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Small Grants for Youth-Led Initiatives

[May 2025]

Explore a range of small grant opportunities designed to support youth-led initiatives—including startups, teams, organizations, and community projects—making a positive impact.

Lead the Change in WASH: Apply for the SDG 6 Lead2030 Challenge

Deadline: 26 May 2025

Are you a young changemaker tackling water, sanitation & hygiene challenges? Lead2030 Challenge for SDG 6 is calling youth-led solutions that are innovative, impactful, and scalable.

Focus Areas:

  • Tech & AI for WASH access
  • Promoting hand hygiene
  • Water recycling & reuse

What you get:

  • $50,000 Grant (from Reckitt)
  • Mentorship for 12 months
  • Fully funded spot at One Young World Summit 2025

Eligibility

  • Youth-led (18–30 years old)
  • SDG6-aligned & impact-driven
  • Scalable, measurable, and financially viable solutions

For more information, visit Lead2030 Challenge.

Call for Solutions: Youth4Climate Funding Program 2025

Deadline: 26 May 2025

Are you a young changemaker with a bold solution for the climate crisis? The Youth4Climate initiative is now accepting applications for youth-led climate projects ready to launch or scale!

Led by the Government of Italy and UNDP, this program supports young people and youth-led organizations with:

  • Seed funding
  • Global visibility
  • Expert mentorship
  • Learning & networking opportunities

Thematic Areas

  • Sustainable Energy
  • Food & Agriculture
  • Climate & Health
  • Digital for Planet
  • Climate, Peace & Security
  • Nature for Climate Action

What you get:

  • Grants up to $30,000 + Mentorship & Global Exposure

Eligibility

  • Individuals aged 18–29
  • Youth-led CSOs, NGOs, CBOs, or companies with youth-majority leadership

For more information, visit Call for Solutions.

Apply Now: WFF Startup Innovation Awards 2025

Deadline: 22 May 2025

Are you a youth-led startup transforming the future of food with tech-driven solutions? This is your chance to be recognized on a global stage, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC).

Award Categories

  • Digital Innovation in Food Processing
  • Equitable and Sustainable Nutrition
  • Climate Resilience & Water Security
  • Innovation in Agrifood Systems

What you get:

  • Win up to $15,000
  • Get global exposure
  • Travel to the WFF flagship event in Rome
  • Join a pitch bootcamp & acceleration program
  • Connect with the UN, FAO & global investors

Eligibility

  • Open to startups led by founders aged 18–35
  • Priority to inclusive, scalable solutions

For more information, visit WFF.

Global AgriInno Challenge 2025: Calling All Young Innovators in Agriculture!

Deadline: 7 June 2025

The Global AgriInno Challenge 2025, co-hosted by FAO and Zhejiang University, is now accepting applications. They’re looking for youth-led teams tackling global agrifood challenges with cutting-edge, scalable tech solutions.

Theme 2025

Harnessing digital tech for climate-resilient, nutritionally secure, and efficient agrifood systems

What’s in it for you?

  • Up to $30,000 in seed funding
  • Global recognition at the FAO Science & Innovation Forum
  • 48-hour co-creation bootcamp with expert mentors
  • Full travel & lodging covered for finalists in China

Eligibility

  • Youth-led teams (<35 years)
  • Registered entities with under USD 1M turnover and less than 5 years
  • Inclusive of women agripreneurs encouraged

For more information, visit FAO.

Apply for the Youth Climate Changemakers Fund

Deadline: 8 June 2025

The Youth Climate Changemakers Fund by Generation Climate Europe & Funding Fairer Futures is offering micro-grants of up to €1,000, PLUS training, visibility, and networking to empower grassroots youth-led climate action.

Get support in:

  • Project management
  • Advocacy & campaigning
  • Communications & mobilisation
  • Fundraising
  • Building community power

Who can apply?

  • Your organisation must be youth led under 30
  • Based in an EU Member State
  • Not already receiving DEAR programme funding
  • Project runs 6–12 months

Not eligible:

  • Equipment costs, profit-making, political/religious agendas, personal benefits

For more information, visit Generation Climate Europe.

Grant Opportunity for Youth-Led Social Cohesion Initiatives

Deadline: 23 May 2025

UNDP is offering a grant competition to support youth-led initiatives aimed at enhancing social cohesion, peace, and resilience in 10 communities along the Nistru River in Moldova.

Key Objectives

  • Support 10 youth-led initiatives that focus on:
    • Social de-escalation
    • Intercultural dialogue
    • Strengthening regional cooperation

Grant Information

  • Maximum funding: Up to 16,000 USD per initiative!

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants must be legally registered NGOs/CSOs in Moldova.
  • Priority is given to organizations based in or actively working in STMM localities.
  • Past project experience in the target areas is highly valued.

For more information, visit UNDP.

Call for Proposals: Ideation Impact Challenge

Deadline: 23 May 2025

Are you a young changemaker passionate about gender and youth development in the Bangsamoro region? This is your chance to make an impact!

The Ideation Impact Challenge (IIC) is BYC’s official grant scheme to fund youth-led gender-focused policy research initiatives. This flagship program supports proposals that advance youth and gender studies, promoting evidence-based policymaking and solutions.

Focus Areas

  • Gendered dimensions of youth development
  • National Youth Commission’s 10 Centers of Youth Participation
  • Bangsamoro Youth Transition Priority Agenda

Grant Information

  • 4 selected proposals will receive up to ₱150,000 to explore and address key policy issues in BARMM.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Youth-serving/youth-led organizations
  • Civil Society Organizations

For more information, visit BYC.

Apply Now for YOU(th) CARE Collective Action Grants

Deadline: 30 June 2025

The International Institute of Debate is excited to announce the YOU(th) CARE – Collective Action for Justice and Change initiative, empowering youth-led and youth-focused organizations in Manouba, Zaghouan, and Gabès to create meaningful change.

Focus Areas

  • Youth leadership for local management and sustainability.
  • Inclusive participation in community decision-making.
  • Climate & pollution awareness through education and action.

Funding

  • Learn: Transformative education and grassroots training (Up to €10,000)
  • Act: Social & ecological community initiatives (Up to €15,000)
  • Engage: Advocacy & awareness campaigns (Up to €10,000)

Eligibility Criteria

  • Youth-led organizations and youth-focused initiatives based in Manouba, Zaghouan, or Gabès.
  • Non-profit entities like CSOs, youth groups, or networks.
  • Partnerships must include 1 lead applicant and at least 1 co-applicant from Tunisia.

For more information, visit IIDebate.