The world's leading sports and outdoor trade fair creates an independent foundation to channel lasting positive change across the globe
Founded by ISPO, the world's leading sports and outdoor trade fair, the ISPO Impact Foundation was unveiled today, alongside eagerly-awaited details of the €1 million global grant fund it will be distributing annually. The independent foundation will harness the power of outdoor recreation and sport as a force for good, in pursuit of a healthier planet and more active, inclusive communities.
Through ISPO's landmark annual donation, the Foundation will channel funding into initiatives across the globe that protect and restore the planet's vitally important natural environments, whilst also building stronger, more active communities. It is a statement of intent from a trade fair that has long championed the outdoor and sports sectors, whilst recognising that those sectors have both the responsibility, and the unique ability, to drive real-world change.
Mike Seaman, Group CEO of Raccoon Media Group, said: "ISPO has always been more than a trade fair. It is a platform that brings together the people who care most deeply about sport, the outdoors, and the natural world. Creating the ISPO Impact Foundation felt like the natural next step: a way to turn that passion into lasting, practical change. But it was always our intention that the Foundation would operate with full independence. The decisions about where this money goes, and the projects it supports, belong entirely to the trustees, the advisory council and the communities they serve, which is exactly as it should be."
Chair of the Trustees and CEO of the UK's Outdoor Industries Association, Andrew Denton, said: "Healthy natural environments and widespread participation in outdoor recreation and sport are fundamental to the future of our sectors, as well as to the health of our planet and the communities within it. The ISPO Impact Foundation represents a powerful opportunity to put that belief into action, internationally and at scale, year after year. We are grateful to ISPO and Raccoon Media Group for their vision and generosity in making this possible, and we take the responsibility of stewarding this fund very seriously."
The Foundation will be accepting project applications from non-profit organisations around the world from 1–30 June. A wide range of grants will be available, designed to ensure that no project with genuine impact is too small, or too creative, to be considered. Micro grants of €2,000 will support grassroots local clubs, groups and teams making a difference closer to home, while multi-year grants of up to €100,000 will be available for larger, more established organisations with the potential for significant, and potentially global, impact.
General Manager of the ISPO Impact Foundation, Tanya Kenrick, said: "The potential of this Fund to catalyse lasting change, for our planet and for the health of the communities that depend on it, is genuinely extraordinary. We are building something that will grow in impact every single year, and the Trustees, the Advisory Council and I are tremendously excited to begin partnering with the innovative, passionate organisations that will help shape what this Foundation becomes."
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About the ISPO Impact Foundation
With charitable formation imminent, the ISPO Impact Foundation is an independent grant-making organisation founded by ISPO, the world's leading sports and outdoor trade fair. Funded by an annual donation of €1 million from ISPO, the Foundation distributes grants to non-profit organisations across the globe, supporting initiatives that protect and restore the planet's natural environments and build stronger, more active and inclusive communities.
The Foundation is governed by an independent Board of Trustees, comprising Andrew Denton (Chair), Mark Held and Hannah Lewis. The Trustees are supported by an Advisory Council of experts drawn from across the outdoor recreation, sport, and sustainability sectors, encompassing brands, suppliers and retailers: Katrin Bauer (Ortovox), Ben Blishke (Intersport), Yasmin Dufournet (Salomon), Julian Lings (Specialized), Marie Måwe (WL Gore), and Debbie Read (Eqiup Outdoor Technologies).
The Foundation will accept grant applications each year, with four levels of funding available ranging from €2,000 to €100,000. For full details and application information visit ispoimpactfoundation.org.
Press contact: Tanya Kenrick, General Manager,
ISPO 2026 is proud to announce it has partnered with It’s Great Out There Coalition. This alliance strengthens the existing collaboration between both parties and demonstrates ISPO’s commitment to work with like-minded, community-focused sports and outdoor organisations to increase public awareness of the benefits of outdoor activities.
Together, they will work to bolster and further support the cultural foundation of the sports industry with a renewed focus on advocacy and sustainability. Recognising that sustainability is non-negotiable, this partnership forms part of a wider commitment that underscores ISPO’s long-term dedication to environmental responsibility, industry stewardship and collaborative action across the global outdoor community.
