YCFA’s ORGANIZER GRANT PROGRAMS
The Youth Climate Finance Alliance Organizer Grant Programs exists to regrant to young people in our network to power their grassroots climate organizing. Flexible and rapid micro-grants are hard to access for youth organizers - and we know a little can go a long way.
In our years of experience as youth climate organizers, we have noticed a pattern within the youth climate movement of short-term mobilization without building the long-term organizing infrastructure, leadership, organizing and campaign skills needed to scale up organizers and the movement as a whole. Through our YCFA programming, we are building up young people’s skills, leadership, power, and organizing infrastructure to fight extractive industries long-term.
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. We know that young people have a special position to play in bringing about climate justice and ending fossil fuel extraction.
To this end, Youth Climate Finance Alliance manages two Organizer Grant Programs, each one tailored to our base’s needs, our internal funding and operational conditions, and our north stars.
Organizer Support Fund (OSF), running on a quarterly basis
The OSF concentrates its focus on individual leaders and their development, as well as holistic movement support.
Movement Ignition Fund (MIF) available on a weekly basis to a specific audience
The MIF supports the development of campaign structures and invests in movement geographies we see as vital to building power to undermine fossil fuel imperialism and shift the leadership of the domestic climate movement within the US. The MIF offers grants on a weekly basis.
Movement Ignition Fund (MIF)
What is the Youth Climate Finance Alliance Movement Ignition Fund (MIF)?
The MIF supports the development of campaign structures and invests in movement geographies we see as vital to building power to undermine fossil fuel imperialism and shift the leadership of the domestic climate movement within the US.
When movement funders and large partners are pulling back funding, we’re remaining committed to using our fundraising power to get much needed funds into the hands of youth organizations building the future we need.
Who can apply to MIF?
The MIF is a flexible, rapid micro-grant program that 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 College and Universities (HBCUs)
Are based in the US Gulf South
How do I apply to MIF?
MIF is now open for applications, which are reviewed on a weekly basis. See the full MIF guidelines here: bit.ly/ycfa-mif-guidelines
Organizer Support Fund (OSF)
What is the Youth Climate Finance Alliance Organizer Support Fund (OSF)?
OSF exists to re-grant to young people in our network to power their grassroots climate organizing. Part of our broader Organizer Grant Programs, the OSF concentrates its focus on individual leaders and their development, as well as holistic movement support.
Who can apply to OSF?
OSF is available to applicants who meet all of the following criteria:
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 our full guidelines for the most up-to-date and detailed information! bit.ly/2324OSFguidelines
How do I apply to OSF?
OSF applications are reviewed once per quarter. See the full OSF guidelines here: bit.ly/2324OSFguidelines