After two years of connecting photographers and filmmakers with environmental organizations, we've decided to retire Give a Shot. Give a Shot (giveashot.org) launched in 2017 after we spoke with countless creatives wanting to support grassroots efforts but not having a clear path for getting involved. We developed the match-making platform to help creatives find nonprofits in need of content.

A powerful film or photograph changes the lens through which we view the world — fostering empathy, reordering priorities, and fueling an urgency to act. Sometimes from inspiration, sometimes from outrage.

As a company that designs products for creatives and outdoors enthusiasts, conservation filmmaking and photography is a natural crossroads. At Peak Design, we are still firmly committed to supporting this work and its creators, but have decided that providing strategic support to specific projects will be more impactful than the current iteration of Give a Shot.

To be matter of fact, the main problem we faced with Give a Shot was a surprising one. Instead of not having enough volunteers, we actually struggled in getting nonprofit organizations to submit new projects. Orgs were simply unaware the tool existed or didn't know how to best utilize it. We know strong program management and outreach could remedy this but decided that our resources would be better spent identifying specific environmental campaigns in need of visual support and then sponsoring that creation directly. This conclusion was largely drawn from the success we had in providing a small group of creatives with grants to take on some bigger projects.

The platform introduced us to incredible filmmakers and photographers with whom we still work. We posted about our friends Colin Arisman and Connor Gallagher's work for the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (their film, Irreparable Harm, below) and Joel Caldwell's work for the California Wilderness Coalition. While we are closing up shop as we know it, Give a Shot has given us invaluable insight into the importance of connecting talented creatives with issues that need to be seen and heard.