Convenings are powerful opportunities for collective action that strengthen movements, forge new connections, and inspire partnerships. The Youth Climate Convening Grant supports youth climate and social justice activists in creating spaces to build relationships, innovate, and prepare for future resilience. This grant helps organize gatherings—either online or offline—that contribute to strategy alignment and collective impact.
Eligibility Criteria
We invite applications from youth groups and leaders who meet the following criteria:
- Age: Applicants must be between 16 and 33 years old.
- Focus Areas: Actively working on climate and intersectional climate & social justice issues.
- Geography:
- This is a global funding opportunity.
- We particularly encourage applications from the Global South and communities facing greater challenges.
- Please note: This opportunity is not open to applicants based in India.
- Type of Applicant: We welcome applications from:
- Individuals
- Informal groups
- Registered organisations
Program Details
- Grant Amount:
- The grants range from GBP 500 to GBP 6,000.
- Program Support:
- Capacity-building: Skills training, workshops, mentoring, and coaching.
- Community & Network Building: Learning, sharing best practices, and co-creating collective action.
- Networking: Relationship building among organisations with similar objectives.
- Partnerships: Opportunities for creating collaborations.
- Strategy Development: Developing a collective strategy for addressing specific climate and social justice issues.
- Resilience & Well-being: Activities that support mental, emotional, and physical well-being, especially for frontline activists and marginalised communities.
- Logistics Support: The grant can also cover logistical expenses, such as:
- Travel to convenings (within-country or regionally).
- Venue hire, catering, sound equipment.
- Facilitator fees.
- What We Will Not Fund:
- Attendance at global events such as COP, Stockholm50, G7/20, Climate Weeks, etc.
How to Apply
- Prepare Your Application:
- Description of how the grant will be spent and the activities you plan to carry out.
- A detailed budget breakdown (template provided).
- Contact details (either for you as an individual or your organisation).
- Links to your work (e.g., social media or webpages showcasing your previous initiatives).
- Application Process:
- Fill out the application form here.
- You will be contacted for clarifications or additional information if needed during the selection process.
- Grant Management:
- If your application is approved, we will assist you with managing the grant.
- You will need to keep receipts for expenses and submit a final report on your activities and the outcomes.
- We encourage you to share photos or videos of your activities.
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: 3 March 2025
- Activities to be implemented by: 30 November 2025
- Information Webinar:
- Date: 13 February 2025
- Time: 14:00 to 15:30 CET
- Registration: Register for the webinar here
How We Decide
- Your application will be reviewed by a steering committee, composed of members from the youth climate movement in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin & South America, along with a representative from UMI Fund.
- The selection process will take 4 to 6 weeks. During this period, you may be asked for additional information.
- Once the final decisions have been made, all applicants will be notified by email.
About UMI Fund
The Urban Movement Innovation Fund (UMI) connects and strengthens citizen engagement to foster a socially just, zero-carbon future. UMI supports innovative projects and global collaboration across critical sectors.
About SCN
The Social Change Nest (SCN) specialises in building and supporting people-powered networks and social movements. SCN handles due diligence, grant agreements, and the disbursement of funds to grantees.
Using AI in Your Application
We recognise that AI tools are increasingly used in various professional contexts, including grant applications. Whether you choose to use AI tools or not, here are some considerations:
Potential Benefits:
- Reduces barriers: AI can support individuals during the application process.
- Provides guidance: AI can suggest what to include in your responses.
- Offers feedback: It can highlight areas for improvement in your application.
Potential Drawbacks:
- Generic content: Over-reliance on AI might make your application feel less unique.
- Inaccuracies: AI tools may generate incorrect or overly creative information.
- Loss of personal touch: Your experiences and personality might not be reflected fully.
- Can I apply if I am not part of a registered organisation? Yes! We welcome applications from individuals, informal groups, and collectives.
- What do I need to prepare for my application? The application includes a project description, budget breakdown, and contact information.
- Who will have access to my information? The steering committee, UMI Fund, and SCN staff will process your application.
- Can a project that has received funding in the past apply again? Yes, as long as you are not currently implementing a project funded by UMI.
- Can newly established organisations apply? Yes! We will guide you through the application and reporting process.
Application deadline: 3 March 2025
For any further questions or help with your application, please contact us at [email protected]. Start your application today!
