The Libra Philanthropies 2027 Rising Global Leaders (RGL) Changemakers Climate Cohort is now accepting applications from emerging leaders who are already working to advance climate action through community-based initiatives, organizations, or other climate-focused work.

The programme is a nine-month leadership development and experiential learning initiative designed to help rising climate leaders strengthen their leadership capabilities, expand their networks, understand the systems shaping climate decisions, and build their ability to create meaningful change within their communities and beyond.

Applications opened on September 22, 2026, and will close on October 23, 2026. The programme will run from January to September 2027 and will combine in-person convenings, online sessions, peer learning, strategic workshops, experiential learning, and individualized capacity-building support.

What Is the 2027 Rising Global Leaders Changemakers Climate Cohort?

The Climate Cohort is part of Libra Philanthropies’ Rising Global Leaders programme, which supports emerging and community-based leaders through leadership development, mentorship, immersive learning, peer exchange, and international networking opportunities.

Within the Rising Global Leaders programme, the Changemakers pathway is designed for leaders who already have a clear focus area and are actively creating impact within their communities. The Climate Cohort applies this approach specifically to climate action and community-grounded climate work.

The 2027 cohort recognizes that climate change affects much more than the environment. Climate-related decisions can influence:

• Where people can live
• How communities develop
• Economic growth and livelihoods
• Population displacement
• Wildlife and ecosystems
• Energy systems
• Land use
• Financial systems
• Public policy
• Community resilience
• Long-term development

Libra Philanthropies’ programme is therefore intended to help emerging leaders better understand the systems, institutions, funding structures, and decision-making environments that influence climate action.

Why the Climate Cohort Was Created

One of the central ideas behind the programme is the gap between those who experience climate impacts most directly and those who participate in decisions about climate policy and investment.

Climate decisions made today can have consequences that extend across generations. Yet emerging leaders who are closest to climate-related challenges may not always have access to the institutions, networks, resources, or decision-making spaces where priorities are established.

The Climate Cohort seeks to help address this gap by providing participants with:

• Knowledge
• Leadership skills
• Networks
• Confidence
• Organizational capacity
• Exposure to climate decision-making systems
• Opportunities for peer learning
• Experiential learning
• Connections with other leaders

The official programme describes the goal as helping emerging climate leaders navigate the systems influencing climate action and strengthen their ability to create change.

Who Is the Climate Cohort Designed For?

The programme is intended for climate leaders between the ages of 20 and 35 who are already leading or playing a significant role in a climate-focused initiative or organization.

The initiative or organization should:

• Have been operating for at least one year
• Be nonpartisan
• Preferably have an annual budget below $500,000
• Address climate change in ways grounded in the needs and experiences of the communities it serves

Applicants should also be willing to collaborate, share their experiences, participate in collective learning, and contribute to a broader community of climate leaders.

Importantly, the programme is intended for people who are already taking action, rather than individuals who are simply interested in climate change but have no existing climate-focused initiative or organizational role.

What Participants Will Learn

The 2027 Climate Cohort is organized around three thematic pillars.

1. Understanding the Climate System

Participants will explore how different systems influence climate action.

This includes examining:

• Funding
• Power
• Institutions
• Accountability
• Climate commitments
• Decision-making
• The relationship between resources and climate solutions

The goal is to help participants understand not only what climate challenges exist, but also how decisions about climate solutions are made and which factors determine whether those solutions receive support.

2. Local Adaptation and Community Resilience

The second pillar focuses on the relationship between climate change and people’s everyday lives.

Participants will examine:

• How climate change affects communities
• Community responses to climate challenges
• Locally led adaptation
• Resilience-building
• Community-based approaches to climate action

This emphasis reflects the programme’s focus on climate initiatives that are grounded in the needs and experiences of communities.

3. Moving From Participation to Climate Action and Influence

The third pillar focuses on helping participants translate participation into sustained influence.

Participants will develop relationships, strategies, tools, and credibility that can help them advance climate solutions and participate more effectively in spaces where climate priorities are shaped.

This includes developing the ability to move from simply participating in climate conversations toward building meaningful influence and sustained action.

What Does the 9-Month Programme Include?

The Climate Cohort combines several different learning and leadership-development approaches.

In-Person Convenings

Participants will come together in person three times during the programme.

Kickoff — February 2027

The programme begins with an in-person kickoff focused on exploring the foundations of climate action.

The location is currently listed as to be determined.

