Boston Youth Climate Action Fund
Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies has selected the City of Boston to participate in the 2026-2027 Youth Climate Action Fund cohort, which provides capital and capacity to support municipalities in mobilizing young residents ages 15–24 in designing and delivering solutions aligned with citywide priorities. Through the Youth Climate Action Fund, Boston has been awarded a $50,000 grant, which will be redistributed as microgrants of $1000 to $5000 to youth-led climate action projects.
-
Have Questions? Contact us!
-
How to Apply
The Boston Youth Climate Action Fund is accepting applications for youth-led climate projects!
Before applying, please carefully review the Application Guidelines and the Application Questions and Required Documents. Applicants are encouraged to draft their answers in a separate document and copy and paste them into the application form when ready to submit. All applications and required documents are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a virtual Information Session on Friday, August 7, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Register here) and an in-person Grant Writing Workshop on Tuesday, August 11, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Register here).
Project Timeline
- Application Launch: July 27, 2026
- Information Session: Friday, August 7, 11 AM - 12 p.m.
- Grant Writing Workshop Session: Tuesday, August 11, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Application Deadline: September 4, 2026 at 5 p.m.
- Application Review Period: September - October 2026
- Award Notification Period: November 2026
- Grant Period: Projects must be completed by April 15, 2027
Climate Themes for Proposals
The City of Boston has outlined four climate themes aligned with the 2030 Boston Climate Action Plan to help guide proposals. These themes are designed to encourage youth-led ideas that are community-centered and rooted in climate resilience, sustainability, and equity. Projects should fall under at least one of the four themes, but applicants may choose more than one. Strong proposals may connect across multiple themes, as long as they show how the project will benefit Boston residents and advance local climate goals.
| Climate Themes | Example Projects |
|---|---|
|
Food Systems & Local Resilience |
|
| Health, Heat & Urban Greening Boston is interested in youth-led projects that help communities prepare for and respond to extreme heat, improve neighborhood green spaces, plant more trees, and create healthier, cooler neighborhoods. |
|
| Green Jobs, Storytelling & Community Power Climate-friendly actions work best when communities understand them, feel included, and benefit from them. Boston is looking for youth-led projects that raise climate awareness, prepare residents for emergencies, and connect young people to green careers. |
|
| Flooding & Stormwater Resilience Flooding affects Boston neighborhoods in many ways, from the harbor to inland streets. Boston is seeking youth-led ideas to help residents understand and respond to flood risks, manage stormwater, and build long-term resilience. |
|
Why it matters
Boston is already working to develop the next-generation climate-ready workforce and create workforce development strategies that ensure residents have the skills and credentials needed to access the 67,000 jobs created by Boston’s climate strategies each year. For example, in summer 2025, the City launched the Boston Youth Climate Corps, through which 5 engaged employers and 200+ youth were hired to work in jobs focused on climate resilience, sustainability, and environmental justice at local green organizations. Through this effort, we proved that youth-led, hands-on experiences ignite engagement, especially in communities most impacted by climate change. Participating in the Youth Climate Action Fund will further allow Boston to empower young people as leaders and innovators in the fight against climate change.
This opportunity is timely, as it follows the release of Boston's 2030 Climate Action Plan. Developing Boston's climate-ready workforce is necessary to implement the Plan, a roadmap for the next five years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build resilience to climate impacts, and create a climate-ready city for all. Grounded in climate justice, the Plan charts a path toward a healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable future for every Bostonian. The Youth Climate Action Fund will provide concrete means for engaging youth directly in efforts - of their own design - to achieve the goals outlined in the Plan.
Events
Events
-
Have Questions? Contact us!
-
