We mean solutions, campaigns, and projects that address the climate crisis by jointly tackling underrepresentation, exploitation, and oppression, as well as enhancing community power, equity and justice.
How to Apply
The Youth Climate Justice Fund provides funding to emerging youth-led climate justice and socio-environmental groups through a participatory decision-making process. Our 2026 application round will open soon. Eligible groups working at local or national levels are invited to apply for grants of up to USD 20,000 for local groups and USD 40,000 for national groups.
Below you will find our eligibility criteria and details on our grantmaking process. For more detailed guidance, please review our FAQs, available in Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili.
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What are the criteria for applying?
You should consider applying if:
Your group or collective is led by young people aged 35 years and below. In order to be eligible for a YCJF grant, the majority of your leadership must be young people or the individuals with decision making power should be aged 35 years and below.
Your group, network or collective is based in East Asia and Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia, and North America.*
*Applicants from high-income countries should belong to underrepresented communities to be considered for funding.
*Groups that focus solely on international engagements without any community-based work are ineligible to apply.
You believe in and exhibit inclusive organizing, collective action and intersectional movement building.
Your group, network or collective is based in North America or Western Europe but is led by young people who are discriminated against and/or marginalized based on class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, background, etc.
Non-partisan, non-violent, and legal movements.
We specifically look for groups who are:
Cultivating diverse leadership rooted in fair and equitable climate action with community power.
Raising ambitions and commitments on climate & socio-environmental justice.
Holding policymakers accountable to their promises and strengthening community power.
Our Process
1. Call for Applications Open
The call is open for 4 weeks. Youth-led climate and environmental justice groups around the globe can apply. Non-English speaking groups are welcome to apply in Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish or Swahili.
2. Initial screening by the Regional Committees, with support from staff
Check that groups meet basic eligibility criteria and are aligned with YCJF core objectives, values and principles.
3. Regional Committee review
Review proposals per regional priorities, engage selected groups in follow-up conversations to better understand their needs, and develop a shortlist of aligned organizations.
4. Grants Committee and Regional Committee decision making
Regional Committees share their shortlists with the Grants Committee for joint review, ensuring alignment with regional priorities and YCJF values. Final grant decisions are made collectively by both committees.
5. Due diligence process
YCJF staff and Regional Committees reach out to the selected groups and support them to receive the funding.
6. Grants are awarded!
YCJF staff and Regional Committees work with partners to speed the process for groups to receive funding.
7. Join the YCJF community
Groups are invited to join the YCJF welcome call and to co-develop capacity strengthening resources.
Ready to learn more?
Download the 2024 application package to help you prepare in advance. The package includes Frequently Asked Questions and the full list of questions from the Submittable application form, available in multiple languages. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media to stay updated.
हिंदी में।
हिंदी में आवेदन करने के लिए गाइड डाउनलोड करें।
हिंदी में आवेदन करने के लिए गाइड डाउनलोड करें।Frequently Asked Questions
As we're trying to build access and conditions for meaningful shared ownership and participation in our processes, we're committed to evolve and change to ensure that youth-led climate justice groups are able to better participate and access support.
What do we mean by 'addressing climate and socio-environmental justice'?
What do we mean by 'youth-led'?
We believe that "youth" holds many meanings and contexts depending on worldviews and contexts. We consider that balancing between older youth under 35 years old who are discriminated against based on class, ethnicity, Indigenous Peoples' identity, gender, etc. and very young activists who also face similar structural barriers, is key.
What is the 'youth-to-youth' capacity program?
Young people supporting each other in peer-to-peer capacity development are the best providers of development services due to their shared experiences and understanding. We will co-build and refine the youth-to-youth capacity development depending on each cohort of grantee partners.
How is the YCJF funded?
Our initial set-up costs and seed funding is being provided by individuals and philanthropies - rather than private or listed companies. We do not accept funding from anyone who is not aligned with our principles and values.
Do applications have to be in English?
Our application package is available in 7 languages (Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili).
Do we need to be legally registered?
No, it is not mandatory. In numerous cases, informal groups have made a substantial impact without formal registration or lacking the necessary resources to register. We are dedicated to discovering innovative ways to support such groups.
When was the deadline to submit my proposal?
The application window was open between 3rd June to 1st July 2024.
We can ask up to $20000 USD, but can we apply even if our collective needs more funding?
At this stage, local and national groups can only apply to up to $20,000.