Our Kids’ Climate Microgrants

Our Microgrants are small grants of US$5,000 for parent-led, intergenerational, and family-centered climate engagement work. 

They help climate organizers carry out climate projects and activities, from community mobilization, education, awareness-raising, artistic and creative interventions, street actions, digital campaigning – or a combination of these approaches. 

For the 2026 round, we are particularly interested in applications for parent-led and family-focused projects related to clean energy, clean air, and fossil fuel phase-out.  We will award 20 Microgrants in 2026. Projects must be implemented between September 2026 and February 2027.  

This is a closed call. Microgrants are available for groups, organizations, and individuals within OKC’s global network. This includes: 

  • former Fellows,
  • former Microgrant recipients,
  • Clean Air Circle members, 
  • participants in OKC community calls, OKC campaigns (eg. #OurKidsAir), and OKC delegations,
  • members of OKC affiliated groups listed here/active in the OKC community.  

This year, we are introducing a nomination pathway. Groups from our community and trusted partners will nominate groups outside our network to apply. This process is designed to help us reach and support additional groups who are advancing clean energy, clean air, and fossil fuel phase-out efforts through a parent-led and family-focused approach, that are not yet part of the OKC network. If you have been nominated, we will share the application form directly with you. 

We will open for applications on Tuesday April 28 2026. The deadline to apply is May 15th, 2026; 23:59 pm GMT.  We will not accept applications received outside this timeframe. 

We recommend reading the Criteria and Requirements document and FAQ below before applying. 

Our Kids’ Climate has been supporting local and national parent climate groups through Microgrants since 2020. In total, we have distributed 150 microgrants in 48 countries, led by 121 different groups.

Projects we have previously funded

The gallery below highlights projects funded in the 2025 Microgrant round, which also focused on initiatives addressing clean energy, clean air, and the phase-out of fossil fuels.

The Network for the Indigenous Peoples Solomons (NIPS), led by OKC Fellow Aydah Akao, brought solar power to community centers in the remote Isabel province, a region particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather. The centers play a crucial role during gatherings and community events. 

Aydah said: “Witnessing the positive impact – families accessing light for education, women feeling safer at night, and communities gathering with renewed hope – deepened my resolve.”

In the Niger Delta, oil extraction has devastated the environment, poisoning waterways, destroying farmland, and creating one of the world’s most polluted regions. The Lekeh Development Foundation, a local community group, trained community members in solar installation and maintenance, and worked with them to install solar street lighting. The group also organized intergenerational dialogues, enabling elders to speak to youth about environmental changes experienced in their lifetimes, and linking this with the need to transition to renewables.

Clarissa Canova is a former OKC Fellow and the leader of Mães pelo Clima (Mothers for Climate), a social initiative that aims to connect, engage, and empower Brazilian mothers who share concerns about the climate crisis and how it affects their children. She used her OKC Microgrant to launch a climate-education and family-mobilization project, called “Read for Air”. At its heart, was the production and distribution of a new children’s book titled “The Air We Breathe” (“O Ar que Respiramos” in Portuguese) written by Clarissa.  The book was launched at COP30 and since then has been shared at numerous community-based events throughout Brazil. The project also involved partnerships with educators and local governments. 

We funded a community art project in Austin, Texas, conceived and delivered by Parents Climate Community. At its center was a 10-foot clean energy Sun Puppet, used as an avatar by parents at various events in the city to call for solar energy. This striking and creative activation opened up community discussions on how to shift from fossil fuels to clean, healthy renewable energy, and was linked to a petition for solar on city buildings.  Community members were actively involved in building the puppet at local events – contributing to elements like its arms (“power chains”) and assembling colorful flower garlands for its necklaces. In parallel, the group developed a 10-week artivism and clean energy curriculum for youth living near existing gas infrastructure in Austin.

Parents For Climate used their Microgrant to address vehicle pollution risks outside schools and childcare centres across Australian cities. They ran two public engagement streams, Clean Air For Kids and Idle Off, and developed a suite of campaign tools and resources to support parent action.  The project involved a Clean Air For Kids petition, webinars to inform parents, and recruited a network of Clean Air Reps to drive local action in schools and communities. Alongside grassroots mobilization, they convened expert voices, engaged media, and advanced conversations with local governments on Idle Off Zones and related reforms. Partnerships with academic and public health experts, including Melbourne University, helped ground the campaign in strong evidence and elevate its credibility and impact.

Michael Wanyama, a former Fellow, member of our Clean Air Circle, and Founder of Autosafety Uganda, implemented a series of community-based activities to reduce children’s exposure to road transport–related air pollution around schools in Kampala. The project engaged five schools located near busy roads and conducted emissions testing on vehicles commonly used for school transport and parent drop-offs. The project also engaged mechanics operating near the schools, as well as parents, local leaders, and school administrators. Sessions focused on the health risks of transport-related air pollution and practical actions, such as reducing vehicle idling during school pick-up and drop-off times, and for mechanics education on what they could do to reduce harmful pollution when maintaining vehicles.

FAQ

Who is eligible to apply for a Microgrant?

Our Microgrants are for groups, organizations, and individuals that are carrying out parent-led, intergenerational, and family-centered climate engagement work AND: 

1. Have engaged in at least one of the following initiatives: 

  • Former Fellow at Climate Parent Fellowship
  • Previous recipient of the Intergenerational Climate Microgrant
  • Our Kids’ Climate Clean Air Circle Member
  • Our Kids’ Climate Monthly Community Meeting Participant
  • Organized a street/community action as part of our #OurKidsAir campaign in March/2025
  • Part of a past Our Kids’ Climate delegation, for example, during COP, New York Climate Week, WHO conference
  • Member of parent or intergenerational climate group that is active in the Our Kids’ Climate community

OR:

2. Are being recommended by Community members or Our Kids’ Climate’s allies from the climate movement through our Nomination Process. 

