Our Pledge To Do Better

3/4/2022

When Black Diamond pledged to spend $250,000 to help increase accessibility in the outdoors for diverse communities and their members, we committed ourselves to finding real solutions. We knew these funds were more than a one-time donation; this pledge had to be the kindling to ignite real change in our community, our industry, and in the outdoors.

To ensure we had direction and outcomes for our initiatives, we built objectives around accomplishing four things:

1、Creating a business environment of internal awareness and understanding

2、Building of industry leaders

3、Support and community integration with grassroot affiliate groups

4、Driving athlete and ambassador team diversification

Now it’s time to share the progress we’ve made since our initial pledge in May 2020. Below, under each of our four objectives, you can find the actionable steps we’ve made in the last two years. Thank you for trusting us as we continue to develop ideas and plans to create lasting change within our sphere of influence.

CREATION OF INTERNAL AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING

Our Commitment: 2020

We will launch a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to help us better educate employees on issues of racial inequality in the workplace and implement change to business practices, systems and infrastructure that potentially lead to discriminatory results.

Progression Update: 2022

1、To date, we have hosted multiple Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion learning sessions for Black

Diamond employees.

2、We are currently developing actions in response to an in-house audit to identify areas of

continuous improvement towards DEI integration.

3、The DEI Committee identified hiring forums that serve as a conduit to a more diverse

applicant base which are now integrated into our job posting and hiring practice.

4、Our internship program is going live in the summer of 2022 (described in more detail under

support and community integration with grassroot affiliate groups”).

5、The DEI Committee now hosts quarterly employee clinics to help increase accessibility to the

activities our products are built for.

BUILDING INDUSTRY LEADERS

Our Commitment: 2020

We will support scholarship programs as well as furthering education opportunities and initiatives that eliminate barriers to participation in the outdoors. These initiatives will include the support of existing—and creation of new—events that promote diversity in the outdoor space.

Progression Update: 2022

1、Conducted two BIPOC-focused Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) courses in 2021 for 20 people (10

percourse).

2、Held a virtual mentorship gathering with the purpose of creating community and forging

relationships for those in the BIPOC community.

3、Two SPI certification courses scheduled in 2022, for those who completed the non-certification

courses last year), one new SPI course (6 participants), and three single day mentorship

events.

SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION

1、In collaboration with HBCUs Outside, we started the Bouldering Experience Program. This

program gives HBCU ambassadors the gear and funds they need to take HBCU students on

outdoor bouldering trips.

2、HBCUs Outside & Black Diamond Internship scheduled for summer of 2022.. Designed as an

in-person program, with remote contingency based on pandemic status, the Interns will

receive a wage, living stipend, and housing assistance. If the internship is remote, those same funds will be used to cover all travel expenses to and from Salt Lake City during the duration

of the internship. We will have 4 intern positions:

Marketing – Communications and Social Media

Research and Development – Mechanical Engineering

Sales – Data Analysis

Distribution – Industrial Engineering

Grassroots by HBCUs Outside & Black Diamond

HBCUS OUTSIDE

1、In partnership with the Black Outside, Inc., we are developing and funding programming

designed for a local partner of TBOI – Trinity University. We have introduced climbing

programs to these students, and have plans to expand opportunities to include:

Black Diamond led programming, activities, or career info sessions.

Extension of internship or training/certification support for interested college participants

Support of local programming.

2、Co-producing a film focused on Black Outside, Inc., to be released in 2022,to increase

awareness of the company, their community and the body of work.

Hike The Stars with the Black Outside

HBCUS OUTSIDE

1、In partnership with the Black Outside, Inc., we are developing and funding programming

designed for a local partner of TBOI – Trinity University. We have introduced climbing

programs to these students, and have plans to expand opportunities to include:

2、Co-producing a film focused on Black Outside, Inc., to be released in 2022,to increase

awareness of the company, their community and the body of work.

DRIVING ATHLETE AND AMBASSADOR TEAM DIVERSIFICATION

Our Commitment: 2020

We will dedicate additional funds to grow our athlete roster and feature better representation and visibility of our Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) ambassadors through content creation and amplification.

Progression Update: 2022

1、In 2021, we added seven new athletes and ambassadors that have helped diversify our roster.

2、Our Athlete/Ambassador values now prioritize inclusion as a guiding ethos for each

individual, the team as a whole, and the brand as a driving force.

3、Our recruitment strategy now includes prioritizing diversity (gender, ethnicity, race, sexual

orientation, size, etc.) and will continue to do so in the future.

4、Our new recruitment strategy also includes brand value alignment as well as athletic

execution.

5、We have added resources to help create more opportunities for the ambassador team

(which can help promote them to the athlete level).

Black Diamond Presents: Step By Step with Andrew Alexander King

ADDITIONAL UPDATES FOR 2022

1、Major gear sponsor for the Full Circle Project.

2、Climbers of Color Glacier Course Scholarship 2021: donated gear and funds for each

participant. Supported the four-day expedition on Mount Baker for 6 BIPOC women.

3、Supported the All In Ice Fest

4、Hosted a Try Outside Climbing event for the BIPOC community during Sam Elias’ Cities to Crags tour.

5、Funded a BIPOC Film Grant with Pretty Strong and No Man’s Land Film Fest.