2025 YCLC Fund

About People’s Climate Innovation Center

People’s Climate Innovation Center (Climate Innovation), a fiscally sponsored project of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs and network partner of Movement Strategy Center works nationally to build capacity for and deploy community-driven solutions to climate change rooted in racial justice. Despite deep roots, historic, and present realities of racism and oppression, we know the depth and breadth of communities’ expertise and assets far surpass the vulnerabilities placed upon them. Through innovative program design, leadership development, capacity-building, training, and facilitation, we support these frontline communities–along with governments, institutions, and funders–in their work to ensure a more beautiful, just, and sustainable world. Our staff brings expertise in program design and facilitation, training, planning, strategic communications, and evaluation, which is all in service to our community-driven framework and commitment to moving resources and power to meet the needs and priorities of frontline communities. Climate Innovation offers a whole-systems approach to movement building by elevating solutions that are community-driven, interconnected, and that intervene at multiple levels to shift and subvert traditional top-down planning to be accountable to and led by those who most closely experience climate injustices. Learn more at climateinnovation.net.

YCLC Fund Overview 

The YCLC Fund provides financial awards to young BIPOC climate leaders who are advocating for and transforming their communities toward racial and environmental justice. The Fund provides access to resources for young BIPOC climate leaders between the ages of 18 and 32 who are reshaping the broader climate movement. With a focus on centering local movements and initiatives, the YCLC Fund will uplift models of climate resistance and regenerative practices rooted in creativity and advancing transformative change. This award opportunity has been crafted to broaden our impact in the climate justice space and deepen our commitment to resourcing the changes we wish to see in the world. Award recipients will have access to capital and seed money based on a liberatory practice and framing that embraces fewer stipulations attached to the award. Awardees will be asked to share via three quick evaluations and a final narrative reflection at the end of the fund term that reports back on the impact of the award and the project's progress. Participants may apply individually or as a part of a BIPOC collective. Please note this award is not tied to a built-in cohort experience, additional mentoring support, or virtual capacity building. Young people most directly impacted by climate disasters will be prioritized for this opportunity. We strongly encourage applications from young people who are based in the Northeast, the Gulf South, California (Central Valley), and Tribal lands.

Funding Opportunity:

Funding is available for new projects or already-in-motion initiatives that need additional support and may cover training, classes, workshops, certifications, education costs, the purchase of tools and equipment, etc. Projects must be completed in a community or group setting. Projects must align with a community-driven approach that centers on the needs, impact, and solutions to and in the community.  All awards will be considered based on the merit of each application. Fund recipients will be selected following a panel application review. We welcome previous applicants and alumni of our youth programs, Young Black Climate Leaders (YBCL) and Young Climate Leaders of Color (YCLC) to apply for this opportunity. Current active cohort members are ineligible. A small number of awards will be available specifically to YCLC & YBCL Alumni members. 

Funding levels:

• $2,000- This funding tier provides seed grants to projects in the “idea” phase. These projects may need support getting off the ground, proving the concept, etc. These projects may be in the beginning stages and need financial support, thought partnership, mentoring, additional resources, training, materials, or skillshare to bring the idea to fruition. (We understand this project may be in the incubation and idea phase; therefore, short answers and answering the questions to the best of your ability are fully acceptable.) 
• $6,000—This funding tier supports projects that are beyond the idea phase but still need support to scale and grow. A project at this level of funding might support the creation of a product (e.g., visual arts, presentation, event, etc.) or more intensive training to further advance their work.
• $8,000- This funding tier supports more established projects. These projects have demonstrated a clear proof of concept, scale, etc., and are working to expand reach and impact. A project at this level of funding might support more intensive training and skills building, fund targeted project needs, support scaling a project to reach more people, cover expenses such as stipends or vendors, etc. 
• $10,000- This funding tier supports clearly well-established projects. These projects have demonstrated a clear proof of concept, scale, etc., and have previously shown their reach and impact. For a project at this level funding might support targeted project needs to further deepen and expand reach and continued scalability, in addition to intensive training, coaching, and skills building.  

Application criteria:

Applicants must:

• Identify as Black, African, Afro-Latinx and or part of the Afro-Indigenous diaspora, Indigenous, and/or as a Person of Color.
• Be based and implement their project in one of the following places: the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Be 18-32 years old (OK to be turning 18 by  December 1, or turning 32 during the project year).
• Complete all evaluations and final Impact & Narrative Reflection
• Attend a virtual Awardee session and orientation
• Provide Scheduling for Optional Peer Cyphers 
• Complete a Reflection Project due December 2025
• Special note:  Only one person may apply on behalf of a group or collective. All collective members must be BIPOC,  between the ages of 18-32 and meet eligibility requirements. 
• If your collective project is awarded funds, the funds  will be dispersed to the primary  applicant on behalf of the project team.

Application Timeline: 

• Applications Open: Tue Aug 6th (5 wks)
• Application Closes: Tue Sept 10th 5:00pm Pacific
• Internal Application Review Period: Tue Sept 17th - Thur Oct 17th (4 wks)
• Notification of Awards: Mid Nov 
• Awards will be disbursed- Dec
• Fund  Awardee Orientation: Wed Nov 20, 11:30 am PT 
• Peer Cyphers TBD- Dec 2024/ Dec 25 2025
• Reflection Project Due- Dec 2025

If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQs before directing any questions to YCLC@climateinnovation.net.

If you have any accessibility needs or ada accommodations needed to complete your application please reach out to YCLC@climateinnovation.net. We will do our best to accommodate.