Community & Charity Impact

Why We Believe in Community & Charity Impact

Travel connects us—to people, places, and purpose. Our giving and volunteering focus on creating real, lasting outcomes for communities and the environment. Every initiative is evidence-based, values-led, and designed for long-term impact. 

We channel support through our Make A Difference (M.A.D.) Foundation and a set of individually coordinated non-profit partnerships, selected using our Philanthropy Screening Practice Criteria.
 

Our Model

Each year, we set measurable goals for the number of partner organisations, total contributions, and volunteer engagement.
 

Make A Difference (M.A.D.) Foundation

M.A.D. is a registered not-for-profit supported by Chimu, ensuring that 100% of donated dollars go directly to projects. Chimu covers all operational costs.

Projects are chosen for clear social or environmental benefits and ethical outcomes.

We partner with charities and academic NGOs that align with our mission, spanning contributions to climate action, conservation science, and cultural heritage.

Support can include cash contributions, in-kind services, and on-trip fundraising facilitated by our team.
 

Staff Paid Volunteering Leave

Our employees receive two days of paid volunteer leave per year to contribute to local community or environmental projects. Volunteering can occur during work hours or logged time-in-lieu for personal initiatives.

Volunteering hours and outcomes are logged to track impact and continuously improve what we do each year.
 

How We Choose Where to Give

All non-profit partnerships are assessed using our Philanthropy Screening Practice Criteria, which prioritise:

Alignment with Chimu’s purpose

Clear charitable objectives and legal standing

Ethical outcomes, transparency, and low overheads

Measurable impact and community involvement

Long-term engagement and capacity building

Our Charitable Focus Areas

Climate & Conservation: Supporting NGOs, citizen science, and field logistics to strengthen climate literacy and biodiversity protection.

Community Wellbeing & Mental Health: Partnering with organisations to expand access to support, with opportunities for staff and guest engagement.

Cultural Heritage: Contributing to the preservation of stories, sites, and Polar heritage for future generations.

What You’ll See in Practice

M.A.D. projects receive 100% of donations; no operational overheads are taken.

On-trip fundraising and in-kind contributions amplify value for NFPs (e.g., hosted berths for auctions or scientific research).

Staff-led volunteering—from local clean-ups and tree planting to skills-based tutoring and mentoring.