Are you a young climate leader of color working to advance racial and environmental justice in your community? Applications are now open for the Young Climate Leaders of Color (YCLC) Fund, which provides financial support to young BIPOC climate leaders developing community-driven projects and initiatives.

The YCLC Fund supports young people aged 18–32 who are using climate justice, community organizing, arts, storytelling, cultural strategy, direct action, ecological practices, and other approaches to create transformative change. Funding can support both new ideas and existing initiatives that need additional resources to grow.

Applicants can request funding ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the stage and scale of their project. Funding may be used for training, classes, workshops, certifications, educational costs, tools and equipment, materials, events, stipends, vendors, skills development, and other targeted project needs.

Projects must be implemented in a community or group setting and take a community-driven approach that responds to local needs, impacts, and solutions. Young people who have been most directly affected by climate disasters will be prioritized. Applications are particularly encouraged from young people based in the Northeast, especially New England; the Gulf South; California’s Central Valley; and Tribal lands.

Applicants must identify as Black, African, Afro-Latinx, Afro-Indigenous, Indigenous, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Latine, Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA), and/or another Person of Color. They must also be based in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The funding levels are $2,000 for projects in the idea or early development stage, $6,000 for projects beyond the idea phase that need support to grow, $8,000 for established projects seeking to expand their reach and impact, and $10,000 for well-established projects with demonstrated impact and scalability.

Applicants may apply individually or as part of a BIPOC collective. For collective applications, only one person should apply on behalf of the group, and all collective members must meet the eligibility requirements.

Successful applicants will be required to sign an award agreement, complete surveys and evaluations, provide reflections on their project’s progress and impact, and commit to participating in the program from December 2026 through December 2027. The final reflection may be submitted in creative formats such as a video, song, blog, photojournalism project, zine, artwork, or interview.

The YCLC Fund is not a built-in cohort program and does not include additional mentoring or virtual capacity-building support.

Application Deadline: September 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time

Decisions Announced: November 20, 2026

Expected Fund Disbursement: By mid-January 2027, provided the required documents are submitted on time

Applications are open from August 13 to September 15, 2026. Young climate leaders and BIPOC collectives with community-focused projects are encouraged to apply.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity