Young people with bold ideas for tackling climate change and creating a more sustainable community can apply for the Youth Climate Action Grants 2026, a funding opportunity offered by the City of Melbourne with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund.

The program provides grants of up to $7,500 for climate and sustainability projects led by young people aged 15 to 25, with projects supported by organisations that work with young people.

The funding is designed to help young people turn their climate ideas into practical initiatives that can create meaningful change within the City of Melbourne municipality.

Applications for the 2026 round will open on Monday, 17 August 2026, and close on Monday, 28 September 2026.

Opportunity Overview

The Youth Climate Action Grants are intended to support young people who are passionate about climate change and want to take practical action in their communities.

The program recognises that young people have an important role to play in developing innovative responses to environmental and sustainability challenges. Rather than simply encouraging young people to discuss climate change, the grants provide financial support to help transform ideas into real projects.

Successful projects may focus on areas such as climate education, community awareness, sustainability initiatives, environmental action and other creative approaches to addressing climate-related challenges.

Key details

• Opportunity: Youth Climate Action Grants 2026
• Category: Grant
• Grant amount: Up to $7,500
• Target age: Young people aged 15 to 25
• Project focus: Climate action and sustainability
• Project leadership: Projects must be led by young people
• Supporting organisations: Projects must be supported by organisations that work with young people
• Project location: City of Melbourne municipality
• Project completion deadline: Projects must be completed by April 2027
• Applications open: Monday, 17 August 2026
• Application deadline: Monday, 28 September 2026
• Information sessions: August and September 2026
• Application platform: SmartyGrants

About the Youth Climate Action Grants

The City of Melbourne has established the Youth Climate Action Grants to provide young people with an opportunity to take meaningful action on climate change.

According to the City of Melbourne, many young people care deeply about climate change and want to contribute to bold initiatives that make a difference. The grants are intended to help turn that interest and commitment into practical projects.

The 2026 funding round is supported by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund, which has enabled the City of Melbourne to secure a third round of funding for its Youth Climate Action Grants.

Through this initiative, young people can develop projects that address environmental challenges while contributing to their local community.

What Can the Grant Support?

The program is broad enough to accommodate different types of climate and sustainability projects.

The City of Melbourne specifically highlights examples including:

1. Climate education initiatives

Young people could develop projects designed to educate their peers, schools, community groups or other audiences about climate change and sustainability.

Potential initiatives could include educational workshops, learning activities, community training or youth-focused environmental education programs.

2. Climate awareness campaigns

Projects could focus on increasing awareness of climate change and encouraging people to adopt more sustainable behaviours.

A strong awareness campaign might use community events, digital communication, educational materials, public engagement or other creative approaches to reach its intended audience.

3. On-the-ground climate action

The grants can also support practical initiatives that move beyond awareness and education into direct action.

Applicants with ideas for tangible climate or sustainability projects may use the opportunity to develop and implement their projects within the City of Melbourne municipality.

4. Innovative sustainability projects

Young people with creative ideas for improving sustainability in their communities can also consider whether their proposal fits within the program’s objectives.

The key consideration is that the proposed initiative should have a clear connection to climate action or sustainability and demonstrate how it can create meaningful change.

Who Can Benefit From This Opportunity?

The Youth Climate Action Grants are specifically designed around youth-led climate action.

The program is therefore particularly relevant to young people aged 15 to 25 who have an idea for a climate or sustainability project and want to develop that idea into a practical community initiative.

However, young applicants are not expected to operate completely independently. The program requires projects to be supported by organisations that work with young people.

This structure can provide young people with organisational support while ensuring that young people remain at the centre of the project.

Geographic Eligibility

An important requirement of this opportunity is the location of the proposed project.

The grant information states that:

Grant projects must be delivered within the City of Melbourne municipality.

This means that the funding is intended for projects that will take place within the City of Melbourne municipality rather than projects being delivered elsewhere in Australia or internationally.

Applicants should therefore carefully consider the location and intended beneficiaries of their proposed project before applying.

Age Requirement

The Youth Climate Action Grants support projects led by young people aged 15 to 25 years old.

This age focus makes the program particularly suitable for youth leaders, students, young community organisers and other young people who are interested in developing practical responses to climate and sustainability challenges.

Applicants should carefully review the official application guidelines before submitting an application to confirm all eligibility conditions and requirements.

Is This Opportunity Open to International Applicants?

The opportunity is administered by the City of Melbourne and requires funded projects to be delivered within the City of Melbourne municipality.

The information provided does not indicate that this is a general international grant that can be applied for from any country or continent.

The program is geographically focused on projects within Melbourne, and prospective applicants should therefore consult the official eligibility requirements and application guidelines to determine whether their specific circumstances qualify.

In particular, the project-location requirement is central to eligibility.

Funding Available

Successful projects can receive up to $7,500.

This provides young people and their supporting organisations with financial resources to develop and implement meaningful climate or sustainability initiatives.

Applicants should ensure that their proposed budget is realistic and clearly connected to the activities required to deliver the project.

A strong proposal should demonstrate why the requested funding is necessary and how the funding will contribute to the project’s intended outcomes.

Project Delivery Period

Grant recipients must complete their projects by April 2027.

This means applicants should consider the project timeline carefully when developing their proposals.

A strong project plan should clearly demonstrate:

1. What the project aims to achieve.
2. Who will be involved.
3. Where the project will take place.
4. What activities will be undertaken.
5. What resources will be required.
6. How the grant funding will be used.
7. What outcomes the project expects to achieve.
8. How the project will be completed by April 2027.

How to Apply

The City of Melbourne has outlined a straightforward application process.