It’s Great Out There Coalition (IGOT) is a European not-for-profit collaboration that was launched by the outdoor industry in 2017. Its mission is to break down barriers to outdoor activity and enable more people across Europe to experience the benefits of spending time in nature. With a vision for a sustainably profitable industry that gives back more to society and nature than it takes, the Coalition provides a platform for outdoor companies to show they are “doing business right” by investing in society and the environment.
Many outdoor opportunities start with local, community-led initiatives, often run by small teams or individuals. IGOT actively supports these grassroots initiatives as they create some of the most important entry points into the outdoors. Through its work, the Coalition helps amplify their impact and connect them with the wider outdoor industry.
The partnership with Raccoon Media Group provides a significant opportunity to elevate these grassroots stories, bringing them to a broader audience and strengthening connections across the sector. This collaboration reflects a shared belief that the outdoor industry has a vital role to play in ensuring nature and outdoor activity are accessible to everyone.
As part of this initiative, the It’s Great Out There Coalition will deliver 125 Outdoor Activity Days on behalf of Raccoon Media, helping to introduce more people to outdoor experiences across Europe. These activities will align with key industry moments, including European Week of Sport, reinforcing the importance of physical activity and outdoor participation across the continent.
ISPO 2026 will act as a key moment for the outdoor industry to come together, providing a platform to highlight the importance of increasing access to outdoor activity and showcasing the impact of initiatives supported by IGOT. Through the partnership with Raccoon Media, IGOT will bring its mission to life at ISPO through a series of activations, including talks, discussions and physical activities, designed to engage the industry and inspire greater support for initiatives that help more people experience the outdoors.
Mike Seaman, ISPO’s new CEO commented: “We know the power of the outdoors to transform physical and mental wellbeing. When delivered responsibly, it brings communities together, celebrates the natural world and reinforces the need to protect it. This partnership reflects our commitment to leading from the front across the sports, winter sports and outdoor industries, helping to set the agenda, raise standards and shape the future of the sectors ISPO represents. We’re incredibly proud to have It’s Great Out There Coalition on board and excited about what we can achieve together.”
Margo de Lange from IGOT said: “The outdoor industry has a long history of effective collaboration to tackle the biggest challenges and issues. It’s thanks to those principles of cooperation that the It’s Great Out There Coalition was founded, and we’ve continued the approach in all of our work. We welcome opportunities to team up with formidable organisations such as ISPO that provide a global platform and an opportunity to bring together all who share our goal of getting Europe active in the outdoors, in a responsible and inclusive way, celebrating the natural beauty around us and fostering the need to protect it.”
For further information visit www.ispo.com and www.itsgreatoutthere.com
ISPO 2026 will place sustainability firmly at the centre of business strategy, highlighting its growing role as a key commercial driver across the global sports and outdoor market.
As regulatory pressures tighten and consumer expectations evolve, ISPO 2026 will focus on how brands and retailers can translate sustainability commitments into measurable business outcomes spanning cost efficiency, supply chain resilience, and long-term brand value.
With sustainability now directly linked to competitiveness, ISPO 2026 will showcase scalable, market-ready solutions across:
- Circular business models enabling resale, rental, and product lifecycle extension
- Decarbonisation strategies aligned with emerging regulatory frameworks and net-zero targets
- Material innovation focused on durability, recyclability, and reduced environmental impact
- Supply chain transparency supporting compliance and consumer trust
The event will provide trade professionals with practical insights on integrating sustainability into core operations that move beyond initial concepts and advise on full-scale implementation.
The Sustainability Hub will serve as a central platform for sourcing innovations and forming strategic partnerships. Designed with trade professionals in mind, the Hub will connect brands, suppliers, and technology providers offering:
By bringing these solutions together in one space, ISPO 2026 will enables faster decision-making and more efficient sourcing for buyers and product teams.
ISPO 2026 will deliver a robust programme of expert-led sessions focused on the commercial realities of sustainability, including:
This content is designed to equip decision-makers with actionable strategies that can be directly applied across product development, sourcing, and retail.
Recognising that no single organisation can solve sustainability challenges alone, ISPO 2026 will facilitate cross-industry collaboration between brands, manufacturers, startups, and policymakers.
