Deadline: August 15, 2025
Applications are open for the Lever for Change Emerging Climate Champions Award 2025. The Award is a $25 million global open call that will provide flexible multiyear gifts of $1 million each to youth-led organizations advancing climate solutions across the globe.
Today’s young people will bear the burden of the adverse impacts of climate change, yet little funding goes to youth-led solutions. Global annual funding for climate change work represents less than 2% of total philanthropic giving, or about $16 billion. Support for youth-led climate initiatives is even more limited, with just $14.2 million in annual grants. Informed by feedback from young climate leaders around the world, the Emerging Climate Champions Award directly takes into account youth perspectives, as well as cultural and localized contexts for climate work.
Award
- The Emerging Climate Champions Award recipients will be announced in Summer 2026. At that time, flexible gifts of $1 million will be awarded to selected organizations and disbursed over one to five years.
Eligibility
- Open to climate organizations with youth leadership (ages 15-35).
- The Award invites applications from organizations with at least two years of operation that are community-led, and that have demonstrated experience, strong potential, and measurable results in advancing durable climate solutions in the communities they serve.
- Organizations from all around the world are encouraged to apply, including those from historically under-resourced and/or under-represented communities, such as Indigenous-led organizations, women-led organizations, grassroots organizations, and others.
- The Award welcomes organizations working across a full spectrum of climate issues and solutions, including but not limited to areas such as education, movement building, climate justice, science/technology, economic opportunity, community resilience, conservation, advocacy, sustainable agriculture, disaster preparedness, and others.
Application
Applicants must register to apply before 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Friday, August 15, 2025. Once registered, applicants must submit an online application before 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, September 22, 2025.
For more information, visit Emerging Climate Champions Award.
