Action Grants to Support Youth-Led Climate Initiatives

Action Grants to Support Youth-Led Climate Initiatives is a grant from Youth Harbour that funds youth-led organizations and projects in Canada working to reduce the long-term impacts of the climate crisis. The program provides sustained operational funding to enable climate-focused groups to grow and build long-term resilience.

Eligible applicants are Canadian youth-led organizations or projects with an annual operating budget of $300,000 CAD or less, led by individuals aged 30 or under — with Indigenous applicants eligible up to age 35. Awards range from $5,000 to $30,000 CAD per 12-month period. Applications are reviewed twice yearly; the next deadline was April 1, 2026 at noon Pacific Time.

Action Grants - The Youth Harbour Funds for organizations or projects to operate for the long term and reduce the impacts of the climate crisis. Funds for organizations or projects to operate for the long term and reduce the impacts of the climate crisis.

GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS Applications are reviewed twice a year, with these key dates in mind: April 1, 2026.

12:00pm (noon) Pacific Time (PT) Duration of 40-50 business days after the application deadline. Please note: All applications will only be evaluated beginning on April 1, 2026. $5,000 – $30,000 per 12-month period The Purpose of Action Grants Youth are often expected to achieve more with fewer resources.

They are typically underpaid, based on the assumption that their motivation to take climate action will drive them to work regardless of inadequate and unsustainable compensation. This situation creates a cycle of burnout and disrupts the talent pipeline in the climate sector, signaling that a viable career in this field is unsustainable.

As a result, we lose many talented individuals and innovative ideas to more “steady” careers, compromising the mission. The purpose of the Action Grants is to provide operational and flexible funding, enabling youth to concentrate on their mission and empowering them to address the local impacts of climate change.

By sustaining young people in the movement, these grants support the advancement of their work and the mobilization of community-driven solutions.

Step 1: Review eligibility guidelines Step 2: Review helpful materials Step 3: Review your application with a coach (optional) Clarify the application questions or requirements Support you in the development of your application answers, project development, budget, impact measurement, etc. Recommend where in your application you may need more detail EMAIL TO RECEIVE COACHING → Step 4: Submit your application Submit your written application in English, French, or a mixture of both.

Alternative submission options (scheduled meeting or video) are described at the bottom of the application. Overall communication and support is available in English and French. The organization or project must: Have a project or initiative that will reduce the impacts of the climate crisis in what is currently referred to as Canada.

Be grassroots in nature and/or conduct not-for-profit activities. The Youth Harbour cannot support for-profit activities. The organization or project can have an operating budget of no more than $300,000 CAD annually in order to be eligible.

The organization or project must be led by: Indigenous folks from Turtle Island (what is currently North America) can apply aged 35 or under. Organizations can apply that are not entirely youth-led, but a specific project must be led by someone aged 30 or under. However, priority in assessment is given to entirely youth-led organizations or projects.

Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, refugee status or a visa. Applicants can communicate to us in English, French, or a mixture of both. An organization or individual can apply for as many projects or organizations as they are seeking an Action Grant for.

Only one could be selected for an Action Grant during a given cycle. Applicants may also simultaneously apply to other granting opportunities that The Youth Harbour offers; this does not help or hinder any of their applications in any other granting streams. Applicants who are selected will receive a 6 or 12 month contract, and are not able to reapply to Action Grants until 12 months after the submission of their final report.

Applicants who are not selected can reapply for the next cycle of Action Grants. There are three key areas that The Youth Harbour seeks to support youth through Action Grants. Applicants must fall generally under at least one of of these three: 1.

Organizational & Operational Longevity e.g. the applicant is seeking funding in order to incorporate; formalize administrative systems; expand staffing hours and roles, etc. e.g. the applicant is seeking funding through The Youth Harbour as a stepping stone to receive other larger, multi-year funding 3.

