Two new beneficiaries announced for The Conscious Travel Foundation’s Community Impact Fund

Two new beneficiaries announced for The Conscious Travel Foundation’s Community Impact Fund

Fundación Green Apple and Making Trax Foundation to receive three years of funding and support to drive inclusive tourism and environmental innovation

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April 2025: The Conscious Travel Foundation, the non-profit membership organisation championing sustainable and positive-impact travel, has announced two new projects - Fundación Green Apple and Making Trax Foundation, which will receive its Community Impact Fund grants. The winning beneficiaries are selected through a rigorous framework, with grants awarded over a period of three years to help support and grow their projects. Winners are also granted membership to the Foundation, its resources and access to its global network.

All of the grassroots projects put forward for consideration for annual Community Impact funding are nominated by The Conscious Travel Foundation (TCTF) members through its Member Directed Giving programme and reviewed for final selection by its Philanthropy Committee.

Maudie Tomlinson and Olivia Cryer, co-founders of The Conscious Travel Foundation said: “The overall calibre of shortlisted and well-deserving applications received this year was exceptional, with all eight projects entered scoring extremely highly against our rubric. 

“The two final projects selected scored highly in every category and demonstrated outstanding innovation, sustainability, and long-term community impact. We’re proud to support game-changing initiatives that truly embody our values and vision of building community-driven education and philanthropy programmes, supported by the travel industry.”

Meet the 2025 Grantees

Making Trax Foundation - New Zealand 

Led by the Makingtrax Foundation, the Adaptive Aotearoa project is set to revolutionise adaptive cycling in New Zealand’s South Island. Nominated by member Ahipara and spearheaded by Jezza Williams, a trailblazer in inclusive tourism and adaptive adventure, the project is a direct response to his vision of making adventure truly accessible to all. The Community Impact Fund will facilitate the purchase of two Bowhead Rogue adaptive e-assist mountain bikes, paving the way for inclusive cycling tours. As part of the project, Makingtrax will be developing partnerships with tour operators and local businesses, refining itineraries and ensuring safe, adaptive experiences, laying the foundation for a long-term shift towards inclusive adventure tourism across the region.

Fundación Green Apple - Colombia

Fundación Green Apple is transforming waste into opportunity. Set to become Cartagena’s primary glass recycling centre, Fundación Green Apple will be processing over 100 tons of glass monthly from the city’s tourism sector. The project will also be launching artisanal glass training, carbon-neutral brick production, and laying the foundation for Colombia’s first zero-waste island. Over the next two years, the project will create at least five jobs and train 100+ hospitality businesses in sustainable waste management. Glass sand will be commercialised, with 10% donated for environmental initiatives such as reef and mangrove restoration.

Details of all the projects supported by TCTF members on the ground can be accessed via its Member Directed Giving Interactive Impact map, which shares details of the global spread of innovative, impactful projects connected to the TCTF community and supported by members via their fees and larger donations as part of its Philanthropy programme. This includes two projects in their second year of funding and membership, Phaplu Mountain Bike Club and TransStories Brasilia. 

Membership fees and funds raised through their annual auction contribute directly to the projects supported by the Foundation, now in its fifth year, with many members giving significantly more to increase their impact.

Maudie and Olivia said: “Our Community Impact Fund is a collaborative way of supporting community-driven initiatives and facilitating a connection between our members and the projects we support on the ground. The more members we have, the more grants we can give —we currently support four projects through our fund, with a goal of funding six by 2026. All of the projects we support reflect the incredible potential of tourism as a lever for social change, creating inclusive opportunities, driving environmental innovation, and uplifting local communities.”

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Media Contact: Jo McConnell at Lemongrass | jo@lemongrassmarketing.com

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Editors notes

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About The Conscious Travel Foundation

The Conscious Travel Foundation (TCTF) is a non-profit membership organisation open to all travel businesses that collaborates, educates and advocates for a positive relationship between tourism, people and planet.

Providing education and contacts that empower members to make changes in their businesses and destinations, the TCTF education programme tackles topics ranging from sustainability certifications to sustainability technology, supply chain management, and accessible, inclusive travel—all designed to inspire, educate, and turn intent into action. 

Philanthropy is a key tenet of thel Foundation, now in its fifth year. Membership fees support carefully chosen projects with links to tourism around the world.

Members identify projects, and grantees are selected through a rigorous framework to receive a 3-year grant to support their project and be invited into the TCTF network as members of The Conscious Travel Foundation. 

The Conscious Travel Foundation is a non-profit membership organisation that collaborates, educates and advocates for a greener, more sustainable future.