OUR PROGRAMS

MICROGRANT FUND

  • The Youth Climate Finance Alliance Organizer Support Fund exists to regrant to young people in our network to power their grassroots climate organizing.

    • Individual youth organizer (age 29 or under) not affiliated with a group and/or members of youth-led organizations (majority leadership age 29 and under).

    • Individuals and groups who organize broadly around climate finance and/or ending extractive industry and associated systems of oppression.

    • Individuals and groups who focus on local, grassroots organizing and have a commitment to non-violent direct action.

    Note: If you want clarity on any definitions for organizing terms used, check outhttps://bit.ly/ycfa-glossary

    In addition to the above eligibility requirements, we want folks to be aware of the following restrictions:

    • We are a 501(c)(3) based fund. This means we can only support nonpartisan activities and as such, political parties, electoral campaigns, and any groups with partisan initiatives are not eligible to apply. 

    • Adult-led organizations or adults (ages 30 and older) not applying on behalf of a youth-led organization cannot receive funds from OSF.

    • Due to IRS restrictions, individuals receiving funding from the OSF must have access to a Social Security Number (SSN), a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN),  or be able to complete IRS Form W–8www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-8-ben

    • We can only send international awards to PayPal accounts. We cannot send to international bank accounts or mail checks outside of the United States.

  • We aim to keep micro-grants at $250 or less, but you are welcome to apply for more!

    • Ongoing learning: food + travel costs to attend retreats and trainings, associated registration fees, books + media to support political education.

    • Action planning: recruitment materials, art supplies, and contractors such as photographers, sound, etc.

    • Supplies and equipment: technology + software needs for individuals and groups, buttons, stickers, pins, software, etc.

  • See our detailed funds guidelines for more!

FREE TRAININGS

  • We organize young folks who are interested in radically transforming society. To adequately prepare for the movement ahead, young people nationwide must skill up!

  • Our training facilitation staff are trained in liberatory organizing practices, our foundational training curriculum coming from partners like Leading Change Network and re:power. Presently, we are working to develop political education curriculum that prepares organizers to craft a systems-level analysis of society.

    We do in-house training developed by our staff team, as well as collaborate with partners like Chilli, Witness Media, Al-Awda, and Climate Vanguard to co-create curriculum.

  • There are currently no open applications for upcoming public trainings.

    Register for our email list to be notified of our next public training series. Or fill out the “connect with YCFA” form to request a training for your local group.

ORGANIZER NETWORK

  • Any local group or individual organizer that participates in our programming is considered to be in our organizer support network. Everyone in our network has access to several key movement resources.

    • Hyper-curated, one-on-one or group-focused organizer coaching

    • A community of youth climate activists

    • Free, in-depth organizer training

    • Strategy, skill, and power-building resources

    • A detailed climate finance campaign toolkit

    • Climate finance campaign resources and research

    • Non violent direct action resources and support

    • Communications resources for social media, press, and outreach

    • Base building resources and petitions to grow your movement

    • And much, much, more

    Network members can access the resource library here.

COACHING

  • The coaching program pairs grassroots youth organizers across the country with an experienced mentor on our staff who supports the organizers to develop and execute a local community campaign, deepen leadership skills, and elevate the coachee's local organizing group.

    • There is no one-size-fits-all approach to grassroots organizing support. That is why our program is a hyper-curated, one-on-one space where we enable powerful young leaders to make the best decisions for their communities.

    • YCFA coaches are a sounding board, cheerleader, and confidence booster for their mentees.

    • Those who participate in our coaching program gain foundational skills that will sustain them in whatever path they choose.

  • Our coaching staff are trained in liberatory organizing practices, our foundational coaching curriculum coming from partners like Leading Change Network and re:power. We are heavily influenced by the Marshall Ganz curriculum.

CHAPTERS

YCFA chapters are a new and emerging program. To learn more, see our detailed explainer.