Youth Climate Action Fund

More Opportunities for Youth-Led Climate Action

The City of New Orleans is one of 300 cities from across the globe selected for Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund. As part of this program, the City will receive $50,000 to distribute as microgrants to fund youth-led climate initiatives benefiting the New Orleans community. From mobilizing tree-planting or public education campaigns to launching recycling or waste reduction initiatives, efforts stemming from the Youth Climate Action Fund will advance critical community goals and support the City of New Orleans Climate Action Plan.

Application Process

The City of New Orleans in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Foundation will award funding up to $5,000 for youth-led climate projects. The application period for the 2026 Youth Climate Action Fund microgrants is July 20-September 10, 2026. Teams applying for funding must meet the following criteria:

Teams must include three or more youth leaders
Teams are required to have a fiscal 503(c)3 sponsor to receive funds

2026 Application for Youth Climate Action Fund

Information Sessions

The Office of Youth and Families hosted the following sessions to educate potential applicants about the program:

An information session for interested applicants and organizations was held virtually on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. In this session, New Orleans Health and Human Services Department leaders gave an overview of the funding opportunity and how young adults can partner with local organizations to make a difference in our community. A recording of the information session and the PowerPoint presentation are available to view.

Information Session Info - PowerPoint presentation
An application assistance session was held virtually on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 3:30pm to answer questions and provide more information about the application process and the program.

Application assistance session - PowerPoint Presentation

Project Requirements

To activate youth-led initiatives and address urgent climate challenges in the City of New Orleans, all projects must fit within one or more of the following Climate Action Plan priorities:

Energy Efficiency
Transportation
Adaptation and Nature-Based Solutions
Circular Economy and Waste Reduction

This program is a key step in embedding youth participation in the City’s climate action strategy by:

Providing youth with resources, mentorship, and funding to implement high-impact climate projects that align with the City's Climate Action Plan.
Creating a platform for young leaders to co-govern climate initiatives and partner with city officials on long-term sustainability goals.
Develop a selection committee that includes City officials and community leaders to review applications and ensure an equitable grant process.
Sustaining successful projects beyond initial funding, allowing for long-term integration into City programs.

Microgrants will be reviewed and awarded based on criteria such as:

Climate Impact: Projects must align with the City of New Orleans Climate Action Plan and resilience goals.
Youth Leadership: Each project must have at least three young adults (aged 15-24 years) as project leads.
Equity & Sustainability: Projects should prioritize diverse, community-driven solutions and have potential for long-term integration into City efforts.

The Youth Climate Action Fund is aligned with New Orleans’ first-ever Youth Master Plan, a 10-year (2020-2030) roadmap for creating and sustaining a positive youth development-focused, results-oriented New Orleans that works for all of our young people.

View the Youth Master Plan

This initiative also aligns with The City's Parks Master Plan, The Big Green Easy.

2025 Round 2 Projects

Bee Beneficial, sponsored by Grow Dat Youth Farm – Building native bee habitats and training community members on pollinator care.
Bridging the Intergenerational Gap, sponsored by Illuminating the Youth – Connecting youth and seniors through shared gardening and climate dialogue.
Diversity in Bloom, sponsored by Louisiana Green Corps – Promoting resilience through gardening workshops and seed-sharing.
Iris Impact: NOLA Blooming, sponsored by New Harmony High School – Planting Louisiana irises and producing a youth-led documentary.
Sustainable Dining, sponsored by YMCA of Greater New Orleans – Creating a guide for eco-friendly packaging in local restaurants.
Junior Koats4Kids Krewe, sponsored by Koats4Kids – Upcycling coats and showcasing sustainable fashion through workshops.
Keep Loyola Beautiful, sponsored by Loyola Students for Environmental Action – Revitalizing a native vertical garden and raising awareness of urban biodiversity.
Lights, Camera, Climate Control, sponsored by Keyon Fitness & Performing Arts – Using performance and fitness to explore climate justice.
Lowering Food Waste Through Gardening, sponsored by UNO Garden Club – Composting dorm food waste for campus gardens.
Music from Waste, sponsored by Make Music NOLA – Repairing discarded instruments and hosting a concert featuring youth-created recycled art.
New Orleans Unhoused Recycling Initiative, sponsored by Grace at the Greenlight – Reducing plastic waste and promoting reusable bottles among unhoused communities.
Slow Fashion, sponsored by ricRACK – Educating teens on sustainable garment-making through an eight-week summer program.
SustainaBold, sponsored by Puentes New Orleans – Hosting recycled crafting days, bilingual climate education, and a youth climate magazine and blog.
Uncharted Waters, sponsored by Trinity City Arts – Hosting “read-and-color-along” events to build youth water literacy.
Warren Easton Green Initiative, sponsored by Youth Rebuilding NOLA – Installing stormwater planters and trees on a high school campus.
Water Wise Youth, sponsored by Water Wise Gulf South – Creating educational games for local festivals focused on waste reduction and green infrastructure.
Youth for a Greener Tomorrow, sponsored by Reaping the Harvest – Expanding recycling infrastructure and educating the community through digital content.
2nd Line Clean Up, sponsored by Train Up A Child NOLA – Placing recycling bins along second line routes and leading environmental workshops.