Experiential Learning Trip — May 2027

Participants will take part in an experiential learning trip designed to connect the cohort’s learning with real-world climate contexts.

The destination is also currently listed as to be determined.

Concordia Summit and Graduation — September 2027

The programme concludes in New York City, where participants will attend the 2027 Concordia Annual Summit, reflect on their development, graduate from the Climate Cohort, and become part of a broader global leadership community.

Strategic Workshops

Participants will take part in expert-led workshops that provide both theoretical and practical learning.

These workshops are designed to:

• Deepen participants’ understanding of climate systems
• Challenge existing assumptions
• Introduce practical tools
• Develop analytical skills
• Connect climate concepts with real-world work
• Help participants apply learning directly to their initiatives

The workshops will be connected to the programme’s three thematic pillars.

Personalized Capacity-Building

A major component of the programme is individualized support.

Participants will receive capacity-building tailored to the needs of the cohort and their work.

Areas may include:

• Strategy
• Governance
• Communications
• Partnership building
• Leadership
• Organizational development

This means participants will not only learn together as a group but will also have opportunities to strengthen skills relevant to their individual leadership and organizational challenges.

Cohort Reflection Circles

The Climate Cohort also includes Cohort Reflection Circles.

These sessions provide participants with a space to:

• Share experiences
• Discuss challenges
• Exchange ideas
• Reflect on their work
• Learn from other participants
• Explore possible strategies together
• Build relationships with fellow climate leaders

The emphasis is on peer-to-peer learning and honest exchange rather than only formal instruction.

RGL Engagement Circles

Participants will also have the opportunity to share their knowledge with younger members of the broader Rising Global Leaders community.

Through RGL Engagement Circles, Climate Cohort participants, referred to as Changemakers, can lead discussions and workshops for individuals who are at earlier stages of their leadership journeys.

This creates an additional opportunity for participants to reflect on their own experiences and contribute to the development of younger emerging leaders.

Mentorship, Networking and Global Exposure

The Climate Cohort is designed not only as an educational programme but also as a leadership network.

The programme provides opportunities for:

• Mentorship
• Peer exchange
• International networking
• Experiential learning
• Engagement with other social-impact leaders
• Connections across different climate initiatives and communities

Libra Philanthropies describes Rising Global Leaders as a broader programme intended to connect emerging leaders through mentorship, immersive experiences, and peer-to-peer exchange.

The Climate Cohort therefore provides participants with the opportunity to develop relationships beyond their immediate organizations and communities.

Programme Time Commitment

Participants should expect approximately 100–110 hours of active participation throughout the nine-month programme.

This includes:

• In-person workshops
• Virtual sessions
• Reflection circles
• Independent activities
• Additional engagements

The most intensive periods are expected to coincide with the three in-person gatherings:

• February: Kickoff, approximately four days
• May: Experiential/Immersion Trip, approximately four days
• September: New York City trip and Concordia Summit, approximately three days

Participants are expected to attend scheduled sessions in order to fully participate in the programme.

Is the Climate Cohort Fully Funded?

Yes. According to the official Libra Philanthropies programme page, all travel and programme-related costs will be fully covered by Libra Philanthropies.

This is particularly relevant because the programme includes international or multi-location in-person components, including the experiential learning trip and the final New York City gathering.

The programme information does not state a separate personal stipend or salary for participants, so applicants should distinguish between covered programme/travel costs and a personal financial award.

Apply HERE

How Many Participants Will Be Selected?

The 2027 Climate Cohort is expected to include 6–8 participants.

The small cohort is intended to allow participants to develop deeper relationships, collaborate closely, and receive more tailored support throughout the programme.

This makes the application process selective, particularly because the programme is intended for leaders who are already engaged in climate-focused work.

Application Process

The application process consists of several stages.

Step 1: Complete the Online Application

Applicants must complete the written application, which takes approximately 30 minutes according to the official programme page.

Applicants must also submit a short recorded video introducing themselves and their climate-related work.

Step 2: Application Review

Libra Philanthropies will review submitted applications against the programme’s eligibility and selection criteria.

The organization uses a rolling review process as applications are received.

Step 3: Interviews

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with members of the programme team.

Step 4: Final Selection

Selected participants will be notified before the 2027 Climate Cohort is publicly announced.

