Riverside opens applications for $50,000 youth climate fund

Riverside will begin accepting applications August 17 for a youth climate fund that will provide $50,000 for projects led by residents ages 15 to 24.

The application period for the City of Riverside’s 2026–27 Youth Climate Action Fund is scheduled to run through September 25, according to the city’s Office of Sustainability. The program is part of a Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative that pairs city governments with young people on local climate projects.

Funding for projects inside Riverside

The program is intended for youth-led projects that take place within the City of Riverside. Selected project teams may receive microgrants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, and the city says it may support up to 40 youth-led groups.

The up-to-40 figure is a program target, not a guarantee that 40 teams will be selected. The advertised grant range also does not mean every applicant will receive funding.

Projects should align with Riverside priorities including extreme-heat preparedness, urban trees, sustainable transportation, local food systems, energy and civic engagement. The city has not said that the grants themselves will produce a citywide reduction in heat, emissions or household costs.

An organization must handle the money

Young people will lead the ideas, planning and project work, but grant funds will not be paid directly to individuals. Funding must go through an eligible organization that can receive and manage the microgrant.

Eligible sponsors may include youth-led or youth-serving organizations, city agencies, schools and other educational institutions, museums and community organizations. The city says qualifying organizations must generally be legally registered, recognized as nonprofit or charitable organizations unless they are public entities, and maintain a bank account in the organization’s name.

Private companies, individuals, political parties and party-affiliated organizations are not eligible sponsors. The city unit managing the program also cannot act as a project sponsor.

What applicants should do now

Eligible Riverside youth teams can use the days before August 17 to develop a project idea and identify a qualifying sponsor. Possible projects could address shade or cooling resources, tree care, walking and bicycling, food access, energy efficiency or climate education, provided the work occurs in Riverside.

The city says the application will be posted on its Youth Climate Action Fund page when the submission window opens. Additional application details, including workshop information, are expected as the application period approaches.

The city’s timeline calls for project selection in October and November 2026. Implementation is planned for December 2026 through April 2027, followed by a completion and wrap-up period in April 2027.

Riverside was selected for the 2026–27 Youth Climate Action Fund cohort by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bloomberg describes the initiative as providing funding and technical assistance for small-scale, youth-led projects addressing local climate challenges.

Sources

• Youth Climate Action Fund | City of Riverside Office of Sustainability
• Bloomberg Philanthropies annual report