Growing Roots Grant 2026 for Youth-led Initiatives (Up To $10,000 USD Grant funding)

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Applications are open Growing Roots Grant 2026. The 2026 Growing Roots Grant provides funding of up to $10,000 USD per group for new and emerging projects and ideas that seek to improve the lives of communities on the frontlines of climate change! The grants are accompanied by ongoing mentorship.

Grants will be offered to between 8-10 grassroots youth-led initiatives from Global South regions, including the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. We also welcome applications from diaspora and BIPOC communities who may be located in Global North countries.

The Growing Roots Grant is led by Roots, and made possible by the financial backing and support of the Urban Movement Innovation Fund.

Growing Roots Grant Focus Areas

This year, we are seeking new and emerging projects (no older than one year) that create meaningful impact in three key areas:

Strategic dialogue and narrative building:
Projects that create spaces for dialogue and shared understanding in divided or polarized contexts. This includes efforts to counter misinformation or disinformation, strengthen relationships within communities, and build bridges between communities, authorities, institutions, or coalitions in ways that shift narratives and support local organizing.
Advocacy-oriented initiatives:
Projects that seek to influence concrete public policy or legislation, or that contribute to changes in local or municipal policies through advocacy, research, or civic engagement.
Community autonomy initiatives:
Projects that build or strengthen infrastructure, systems, or resources that are owned and managed by the community itself and strengthen long-term community power and structures.

Benefits

Grant Funding (Up to $10,000 USD): Selected applicants will receive cash support (non-equity) of up to $10,000 to implement, pilot, or scale their project.
Coaching Program: We will allocate 1 to 2 coaches to successful initiatives according to your project’s needs. Coaches will be there to support you from project inception to implementation, with a six-monthly reporting cycle. They will offer project-specific advice wherever required, including strategic assistance around tactics, communications, public outputs, lobbying, networking, and outreach.
Capacity-building: Micro-grant recipients will have access to Roots training and workshops across our core program to boost their capacity around specific needs. These include our organizing, creative storytelling, resilience and wellbeing, and counter-disinformation training, as well as their affiliated communities of practice. We will also provide opportunities for recipients to take on leadership roles within these programs.
Media and social media support: Grantees will be amplified through the Roots social media channels through storytelling opportunities, videos, and posts. We will also offer local media support to help amplify your initiative and your messages.