Informal groups of young climate activists can now apply for grants of up to €1,000 to run their own projects, with the next application deadline falling on 25 October 2026. The Youth Climate Changemakers Fund, run by Generation Climate Europe, is designed for grassroots youth groups that are not registered organisations.
The fund is part of Generation Climate Europe’s Funding Fairer Futures project. It supports small, community-driven projects that strengthen the climate movement and make it more inclusive and accessible.
Youth Climate Changemakers Fund: who can apply
According to Generation Climate Europe, an applicant group must have at least three young people, and all core members must be under 30 years old. There is no requirement to be a registered organisation or a charity, which opens the fund to informal collectives and volunteer-led groups that often struggle to secure funding elsewhere.
Funded activities must run for between six and twelve months. Eligible activities include awareness-raising, public engagement, mobilisation, advocacy, capacity building and training.
What the grants support
The fund places special emphasis on engaging people who have not previously been active in the climate movement, and on groups that face difficulty securing funding from other sources. Projects should show a clear community benefit and contribute to a stronger, more inclusive climate movement.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with the next deadline on 25 October 2026. Applicants submit an application form, a group representation form, a declaration of honour, a declaration on exclusion criteria and a consultation survey through the fund’s online application portal.
Natália Lezová of Scouts Think Globally, a previous recipient, said the funding allowed her group’s agenda to develop to its full potential, providing materials for activities without financially burdening participants and motivating the team to continue.
Why small youth grants matter
Small grants of this kind fill a well-documented gap: according to Lever for Change, youth-led climate work receives only about $14.2 million a year out of roughly $16 billion in annual climate philanthropy. For informal groups, even €1,000 can cover materials, venues and outreach that would otherwise come out of young volunteers’ own pockets.
Read more climate stories in our climate section.
Key facts
- Grants of up to €1,000 for informal youth groups
- Groups of at least three young people, all under 30
- No registered organisation required
- Projects run for 6 to 12 months
- Next application deadline: 25 October 2026
Conclusion
With the 25 October deadline approaching, the fund offers informal youth groups a rare route to funding without the barrier of formal registration — a small grant that can turn a local climate idea into a year of organised action.
