Lever for Change Emerging Climate Champions Award 2025
The Lever for Change Emerging Climate Champions Award 2025 is a $25 million global open call that will provide flexible multiyear gifts of $1 million each to youth-led organizations advancing climate solutions across the globe.
📖 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.
The Emerging Climate Champions Award is informed by feedback from young climate leaders around the world and considers youth perspectives, as well as cultural and localized contexts for climate work.
Key Details
- Date Published: July 10, 2025
- Application Deadline: August 15, 2025
- Sponsor Organization: Enlight Foundation
🎁 Benefits
- Recipients of the Emerging Climate Champions Award will be announced in Summer 2026.
- Flexible gifts of $1 million will be awarded to selected organizations and disbursed over one to five years.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Organizations must meet the following requirements to apply:
- Open to climate organizations with youth leadership (ages 15-35).
- Must have at least two years of operation, be community-led, and demonstrate experience, strong potential, and measurable results in advancing durable climate solutions in the communities they serve.
- Open to organizations from all around the world, including those from historically under-resourced and/or underrepresented communities, such as:
- Indigenous-led organizations
- Women-led organizations
- Grassroots organizations
- Welcomes organizations working across a wide range of climate issues and solutions, including but not limited to:
- Education
- Movement building
- Climate justice
- Science/technology
- Economic opportunity
- Community resilience
- Conservation
- Advocacy
- Sustainable agriculture
- Disaster preparedness
🗓️ Application Process
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Registration Deadline:
Applicants must register to apply before 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Friday, August 15, 2025. -
Application Submission Deadline:
Once registered, applicants must submit an online application before 5 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, September 22, 2025. -
How to Apply:
- Visit the application portal to submit your application.
📅 Important Dates
- Application Deadline: August 15, 2025
- Application Submission Deadline: September 22, 2025
For more details, visit the Lever for Change Emerging Climate Champions Award page.
This award is a unique opportunity to empower youth-led organizations and drive impactful climate solutions globally. Don't miss your chance to apply! 🌱
- The Emerging Climate Champions Award recipients will be announced in Summer 2026. At that time, flexible gifts of $1 million will be awarded to selected organizations and disbursed over one to five years.
