ORGANIZING GRANTS
Financial support is a key part of a holistic and strategic youth movement. Too often, youth organizers at the frontline with the voice and lived experience needed to steer us toward vital climate solutions are overlooked and under-resourced in favor of their more wealthy, privileged youth counterparts.
To this end, Youth Climate Finance Alliance manages two grant programs— the Movement Ignition Fund and the Organizer Support Fund.
Organizer Support Fund
The Organizer Support Fund is focused on flexible micro-grants that help power grassroots youth organizing and organizer training and development.
Granting on a quarterly basis, the Organizer Support Fund is open to young people and their organizations for whom any of the following is true:
I am an individual youth organizer (age 29 or under) not affiliated with a group and/or I am applying as a member of a youth-led organization (majority leadership age 29 and under)
I/my group organize broadly around climate finance and/or ending extractive industry and associated systems of oppression.
I/my group focus on local, grassroots organizing and have a commitment to non-violent direct action
Please refer to the full Organizer Support Fund guidelines for the most up-to-date and detailed information: bit.ly/2324OSFguidelines
Organizer Support Fund applications are open for 3 weeks at the beginning of each quarter, with review decisions announced at the end of the 4th week.
First quarter applications launch 1/1 and run through 1/22.
Second quarter applications launch 4/1 and run through 4/22.
Third quarter applications launch 7/1 and run through 7/22.
Fourth quarter applications launch 10/1 and run through 10/22.
Movement Ignition Fund
The Movement Ignition Fund is a flexible, rapid micro-grant program that supports the development of campaign structures and invests in movement geographies YCFA sees as vital to building power to undermine fossil fuel imperialism and shift the leadership of the domestic climate movement within the U.S.
Granting on a weekly basis, the Movement Ignition Fund is open to young people and their organizations for whom any of the following is true:
Are campaigning or otherwise taking action that reinforces YCFA’s demands in our Citibank campaign.
Are building the strategic capacity of groups aligned with YCFA’s campaign goals, focusing on the financiers of fossil fuel imperialism
Are committed to Black student organizing power, especially at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Are based in the U.S. Gulf South
Please refer to the full Movement Ignition Fund guidelines for the most up-to-date and detailed information: bit.ly/ycfa-mif-guidelines
In addition to providing crucial financial support, Movement Ignition Fund recipients also receive coaching and wraparound services from YCFA staff members, designed to jumpstart their organization's capacity and development. Individuals and groups can apply for specific actions and campaigns to develop their group’s strategic or organizational capacity.