Community Leading Climate Solutions

About the Young Climate Leaders of Color Fund

People’s Climate Innovation Center’s Young Climate Leaders of Color (YCLC) program supports the next generation of climate leaders through radical transformation. YCLC recognizes that there are many entry points for catalyzing change within the climate justice movement. YCLC seeks to immerse youth in climate justice, the arts, story-based advocacy, cultural strategy, targeted direct action, community organizing, transformative change, ecological principles, and leadership development, working alongside amazing strategists, leaders, and political activists nationwide. 

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 aged 18 to 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 through three quick evaluations and a final narrative reflection at the end of the fund term, reporting 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 (especially New England), the Gulf South, California (Central Valley), and on Tribal lands.

Funding Opportunity

Funding is available for new projects or initiatives already in motion that need additional support. Funding  may cover training, classes, workshops, certifications, educational 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. 

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:

1. Identify as Black, African, Afro-Latinx, and/or part of the Afro-Indigenous diaspora, Indigenous, AAPI  (Asian American and Pacific Islander), Latine, SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa), and/or as a Person of Color.
2. 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.
3. Be 18-32 years old (OK to be turning 18 by  December 1, or turning 33 during the project year).
4. Complete all evaluations and final Impact & Narrative Reflection
5. Complete a Reflection Project due December 2027
6. 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. 
7. If your collective project is awarded funds, the funds will be disbursed to the primary applicant on behalf of the project team.

 To receive funding, you must commit to:

1. Signing an award agreement and providing a scholarship reflection at the conclusion of your project term. (Reflections can be videos, songs, blogs, photojournalism, zines, art, or interviews).
2. Completing all surveys and evaluations. 
3. Making a one-year commitment to complete the program from December 2026  to December 2027.

Timeline -Program applications will be accepted from Thu Aug 13, 2026 to Tue Sep 15, 2026  11:59 Pacific. 

• Decisions will be announced by Friday, Nov 20 2026.
• Funds disbursed by mid-January (if appropriate documents received in time).

Please let us know if you need any special accommodations to submit an application. 

Please direct questions to yclc@climateinnovation.net