There’s not many opportunities for young people to turn their creative ideas into action in our community, especially if their plans need funding. Thanks to a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, young people in Akron can participate in the 2026-27 Global Youth Climate Action Fund initiative. Bloomberg Philanthropies has worked with over 300,000 young people across five continents to create green spaces, plant trees or community gardens and other creative ideas, and they have partnered with the City Of Akron.
Akron’s Youth Climate Action Fund is a microgrant program to empower young people to create positive change in our community through climate action. It’s meant to foster collaboration, connect our youth with local organizations and enable them to become real changemakers. Akron’s program will provide a total of $40,000 in grants from $1,000-$5,000 to teams of youths ages 14-24 who want to take climate actions.
Awarded youth teams will need to develop and carry out a climate action project from start to finish. Each team is required to have a sponsoring organization that will receive the grant funds on their behalf and spend the funds to support the project. I’m sure a number of you are involved in these type of organizations; the Akron Garden Club, Friends of Metro Parks, Scouts, church youth groups and others.if your organizations is open to being a fiscally responsible agent, please contact me via email or phone.
Applications open until September 14, 2026. I know there’s some inspired young people in Ward 8 with great ideas, so let’s get the word out and get them connected to this fantastic program! Full details and dates for virtual information sessions are below.