  • Nominations may be made by partners and members of the Our Kids’ Climate Community—defined as those who have engaged in at least one of the activities listed above. Nominators may submit one or multiple nominations through the designated nomination form.
  • This process is designed to reach and support additional groups and individuals advancing clean energy, clean air, and fossil fuel phase-out efforts who may not yet be formally part of our community but are connected to it. Organizations, groups, and individuals who are already part of the Our Kids’ Climate Community are not eligible to nominate themselves, but as written above, are welcome to apply. 

Alongside the eligibility requirements detailed above, to be considered for the 2026 Intergenerational Climate Microgrants pulse, you MUST:

  • Provide clear and focused responses to all questions contained in the Application form. Vague answers or excessive reliance on AI-generated content can result in disqualification from the selection process.
    • Note: We are aware that your English may be your second or third language. Please don’t worry about mistakes or typos in the language.
  • Submit a project that:
    • Can be implemented in 6 months (between September 2026 and February 2027), with a clear budget of US$ 5,000.
    • Has a clear goal and work plan explained in the Application Form
    • Is or will be led by parents and/or carers and/or families and/or intergenerational teams
    • Fits into 1 or more of the following categories: clean energy, clean air, and fossil fuel phase out.

  • Clean energy projects help people access and use cleaner energy, such as rooftop solar and wind power. They can include practical projects, education, advocacy, campaigning, or organising work that builds public support for renewable energy and a just transition away from fossil fuels. This also includes efforts to make clean energy more affordable and accessible, especially in communities most affected by energy poverty or pollution.
  • Clean air projects are initiatives that aim to improve air quality and children’s health by reducing pollution from human-made sources and raising awareness about the health and environmental impacts of air pollution. This could include emission reduction initiatives, sustainable transportation, air quality monitoring, indoor air improvements, or community-driven actions to protect the right to clean, healthy air—especially in areas most affected by pollution.
  • Fossil fuel phase-out projects are initiatives that aim to reduce or eliminate the use of coal, oil, and gas in favor of cleaner, more sustainable alternatives. These projects may involve advocacy, policy change, public education, infrastructure transition, or community mobilization to stop fossil fuel expansion, close existing facilities, or support a just transition for affected workers and communities.

We are open to funding a wide range of activities. These can include, but are not limited to:

  • Organizing gatherings, trainings, events, or mobilizations tied to a specific campaign or topic;
  • Capacity-building initiatives, including skills development and job creation related to clean energy solutions (e.g. installation or maintenance of solar panels);
  • Artivism, communications, and storytelling projects;
  • Covering an individual’s time dedicated to the group’s work;
  • Engaging in climate policy advocacy;
  • Air quality monitoring.
  • And much more – we are open to different approaches. You know what works best in your context!

The activities can be part of a longer-term project, but this funding must be used for activities in this time period (September 2026 to February 2027).

We are presently not providing funding for research, entrepreneurial activities, organizational development projects, or well-funded NGOs. 

We do not fund solely youth or child focused projects, our focus is families, parents, and intergenerational relationships. 

And, of course, we also won’t fund projects that are submitted by organizations, groups or individuals that aren’t eligible for this pulse (Click on the “Who is eligible to apply for a Microgrant?” question to find out more).

Each group or organization should present only one proposal.

Your application will be reviewed by at least 4 reviewers from different countries, considering the following criteria: 

  • Relevance: You show in your application the connection between your reality’s needs and your project, addressing and aligning the priorities of the climate movement in your context.
  • Impact: In your application, you show how impactful the outcomes of your project can be.
  • Collaboration: In your proposal, you mention partnerships and/or local teamwork to enhance the project’s impact.
  • Clear Proposal: Your application has a clear goal, a detailed work plan and a planned methodology to measure its success.
  • Clear Budget: You provided a coherent and realistic budget, including all your activities’ expenses.

Please read our Criteria and Requirements document to make sure your application is in line.

If your application is approved, we will get in touch and assist you in finding the best way to disburse and manage your grant. We will ask you to keep receipts of your expenses and, once your project is completed, to let us know how the grant has helped you achieve your goals. Only bank transfers may be used in sending funds to accepted projects.

The Microgrant program provides funding for specific climate projects and actions that you or your group is carrying out. The work will be parent-led, intergenerational, or family-centered climate engagement work. You will need to provide a budget and report on the success of your project.

The Fellowship is a year-long program for leading organizers carrying out parent-led, intergenerational, or family-centered climate engagement work. The Fellows receive a stipend to enable them to make their climate organizing more sustainable. They also take part in community-building sessions/training throughout the year to strengthen their leadership and organizing skills. The Fellowship also acts as a peer-to-peer learning network. Find out more about the Fellowship here.

Yes, for this pulse, we’ll only accept applications in English.

We first recommend you read this website and all FAQ answers. Before applying, please also read our Criteria and Requirements document. If, even after reading all these materials, you still have some questions, please contact microgrants@ourkidsclimate.org.

  • May 15th, 2026; 23:59 pm GMT: Deadline for applications

All applicants will be informed of the outcome by the end of July 2026, and the projects are to be implemented within 6 months of receiving funds.

Important note: sometimes money transfers to certain countries or bank accounts may take longer than anticipated. We will do our best to transfer funds as quickly as possible.