staff and programming, and make meaningful progress on our journey toward providing more equitable access to our transformative outdoor experiences. COBS strongly believes that all youth should be able to experience the restorative power of nature and is committed to removing financial and societal barriers to our courses through our scholarship program. Thanks to Ned’s investments in our organization this year, in 2023 Ned will be funding two scholarship students to participate in 8-day courses out of our Rocky Mountain Program in Leadville, Colorado.
Ned: What does Ned’s support mean to you?
COBS: Ned’s partnership means the world to COBS. We could not have navigated the past two challenging years – much less our 60-year history – without the support of the COBS crew. We feel deeply aligned with Ned’s values and passion for the natural world and are overwhelmed by gratitude for the company trusting us to connect more students with the outdoors. Thank you to Ret, the entire Ned team, and their amazing community for believing in our mission.
VOAG – VETERAN’S OUTDOOR ADVOCACY GROUP
Veteran’s Outdoor Advocacy Group is a veteran-run organization committed to helping veterans struggling with combat-related injuries or mental health issues through the healing power of nature and outdoor therapy.
Ned: How has Ned supported your organization?
VOAG: Ned has been a long standing supporter of VOAG. We have a shared mission to improve the quality of life for others. Ned has helped our organization with several donations. Most recently, they led a matching campaign that raised over $17,000. Additionally, Ned has donated products that have helped raise donations and awareness to our mission of using the power of the outdoors to help Veterans struggling with mental health.
Ned: What did Ned’s support go toward?
VOAG: Ned's support has helped us on multiple fronts. Their donations have gone directly to taking Veterans on outdoor trips as part of our 31 for 31 initiative. Through this initiative, we took over 50 Veterans out, at no cost to them, in honor of the American service members who perished during the crash of Extortion 17. Ned has also been critical in allowing our team to travel to DC to advocate for legislative changes directed at making the outdoors more accessible to the Veteran community.
Ned: What does Ned’s support mean to you?
VOAG: Ned has been one of our longest and biggest supporters. Beyond the direct donations, having a shared mission and purpose has allowed us to work with the team at Ned to further the reach of our organization. We truly see Ned as a partner in improving mental health for Veterans and are so grateful to stand beside them in this space.
Learn more about Ned’s partnership with VOAG. >
WILD BEAR NATURE CENTER
Wild Bear Nature Center in Nederland, CO, provides thousands of people with free access to hands-on nature education. Their year-round programs, from Snow School and Forest Fridays to High Altitude Wildflower Walks and Nature art Play, engage people of all ages in a lifelong love of nature.
Ned: How has Ned supported your organization?
Wild Bear: Ned's support has helped us to achieve $5.5M raised toward our $9M goal to build the new Nature Center on our 5 acres at the gateway to 3,000 acres of preserved land.
Ned: What did Ned’s support go toward?
Wild Bear: It is an honor to have Ned's support for the capital campaign for the new Wild Bear Nature Center. We were honored to have had the Native Tribal Nations come to our land and bless it and celebrate the land before breaking ground in July. We are proud to partner with Ned, to build the highest elevation net zero nature center open 360 days of the year, where thousands of people will be able to visit, learn about the mountain ecosystem, and be inspired to preserve and protect their own backyard.
Ned: What does Ned’s support mean to you?
Wild Bear: Since 1995, Wild Bear Nature Center has been providing opportunities for people to connect to nature. In 2000, we were key partners in the preservation of 260 acres of Mud Lake Open Space and removed over 30 tons of trash from that land. Since then, Wild Bear has worked to create the ecologically sound nature center facility on our 5 acres. Now through donors, like Ned, we have been able to complete our construction documents and begin building this important community resource, slated to be open in the fall of 2024. We are so grateful for Ned's support for the new nature center, a legacy for the state of Colorado!
BCWF – BOULDER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
https://www.commfound.org/grants/get-grant/Boulder-County-Wildfire-Fund
On December 31, 2021, the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history, the Marshall fire, damaged and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in Boulder County, leaving thousands displaced. The Boulder Community Foundation worked tirelessly to address the immediate, short- and long-term needs of the community.
Ned: How has Ned supported your organization?
BCWF: On December 30th, 2021 the most destructive wildfire in the state's history, the Marshall fire, damaged or destroyed over 1,000 homes in Boulder County. The global outpouring of generous support for the Boulder County Wildfire Fund has been overwhelming and has raised over $40.6 million from over 77,000 donors. We are fortunate to call Ned one of those generous supporters.
Ned: What did Ned’s support go toward?
BCWF: Ned support is a part of the total raised for the Wildfire Fund. It provides access to resources for over the nearly 1,100 homes (households) destroyed in Boulder County. Anyone else, whether they lost a home, suffered smoke or wind damage, or have some other ongoing need related to the Marshall Fire or straight-line wind events of December 30, 2021 can also access assistance. See details of how the funds are being allocated here.
Ned: What does Ned’s support mean to you?
BCWF: Ned is part of this overwhelming community of generosity supporting our community and neighbors. Our CEO, Tatiana Hernandez, recently attended a gathering in California for communities that have been involved in similar devastation from wildfires. We learned through this and other networks that our private/public partnerships and response is pioneering. In the weeks after the fire for example, we distributed $8.165 million in immediate needs and had representatives on-site at the disaster center to write checks directly to survivors for these immediate needs. We have been told this is unheard of for a community response in disaster relief.
NED x GREENSPARK
Greenspark helps earth positive brands maximize their environmental impact. As one of Greenspark’s founding partners, Ned has had a positive impact on people and the planet since the very beginning. See what we’ve achieved together! >
