Calling all Youth-Led Organizations Globally: The Emerging Climate Champions Award, a Bold New $25 Million Global Initiative, is Now accepting Applications
Empowering Youth for a Greener Future: The $25M Emerging Climate Champions Award Now Open
A Major Global Opportunity for Youth-Led Climate Organizations
The Emerging Climate Champions Award, a bold new $25 million global initiative, is now accepting applications from youth-led organizations that are actively driving climate solutions. Sponsored by the Enlight Foundation and The Patchwork Collective, this program is designed to elevate and fund the next generation of climate leaders making a tangible impact on the future of the planet.
Ten selected organizations will each receive flexible, multiyear gifts of $1 million, empowering them to deepen their work and scale their impact. The initiative aims to address the urgent need for climate action by investing directly in the leadership, innovation, and resilience of youth-led movements worldwide.
Who Should Apply
The Award is open to youth-led organizations from around the globe that are working across the wide-ranging and interconnected dimensions of climate change. Eligible applicants may be engaged in any of the following focus areas:
- Climate justice and advocacy
- Science and technology-based solutions
- Sustainable agriculture and food systems
- Community resilience and disaster preparedness
- Environmental conservation and restoration
- Education, awareness, and movement building
- Economic opportunity through green innovation
By welcoming such a broad spectrum of approaches, the Award reflects an understanding that climate action must be inclusive, cross-sectoral, and rooted in justice and equity.
Funding with Flexibility and Trust
What sets the Emerging Climate Champions Award apart is its commitment to flexible funding. The $1 million awards will be disbursed over multiple years, allowing recipients to allocate resources according to their priorities, strategies, and timelines. This approach supports long-term planning and operational sustainability, rather than short-term or project-specific funding.
The Award’s sponsors recognize that meaningful change often requires more than innovation—it also requires trust. By giving youth-led organizations the autonomy to lead, they aim to cultivate leadership and accountability at the grassroots level.
Application Process and Deadlines
Interested organizations must register to apply by 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on August 15, 2025. Registration is a required first step in the process. Once registered, applicants will have until 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on September 22, 2025 to complete and submit their full online application.
The application process is designed to be accessible and transparent, with all necessary details and forms available online.
How to Apply
Interested organizations must register to apply before 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Friday, August 15, 2025. Complete applications are due before 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, September 22, 2025.
To learn more about the award, including eligibility requirements and detailed application guidelines, email: [email protected] or visit official website here
A Call to the Climate Leaders of Tomorrow
The Emerging Climate Champions Award is more than a grant it is a call to action for young leaders and organizations ready to shape the future of climate response. By investing in youth-led organizations at the forefront of climate work, this award recognizes the critical role of young people as visionaries, problem-solvers, and community organizers.
With flexible resources and global visibility, the Award aims to help these organizations not only expand their reach but also inspire others to lead boldly in their own communities.
Youth-led climate groups around the world are encouraged to seize this opportunity and share their vision for a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.