The official timeline lists:

• Applications open: September 22, 2026
• Applications close: October 23, 2026
• Rolling application review
• Shortlisted interviews: November 2026
• Final cohort announcement: December 2026

Important Deadline

The application deadline for the 2027 Rising Global Leaders Changemakers Climate Cohort is:

October 23, 2026.

Applicants should complete the written application and recorded video submission before the deadline.

What Kind of Climate Work Is Relevant?

The programme does not limit applicants to one specific climate discipline.

The official eligibility language focuses on climate-focused initiatives or organizations and community-grounded climate work.

This can potentially include initiatives working around areas such as:

• Climate adaptation
• Community resilience
• Environmental sustainability
• Climate policy
• Climate education
• Energy
• Land and natural resources
• Community development
• Climate finance
• Environmental justice
• Locally led climate solutions

However, applicants should ensure that their actual initiative demonstrates a clear connection to climate change and is grounded in the needs and experiences of the communities they serve.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

The Climate Cohort is structured around the idea that climate leadership requires more than technical knowledge about climate change.

Participants are expected to develop an understanding of the systems surrounding climate action.

This includes understanding:

• Who makes climate decisions
• How climate priorities are established
• How funding influences climate solutions
• How institutions shape action
• How communities respond to climate impacts
• How leaders can build influence
• How organizations can strengthen their strategies
• How different leaders can collaborate across communities and borders

The programme therefore combines leadership development, organizational capacity-building, experiential learning and climate-focused systems thinking.

Learn more HERE

Why Community-Grounded Leadership Matters

A defining feature of the Climate Cohort is its focus on leaders whose climate work is connected to communities.

Rather than focusing exclusively on large institutions or established organizations, the programme seeks leaders who are already working within or alongside communities to address climate-related challenges.

This reflects the broader philosophy of Libra Philanthropies’ Rising Global Leaders programme, which describes Changemakers as community-based leaders who understand local challenges firsthand and are already taking action, often with limited resources.

About Libra Philanthropies

Libra Philanthropies was established in 2023 by the Logothetis family as an independent 501(c)(3) foundation. Its work focuses on developing partnerships, creating programmes, supporting changemakers, and addressing social needs internationally.

The organization describes its broader Rising Global Leaders programme as a platform for supporting emerging leaders at different stages of their leadership journeys.

The programme has two broad participant pathways:

• Emerging Leaders, supporting individuals at earlier stages of leadership
• Changemakers, supporting community-based leaders who are already creating impact

The 2027 Climate Cohort falls within the Changemakers pathway.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Applicants can strengthen their preparation by making sure their application clearly communicates the connection between their leadership, their initiative, their community, and climate action.

1. Clearly explain your climate initiative

Do not simply state that you care about climate change. Explain what your initiative actually does.

2. Demonstrate your leadership role

The programme is designed for people already leading or playing a significant role in climate-focused work.

Explain your responsibilities and contribution.

3. Show your community connection

The initiative should be grounded in the needs and experiences of the communities it serves.

Explain how you understand those needs and how the community is connected to your work.

4. Explain what you want to learn

Think about the leadership, organizational, strategic, governance, communications, or partnership skills that would help you strengthen your work.

5. Prepare your video carefully

The recorded video is part of the application. Use it as an opportunity to communicate who you are, what you work on, and why the Climate Cohort is relevant to your leadership journey.

6. Demonstrate willingness to collaborate

The programme includes peer learning, reflection circles and shared engagements, so applicants should be prepared to learn from and contribute to a cohort of other leaders.

Conclusion

The 2027 Rising Global Leaders Changemakers Climate Cohort by Libra Philanthropies is a nine-month leadership development and experiential learning programme for emerging climate leaders aged 20–35 who are already working through climate-focused initiatives or organizations.

The programme combines strategic workshops, personalized capacity-building, peer reflection, mentorship and networking, experiential learning, in-person convenings and opportunities to engage with younger emerging leaders. Participants will also attend an experiential learning trip and conclude the programme at the 2027 Concordia Annual Summit in New York City.

The programme is designed around three central themes: understanding the climate system; local adaptation and community resilience; and moving from participation to climate action and influence.

The cohort will consist of approximately 6–8 participants, and all programme-related and travel costs are covered by Libra Philanthropies.

Applications opened on September 22, 2026, and close on October 23, 2026. Applicants should be between 20 and 35, already leading or significantly contributing to a climate-focused initiative or organization, and working on climate action that is grounded in community needs and experiences.

for more opportunities click HERE