Applications are now open for the 2026 Youth Climate Justice Fund for Youth-led climate and environmental justice groups around the globe (grants of up to USD 40,000 awarded)

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Closing Date: 1 March 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026 Youth Climate Justice Fund for Youth-led climate and environmental justice groups around the globe (grants of up to USD 40,000 awarded)

The Youth Climate Justice Fund support youth-led, grassroots groups advancing climate and environmental justice at local and national levels. Its approach emphasizes trust-based funding and resourcing movements rooted in inclusive, community-driven organizing.

2026 Youth Climate Justice Fund Call

The Youth Climate Justice Fund provides funding to emerging youth-led climate justice and socio-environmental groups through a participatory decision-making process. The 2026 Youth Climate Justice Fund application round is now open. 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.

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.
Non-partisan, non-violent, and legal movements.

Youth Climate Justice Fund 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.

Applicaton 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.

(📍Youth Climate Justice Fund (YCJF) is here at the moment!)

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?

Access the 2026 application packages for guidance on applying. The packages include Frequently Asked Questions and the full list of questions from the Submittable application form, available in multiple languages. Subscribe to YCJF newsletter or follow them on social media to stay updated.