Youth Climate Action Fund
With 84 percent of youth around the world reporting that they are worried about the threat that climate change poses to people and the planet, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced in March of 2024 that Madison would join Bloomberg Philanthropies' new Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF), which provided technical assistance and funding for 100 Mayors to activate tens of thousands of young people ages of 15–24 years to design, produce, and govern urgent climate solutions in cities across the globe. Madison joined the Fund alongside other cities from around the world, which together span 38 countries across six continents, representing over 62 million residents.
YCAF has since expanded, and the City of Madison is entering its third round of funding. Through the Fund Madison will distribute $5,000 micro-grants. The Youth Climate Action Fund allows BYFY to amplify and accelerate youth-led ideas to tackle climate change. From mobilizing tree-planting to launching recycling or waste reduction initiatives to participating in mitigation planning or preparedness programs, efforts stemming from the new Youth Climate Action Fund will advance critical community goals such as meeting de-carbonization commitments or reducing consumption-based emissions.
Who can apply for a Youth Climate Action Fund grant? What are the qualifications?
- Youth applicants (ages 15-24), youth-serving organizations, and schools must have non-profit status or a fiscal agent. (If you do not have a financial agent identified, please still submit your idea. We will attempt to identify a matching financial agent if your proposal is selected)
- Applicants must be located in Madison, and directly serve Madison residents. We recognize that climate change disproportionately impacts marginalized communities and strongly encourage proposals meant to mitigate impacts for marginalized communities.
- At least two youth (ages 15-24) MUST be involved in project planning, proposal writing, and project execution. However, your project/program itself can impact Madison youth and adult residents of all ages.
Youth applicants, youth-serving organizations, and schools can request up to $5,000 and can submit more than one proposal; each organization (or individual school) can be awarded a maximum of three grants.
Program and Project Priority Areas:
The program or project must be related to one or more of the 8 priority areas from the City of Madison's Climate Resilience plan. We are flexible with how your ideas relate to these themes, and encourage applicants to not get hung up on fitting "perfectly" into one of these.
- Quality, Affordable Housing
- Resilient City Design & Infrastructure
- Renewable Energy & Decarbonization
- Sustainable Transportation
- Clean, Abundant Water
- Zero Waste
- Healthy Ecosystems
- Vibrant Green Economy
- Other
Timeline:
September 30th, 2026, 6:00-7:00: Project Creation Support Webinar
Learn more about the details and requirements of the grant application and receive support for your project or program. Email Nathan Beck (nbeck@cityofmadison.com) to be added to the invite.
October 14th, 2026: Applications Due
October 26th, 2026: Applicants Notified
No later than December 31st, 2026: Funding Received
April 15th, 2027: Funding must be spent/used by this date
Additional information on program and project priority areas as well as the application can be found here.
A message from the mayor:
“The next generation will have to continue and accelerate programs designed to improve community resilience in the face of a changed world," said Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway when announcing the City of Madison and its partners' participation in the Youth Climate Action Fund.
“When we equip young people with knowledge, support, and capacity; reduce arbitrary barriers to participating in solving complex problems; and say yes to young people's ideas, good things happen. Investing in young people as agents of change, as individuals capable of solving complex problems, as people who have ideas that are worth listening to and acting upon, will support a future of hope."
