Youth Climate Action Fund

The Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF), offered by Halifax Regional Municipality in partnership with HCi3, provides micro-grants to young innovators that have creative ideas about how to tackle climate change at the local level. Young people will face the worst potential impacts of climate change, and they also have some of the most inventive strategies for fighting it. 

YCAF is funded through the generous support of Bloomberg Philanthropies. HRM is one of 90 cities to receive $140,000 from Bloomberg and United Cities and Local Governments as part of the YCAF program. Funding will be distributed in micro-grants of up to $7,000 to youth-led and youth-serving groups doing climate-related work in the municipality.

How much can I apply for?

YCAF grants can range from $1,400-$7,000.

What projects are eligible to apply?

Projects must take place in HRM and must be led by and serving HRM’s youth residents aged 15 through 24. Proposed projects for YCAF must be new – the project cannot fund existing projects.

Focal Areas:

1. Green and Resilient Buildings

2. Clean Transportation 

3. Community Resilience

4. Just Transition

5. Clean Energy

Recipient eligibility:

• Youth aged 15-24, in teams of 3 or more

• Youth-serving organizations, with youth as active team leads

• Organizations must possess a bank account registered under the organization’s name, not an individual’s name.

• If youth-led teams do not possess bank accounts under an organization's name, they must have an organization that can administer and manage the funds and serve as a fiscal sponsor for the project.

Timeline

Application deadline is March 31, 2025.

Projects must be completed, and all funds spent by October 17, 2025.