Deadline: March 27, 2025

Are you a young Black leader passionate about climate justice and transforming your community? The People’s Climate Innovation Center (Climate Innovation) is excited to announce the next round of the Young Black Climate Leaders (YBCL) Youth Futures Fund!

The YBCL Youth Futures Fund provides financial awards to young Black climate leaders who are advocating for and transforming their communities toward racial and climate justice. The fund offers access to capacity-building support and resources for young Black climate leaders who are reshaping the broader climate movement. With a focus on centering local movements and initiatives, the YBCL Youth Futures Fund will uplift models of climate resistance and regenerative practices rooted in creativity and advancing transformative change.


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Funding

  • Soil- $2,000– This funding tier provides seed grants to projects in the “idea” phase. These are projects that 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 skill share to bring the idea to fruition. (They understand this project may be in the incubation and idea phase; therefore, short answers and answering the questions to the best of your ability is fully acceptable.)
  • Seed- $6,000– This funding tier supports projects that are beyond the idea phase but that still need support to scale and grow. Seed level funding might support the creation of a product (i.e. visual arts, presentation, event, etc.) or more intensive training to further advance work.
  • Water- $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. Water level 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. 
  • Grow- $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. Grow 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.

Eligibility

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Applicants must

  • Identify as Black, African, Afro-Latinx, and or part of the Afro-Indigenous diaspora.
  • 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 18-28 years old (OK to turn 18 by July 1 or 29 during the project).
  • Be available to complete a ZOOM interview – interviews will be scheduled between May 7 and May 16, 2025 (if needed).

To receive funding, you must be able to commit to:

  • Making a one year commitment to complete the program as an active participant.
  • Signing an award agreement and providing a project reflection at the conclusion of your project term. (Reflections can be in the form of videos, songs, blogs, photojournalism, zines, art, or interviews).
  • Completing all surveys and evaluations.
  • Attending at least six virtual bi-monthly learning calls/training (up to three (3) hours/month, with calls held approximately every other month).
  • Attending the YBCL virtual welcome/orientation session on June 25.
  • Attending an in-person gathering for 3-4 days during the week of July 21.

Application

Fund applications will be accepted until Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 11:59 pm Pacific.

Click here to apply


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For more information, visit Young Black Climate Leaders Youth Futures Fund.

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