An image of people climbing in Touchstone Climbing.
credit: Touchstone Climbing
Shareholders backed Touchstone Climbing’s new model that is grounded in five priorities, from environmental stewardship to community impact

Touchstone Climbing, a California-based climbing gym operator with 17 locations across the state, has become a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), a for-profit model meant to balance profits with public benefit purposes, including environmental stewardship.

The company’s decision to become a PBC was backed by overwhelming support from Touchstone Climbing’s shareholders. 

“Although this is business as usual for us, this codifies commitments into the future, allowing us to focus on sustainable, long-term value,” the climbing gym brand noted in a press release. “We believe this approach will resonate with those who, like us, see climbing as more than just a business—it’s a passionate pursuit that fosters a unique relationship with ourselves, others and the natural world. As the first major climbing gym operator to take this step, we hope to inspire others in the industry to rethink what responsible growth can look like.”

credit: Touchstone Climbing

Touchstone Climbing shared its five commitments: protecting outdoor spaces and ensuring climbing access for all, supporting the communities it serves, investing in employee development, honoring DEI initiatives and delivering exceptional customer support and elevated climbing experiences.

The decision comes amid a widely-reported dispute with routesetters, whose strike at several Los Angeles-area Touchstone Climbing gyms last month is currently on hold pending a bargaining meeting. 

According to an Instagram post this week by Touchstone Workers United, the routesetters returned to work as a gesture of good faith ahead of a bargaining session scheduled for Friday.

“We expect to see reasonable proposals from Touchstone this Friday, or we’ll be back on the line…with even more folks,” the post read. “We love this community – thank you for having our backs.”

Touchstone Climbing did not immediately respond for comment.