Emerging Climate Champions Award – Aug 15

Posted by Lever for Change on July 22, 2025

The Emerging Climate Champions Award is a $25 million global Open Call sponsored by the Enlight Foundation and The Patchwork Collective that will provide flexible, multiyear gifts of $1 million each to youth-led organizations advancing climate solutions across the globe. Youth is defined as ages 15-35, and leadership pertains to youth who hold an executive staff position or a board member position in an organization.

About the Award

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.

This open call seeks to shine a spotlight on 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.

Registration Deadline: August 15

Application Deadline: September 22

Learn more.