At Union Glacier in 2023, @AlexHonnold sat for a portrait after returning from Mount Vinson, the highest summit in Antarctica. Most climbers would have marked the climb as a capstone, but he was already thinking of the unclimbed and lesser-known peaks of the Ellsworth Range. That forward pull has defined his life. The shipping container where we worked served as a makeshift studio, its walls blocking the sharp Antarctic wind. In that bare space, Honnold appeared both grounded and intent, carrying the same calm presence that has marked him on cliffs and mountains across the world. Honnold is best known for his free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite, an achievement documented in the Academy Award–winning film Free Solo. The climb, completed without ropes or protection, was hailed as one of the greatest athletic feats of all time. Long before and after that climb, he built a record of bold and elegant ascents: Half Dome, Moonlight Buttress in Zion, Fitz Roy in Patagonia, and many more. His reach has been global, from the sandstone towers of Morocco to the walls of Greenland, from the big granite of Yosemite to the frozen spires of Antarctica. He has climbed routes that push the limits of difficulty, endurance, and imagination, often setting speed records or completing ascents that had seemed impossible. What is less often remarked upon is the steadiness of his demeanor. On camera and off, he shows little of the drama that others project onto his climbs. What emerges instead is discipline and focus, a lifelong commitment to practicing control until it becomes second nature. This is the quality that allowed him to move calmly up a 3,000-foot wall without a rope, and it is the same quality that carried him through the Antarctic cold. Honnold’s influence reaches beyond climbing. Through the @honnoldfound, he has worked to expand access to solar energy in underserved communities, tying his personal success to a wider sense of responsibility. His career has become not just a record of summits, but a demonstration of how singular focus can open doors to broader impact. The photograph made that day captures a moment between extremes. Outside stretched a vast continent of ice and silence. Inside the container sat a man whose accomplishments have redrawn the boundaries of possibility in his field, yet who carried himself with unassuming ease. His hands were folded, his gaze direct, and his mind already fixed on what lay ahead. It is this blend of ordinariness and extraordinary vision that defines Alex Honnold, and it lingers in the image as much as in his climbs.

The @honnoldfound’s latest Impact Report is out, and, as always, I’m pretty psyched to see how much of an effect our work has had around the world this past year. Since 2019, we’ve launched 97 projects serving more than 225,000 people across 275 communities. The impacts are pretty varied, which I think is also one of the cool things about our work, and one advantage of funding a wide range of smaller, decentralized projects. HF is giving away $2.5 million in grants this year thanks to growing support from foundations, corporate funders, and all of you! We hope to double this over the next few years. Our finalist slate of projects we’re working to fund represents at least $5M in new opportunities, so, given enough support, this work could grow in a big way. For all of you following along on HF’s journey, we really appreciate it. If you feel inspired to learn more and get involved, check out HF’s 2024 Impact Report, visit honnoldfoundation.org/donate to support.

Building Community Resilience Amdist Turmoil - mailchi.mp/honnoldfoundation…

Last Chance to Apply! - mailchi.mp/honnoldfoundation…

World-renowned free solo climber @AlexHonnold , famous for his historic ascent of El Capitan, shares how the @honnoldfound is using solar to empower underserved communities. 🌞💡 🎧 Spotify: bit.ly/3Wbr4iT 👀 YouTube: bit.ly/3C1ybU2 #SolarEnergy #CleanEnergy

Supporting the Honnold Foundation means supporting real change in communities around the world. Five years into our grantmaking strategy and 80 projects later, Honnold Foundation Partners are lighting up the world. You can, too. Honnoldfoundation.org/donate

🌿 Sovereign Energy Farm Visit to Tesuque Pueblo Farm Last week, Sovereign Energy had the honor of visiting Tesuque Pueblo Farm, a beautiful example of sustainable, community-centered farming. Learn more 👇🏾

🎬 Highlights from #ClimateWeekNYC: Third Act's Founder @billmckibben spoke with renowned rock climber @AlexHonnold about solar energy before the screening of River of Spirits, a powerful film showing its impact on an Amazonian community, at @MuseumModernArt.

Looking forward to this NYC conversation with the remarkable ⁦@AlexHonnold⁩ et al! classy.org/event/the-honnold…

"It's never really failure unless you just give up." @AlexHonnold shares how climbing has shaped his perspective on failure.

As @AlexHonnold was starting @honnoldfound, he realized that funding small-scale solar projects in underserved communities could advance the energy transition and tackle issues of energy access, self-reliance and economic opportunity. bit.ly/49MZqgr

As he was getting @honnoldfound up and running, @AlexHonnold realized that funding small-scale solar projects in underserved communities could advance the energy transition and tackle issues of energy access, self-reliance and economic opportunity. bit.ly/49MZqgr

Enjoyed this @MariaVirginiaO interview with @AlexHonnold about his energy access work at @honnoldfound youtube.com/watch?v=knDtNbqj…

In 2012, @AlexHonnold made a pledge to direct one-third of his annual income to environmental philanthropy through the @honnoldfound. From the outset, he knew climate change would be a major focus. bit.ly/49MZqgr

Readers respond to op-ed criticizing trust-based #philanthropy, saying it misrepresents the giving approach as lacking accountability. The opposite is the case, they say. Hear from leaders with @TrustBasedPhil, Tides Foundation, and the @honnoldfound. phlnthrp.com/3OsJqb5

Embrace trust-based philanthropy and share the joy of what’s possible in the philanthropic sector! Simply retweet our animated video and/or tag someone new to the approach and invite them to learn more about trust-based philanthropy. bit.ly/46XLoaw