Refining Mission, Vision & Strategy e.g. the applicant is seeking funding to strategize, reshape the organization or project’s goals, and/or seeking consulting to further the overall organization or project’s mission Application Review Process Phase 1: Staff Juries Round One Initial assessment of applications, resulting in a preliminary grantee list and preliminary disbursement list.

ASSESSORS: The Youth Harbour’s assessors (comprised of FES staff members). Phase 2: Individual Advisory Assessments Gain the perspective of youth climate leaders in Canada by intentionally involving them in the assessment and evaluation process.

ASSESSORS: The Youth Harbour’s assessors & Youth Steering Committee (YSC) members Phase 3: Staff Juries Round Two To determine a final list of accepted applicants and amounts granted per applicant. ASSESSORS: The Youth Harbour’s assessors Final Decisions and Next Steps All applicants will be notified by email when a decision has been made regarding their application.

If your application is successful , grantees of The Youth Harbour can expect to meet with the Program Manager to review contracts for signature, disbursement timelines, and general expectations. Update and final reporting templates will be provided and completed on the agreed upon dates between FES and the Youth Harbour grantee.

If your application is unsuccessful in receiving funding this cycle, and if this is your first time applying to The Youth Harbour, you will receive a one-time $25 stipend to compensate you for the time and effort it took for you to complete the application process. You may also indicate if you would like your application to be reconsidered for the following granting cycle. Watch our Action Grants information session.

Ethical Engagement and Granting Guidelines FES does not support, partner with, affiliate itself with, or provide grants to groups that: Perpetuate systemic biases and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, religion, colour, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, or veteran or disability status.

Promote or support violence, aggression, prejudice, or oppression or any infringement on human rights, with a strong emphasis on the infringement of Indigenous rights. Force, coerce, or exclude others based on religious or spiritual beliefs. Are connected to political parties, political rallies, or otherwise partisan work.

Promote or partake in unsustainable practices and/or do not have an adequate climate plan in place to address the climate crisis in response to its unsustainable practices. Has a track record of tokenizing youth or disrespecting the voices of youth.

APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY APPLY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY WHAT GRANTEES SAY “FES and The Youth Harbour was a supportive, informative and understanding organization to work with.

The process for applying and receiving funding was clear, straightforward and focused on our unique needs as an organization. The Youth Harbour’s continued support and communication allowed us to execute a project within a very short timeline, which allowed us to support the specific needs of Indigenous youth on the land. We would be grateful to receive funding in the future from FES and The Youth Harbour.

” Finding our power Together, Cycle 6 Grantee “Thanks to The Youth Harbour, we were able to create QʷAYAĆIIK. They were incredibly accommodating and kind to work with. I felt supported by their team, and knew they were rooting for me and my project to succeed.

” QʷAYAĆIIK, Cycle 7 Grantee “FES has modelled how funders CAN work differently – so now we have an example of what’s possible! We can and should work from a place of relationship and shared learning so that we can create the change we want to see in our own communities. ” Hillary Ronald, VIDEA, Vancouver Island, BC “The Youth Harbour makes submitting an application and reporting youth friendly and accessible.

We greatly appreciate how they are very open to feedback and are continuously working on improving their programs by working in consultation with the youth they represent and serve” “We’re so grateful for [The Youth Harbour’s] support towards YCIL and for modelling awesome trust-based, accessible granting.

[The team is] doing such thoughtful work and modelling how it should be done for bigger/older philanthropic foundations and organizations! ” “Beyond just the fact of funding — I wanted to let you know that [The Youth Harbour’s] approach is beyond the pale. [They] have treated us, and our project, with grace, kindness, and generosity at every crucial juncture.

The trust [they] placed in us gave us space to do the best work we’ve ever done. Simply put, I hope that every funder in Canada takes a page from [The Youth Harbour’s] book going forward. If they’d been doing that for the last few decades, we might’ve already saved the world!

” OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS OUR DONORS We’d like to thank all of our supporters that have contributed to the efforts at The Youth Harbour.