This integrated approach supports the development of shared standards, accelerates innovation adoption, and reduces fragmentation across the value chain - critical factors for achieving industry-wide impact.
To find out more, visit www.ispo.com and register to attend here.
Raccoon Media Group, organisers of ISPO the world’s most influential trade event for the sporting goods, outdoor and winter sports industries, confirms its commitment to ensuring an enduring impact by joining the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) as a Sustaining Member and revealing more details of the newly established ISPO Impact Fund.
Recognising that sustainability is non-negotiable, these announcements underscore ISPO’s long-term dedication to environmental responsibility, industry stewardship and collaborative action across the global outdoor community.
Tracy Bebbington, Managing Director, ISPO at Raccoon Media Group, said; “As ISPO enters a new era under new management and prepares for its next chapter in Amsterdam, it is essential that sustainability sits at the heart of everything we do. Joining EOCA and launching the ISPO Impact Fund reflect our belief in collective action and our responsibility to drive direct and meaningful change. We’re not just advocating for change; we are committed to making it happen. Not only that, we have appointed an external agency to closely analyse the carbon footprint of the event itself and we will make a solid commitment to being transparent about the footprint and, from day one, actively take steps to reduce it.”
Respecting and safeguarding the natural environments in which we play
ISPO is proud to announce its formal commitment as both a member and Sustaining Member of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA). By becoming a Sustaining Member, ISPO will provide ongoing funding and strategic support to EOCA’s mission to conserve and restore wild places, support biodiversity, and enable outdoor participation that respects and safeguards nature. The partnership further aligns ISPO’s environmental values with those championed by brands, retailers and industry associations across the sector.
Dan Yates, Executive Director of EOCA, said: “We are delighted to welcome ISPO, and the newly expanded team at Raccoon Media Group, as a member, and importantly, a Sustaining Member of EOCA. Their commitment sends a powerful message: that major industry platforms must not only showcase innovation but actively support the landscapes and ecosystems that inspire it. ISPO’s involvement will allow us to reach more organisations, fund more conservation projects, and amplify the urgency of protecting the wild places the outdoor community depends on.”
The €1 million ISPO Impact Fund
As part of their long-term commitment to supporting positive change, ISPO is investing one million euros into a new charitable organisation, the ISPO Impact Fund. The fund will support grassroots, charitable and non-profit initiatives that originate within the sports, outdoor and winter sports communities, or that have a direct and meaningful connection to these sectors.
The ISPO Impact Fund has been established as an independent organisation to ensure transparency, structure and the highest levels of governance expected of grant awarding bodies. The three founding trustees, Hannah Lewis, Finance Director at Raccoon Media Group, Andrew Denton, CEO at the Outdoor Industries Association, and Mark Held, founding Secretary General of the European Outdoor
Group are responsible for shaping the ISPO Impact Fund to ensure high standards of fairness, transparency and responsibility.
The Impact Fund will focus on three core areas:
· Nature Conservation & Environmental Stewardship – Supporting projects that protect biodiversity, restore natural environments, and reduce the environmental impact of sport and outdoor recreation.
· Equitable Access & Participation – Enabling more people – regardless of gender, ethnicity, ability, income, or background to access and enjoy sport, winter sports and outdoor recreation.
· Fair, Ethical & Responsible Supply Chains – Investing in initiatives that improve the welfare of workers throughout the supply chain and strengthen the processes through which sport and outdoor products are made, marketed and sold.
An independent advisory panel of industry experts and community representatives is currently being recruited to oversee the allocation of the €1 million fund, assessing all applications, reviewing their potential impact, and awarding grants based on clear and transparent criteria.
The team are actively recruiting members of this panel and welcome applications from the Sports, Outdoor and Winter sports industries. To apply, please contact
“Our advisory panel will help ensure that the funding is fairly and appropriately allocated across projects which get more people active, protect the places in which we play and ensure products are ethically created. From local community initiatives to huge global projects, we expect hundreds of applications. It’s important that these are assessed for their impact so that funds can be carefully allocated, and more importantly actually invested correctly to impact change on an individual level.” said Andrew Denton.