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Before starting the application, prospective applicants should establish whether they and their proposed project meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

Pay particular attention to the youth age requirement, project leadership requirements, supporting organisation requirement and project-location requirement.

Step 2: Read the application guidelines

Applicants should carefully read the application guidelines and requirements before preparing their submission.

This is an important stage because understanding the requirements can help applicants avoid submitting incomplete or unsuitable proposals.

Step 3: Attend an information session

Information sessions are available to help prospective applicants understand the Youth Climate Action Grants and develop their project ideas.

Attendance is optional, but the sessions may be particularly useful for young people who want additional guidance before submitting an application.

Step 4: Complete the application

Applicants should prepare their proposal and submit it through the official application form.

Applications must be submitted by Monday, 28 September 2026.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day where possible, particularly if they need assistance from a supporting organisation or need additional time to review their application.

Information Sessions

The City of Melbourne is offering several information sessions in August and September 2026.

These sessions are delivered in partnership with the City of Yarra and are intended to help applicants learn more about the grants and receive support in developing and submitting applications.

Wednesday, 19 August 2026

Time: 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Location: Collingwood Library, 11 Stanton Street, Abbotsford

This is an in-person project ideas workshop.

Thursday, 3 September 2026

Time: 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Location: Online

The online meeting link will be provided after registration.

Thursday, 10 September 2026

Time: 5:30pm to 7:00pm

Location: Melbourne Town Hall, 90–120 Swanston Street, Melbourne

This is an in-person information session.

Prospective applicants can register for the sessions through the links provided on the City of Melbourne’s official Youth Climate Action Grants webpage.

Why Young People Should Consider Applying

The Youth Climate Action Grants offer more than financial support.

For young people interested in climate change, sustainability, community development and leadership, developing and delivering a funded project can provide valuable practical experience.

Potential benefits include:

• Access to funding of up to $7,500 for an eligible project.
• An opportunity to turn a climate or sustainability idea into a real initiative.
• Practical experience in project planning and implementation.
• Experience working with a supporting organisation.
• An opportunity to engage with other young people and community members.
• The chance to contribute to climate action within Melbourne.
• An opportunity to develop leadership and community engagement skills.
• Practical experience that may strengthen a young person’s future academic or professional profile.
• The opportunity to create measurable environmental or community impact.

What Could Make a Strong Project Proposal?

Although applicants should follow the official guidelines, a compelling proposal should clearly communicate the problem the project intends to address and explain how the proposed activities will create positive change.

Applicants should consider presenting:

A clear problem

Explain the climate or sustainability issue the project will address.

A practical solution

Describe what the project will actually do rather than relying only on broad statements about climate change.

Clear beneficiaries

Identify who will benefit from the project and why the project is relevant to them.

A realistic implementation plan

Explain how the project will move from an idea to implementation.

A sensible budget

Clearly connect the proposed expenditure to project activities and outcomes.

Measurable outcomes

Explain what the project expects to achieve and, where possible, how those results will be measured.

Youth leadership

Because the grants are specifically designed to support projects led by young people, applicants should clearly demonstrate the role young people will play in designing and delivering the initiative.

Important Deadline

The application period begins on:

Monday, 17 August 2026

The application deadline is:

Monday, 28 September 2026

Applicants should ensure that their completed application is submitted before the deadline.

Grant projects must subsequently be delivered within the City of Melbourne municipality and completed by April 2027.

Application Link

The City of Melbourne provides a preview of the grant application through its SmartyGrants application platform.

Grant application:
Preview the Youth Climate Action Grants application

Applicants should also review the official City of Melbourne Youth Climate Action Grants webpage for the latest guidelines, requirements, updates and information-session details.

City of Melbourne – Youth Climate Action Grants

For more grants, visit the OFY website HERE

Questions and Further Information

Applicants who have questions about the grants can contact the City of Melbourne through the email addresses provided on the official opportunity page:

• youth@melbourne.vic.gov.au
• krystel.bendle@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Applicants should use the official contact channels if they require clarification about eligibility, application requirements, project suitability or other aspects of the grant.

Youth Connect Newsletter

Young people interested in this opportunity and other youth services information can also subscribe to the City of Melbourne’s Youth Connect Newsletter.

The newsletter provides updates about youth services and related opportunities.

Important Things to Remember Before Applying

Before submitting an application, prospective applicants should pay particular attention to the following:

1. Age: The program supports projects led by young people aged 15 to 25.
2. Project leadership: The project must be led by young people.
3. Organisational support: Projects must be supported by organisations that work with young people.
4. Location: Projects must be delivered within the City of Melbourne municipality.
5. Funding: Grants of up to $7,500 are available.
6. Project completion: Funded projects must be completed by April 2027.
7. Application opening: Applications open on 17 August 2026.
8. Application deadline: Applications close on 28 September 2026.
9. Guidelines: Applicants should read the full application guidelines before applying.
10. Information sessions: Optional sessions are available in August and September to help applicants develop their ideas and applications.

Conclusion

The Youth Climate Action Grants 2026 provide young people with an opportunity to move from climate concerns and ideas to practical action.

With grants of up to $7,500, the program can help eligible youth-led projects deliver education initiatives, awareness campaigns, sustainability activities and other forms of practical climate action within the City of Melbourne municipality.

The opportunity is particularly valuable for young people who already have a strong idea but need financial and organisational support to turn that idea into a tangible community project.

Applications open on 17 August 2026 and close on 28 September 2026. Young people considering applying should begin developing their project ideas early, identify an appropriate supporting organisation, review the application requirements and consider attending one of the available information sessions.

For complete eligibility requirements, application guidelines and the latest updates, applicants should consult the official City of Melbourne information before submitting their applications.