The application process for the ISPO Impact Fund will open online in Spring 2026, with the awarded grants being announced in November at ISPO 2026 at RAI Amsterdam.
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ABOUT ISPO
First hosted in 1970, ISPO is the world’s premier sports, outdoor and winter trade event welcoming over 50,000 global attendees annually. From 2026, ISPO enters a new chapter led by Raccoon Media Group, in partnership with Messe München. The joint venture combines the heart, agility and entrepreneurial spirit of Raccoon Media Group with the competence, scale, and global reach of Messe München. The refined strategic direction addresses the cost base to make attendance more affordable, aligns the event with global buying cycles, and ensures accessibility for a broader international audience.
GORE-TEX stands for durability and performance packed into stylish clothing. Norbert Selle from GORE-TEX explains for ISPO.com how the consumer can be even better informed, how networking and innovation are connected and why performance is still on the rise in the lifestyle sector.
Material and construction are the basis for the longevity of a GORE-TEX® product. However, this lifespan can be significantly extended with the right care and repairs - consumers have a very effective tool for greater sustainability in their own hands. If you wash and dry GORE-TEX® products regularly and renew the DWR, they will maintain their performance for many years. Many functional losses are simply due to infrequent or incorrect washing.
For us, ideal cooperation means that brands and retailers communicate the same simple rules. We provide support with training, POS instructions and care guides. And with the GORE-TEX® Gear Tour, we visit retailers and sporting events such as the Freeride World Tour across Europe every year - where we repair GORE-TEX® products free of charge."
We are constantly developing our technologies, but we were pioneers very early on: for more than 35 years, we have been offering our GUARANTEED TOO KEEP YOU DRY® guarantee of lifetime waterproofness. We have therefore always worked very closely with our brand partners in the design process - for example, when it comes to reducing seams, placing reinforcements sensibly or optimizing laminate structures. After all, that's what we stand for.
On the materials side, we have always seen ourselves as innovators and are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible. Each new generation of our product technologies must be even more powerful and durable. One example is the new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro product technology, which we have specifically designed for extreme abrasion resistance and long-lasting performance.
This year at ISPO, we are focusing on the topic of durability - an area in which the industry has neither a common definition nor a standardized measurement method. This is precisely where we want to provide impetus.
Very important! As an ingredient brand, we connect brands, retailers, research and consumers - this has been our role from the very beginning. That's why we deliberately designed our ISPO booth as a meeting place for exchange and collaboration.
For us, networking is the basis for innovation. As an ingredient brand, we work very closely with our brand partners - many of these collaborations have been in place for almost 50 years. This trust and shared technical understanding enable us to consistently develop new ideas.
A good example is the new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro product technology for extreme sports such as freeriding or ice climbing. Another is the Invisible Fit product technology, in which the membrane is invisibly integrated into the shoe and therefore cannot be felt. A milestone in the footwear sector, which we naturally developed in close cooperation with our partners.
The boundaries between outdoor, performance and lifestyle are becoming blurred. Accordingly, we now also work with leading fashion and lifestyle labels such as Aimé Leon Dore, Palace, Maharishi and Hoka. In the sneaker sector, partners such as New Balance, Salomon Sportstyle and On are joining us. The share of these brands is growing continuously - a clear sign that functional aesthetics have arrived in everyday life."
No. At the core, we always base our collaboration on our brand values: performance, togetherness, trust and imagination. This results in unique products that meet our high standards. Our holistic quality system - from material and field tests to style approval, design and production consulting and working exclusively with certified factories - ensures that every product meets the same high standard, regardless of the segment.
Fashion and lifestyle brands bring creative energy - bold colors, unusual concepts and new ways of addressing target groups. This perspective can enrich outdoor and performance brands.
Yes - very clearly. OutDoor is becoming more suitable for everyday use, lifestyle brands are integrating technical performance. At the same time, the desire for durable, high-quality and responsibly manufactured products is growing. Both movements reinforce each other: lifestyle brings aesthetics, outdoor brings function, responsibility and durability to everyday life.
It is precisely at this intersection - between style, performance and sustainability - that the GORE-TEX® brand will continue to play a strong role in the future.