Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF)

The Youth Climate Action Fund (YCAF) empowers young people to lead meaningful climate action and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient Perth.

The program supports youth leadership, innovation, and practical solutions that benefit people and the planet.

What: funds of between $1,500 and $7,000 (exc GST) to implement your idea

Who: must be led by young people aged 15–24 and supported by a non-profit or charitable organisation responsible for the funds

How: develop your idea, your plan, your team and your outcomes, and align with one or more of the City’s Climate Priorities – Mitigation and Resilience, Circularity, Inclusivity, and Governance.

When: Applications open 24 August and close 2 October 2026. This grant is exhaustive funding and may close sooner where the budget is expended.

YCAF Grant Guidelines 2026 – 2027

Youth Climate Action Fund Application

Projects must align with one or more of the City’s climate priorities:

Projects must align with one or more of the City’s Climate Priorities. Here are some examples, but don’t let this limit your ideas:

Looking for more inspiration? Check out what peer cities have been up to:

City of Hobart (2025 recipients) - Youth Climate Action Fund – YouTube

If you have an idea and would like to learn more, or chat with our city staff and other potential applicants, sign up for one of our free Co-design Information Sessions.

Register for sessions in August and September

Application timeline

• Applications open: 24 August 2026
• Applications close: 2 October 2026 (or sooner where funds exhausted)

Grant timeline – successful applicants

• Projects funded: Projects may start anytime after the funds are dispersed in ~November 2026
• Award event: Celebrating successful applicants and projects in ~November - December 2026

How many times can I apply?

Youth may apply for funding once per project.

I do not live within the City of Perth - can I still apply?

Yes. To be eligible, your project or event must either be located in the City of Perth or benefit the City in some way.

Will my project or event require any approvals?

Potentially, yes. Please reach out to the City’s YCAF Program Lead, who will support and connect you with an Activity Approvals or Development Approvals team member to advise on any approvals and/or fees that can be incorporated in your application.

How will I know if my application is successful?

The City's YCAF Program Lead will contact you within 6 weeks to advise you of the outcome of your application.

What is Bloomberg Philanthropies?

Bloomberg Philanthropies is a philanthropic organisation that funds the Youth Climate Action Fund, which is delivered by local government partners. The City of Perth is one of 300 participating cities around the world.

City of Perth Grant Applications – Youth Climate Action Program

The City collects your personal information to meet legal requirements including for:

• the City of Perth Act 2016;
• the Local Government Act 1995 and regulations;
• the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024 and regulations;
• other legislation such as the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth), and financial arrangements and regulations; and
• requirements for reports to and acquittal of monies for grant funders.

For these local government functions and activities for grant applications, the information collected as part of your enquiry or application may include your personal information and any attachments you provide.  The City collects this information so it can:

• confirm receipt of your contact and/or application;
• contact you if information is needed;
• review any application lodged on your behalf from a not-for-profit organisation and any proposed financial arrangements;
• keep you informed of any application or services, including where necessary changes to grant arrangements;
• progress and finalise any grant awards including financial acquittal;
• progress and finalise any award enforcement, including reimbursement to the City where appropriate;
• promote and publish information about the program, funding, grant arrangements and results of investigations, research and projects, including any activities undertaken by you or on your behalf by a not-for-profit organisation;
• report details to grant funders, any not-for-profit organisation and otherwise as required by law including if required to organisations outside of Australia (which are subject to laws or other obligations which comply with principles for handling of information that are substantially similar to the Western Australian information privacy principles, such as New Zealand, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom or countries in the European Union); and
• contact you about other City functions and activities, including future climate-action events and grant opportunities.

For people who are;

1. above the age of legal majority and have legal capacity; and
2. below the age of legal majority (that is, 18 years of age for this program) and with the written consent of your parents or legal guardian(s),

we require your consent to progress your enquiry or any application lodged on your behalf from a not-for-profit organisation, including for:

1. City representatives to be in contact with you, including your mobile telephone number and email address;
2. use of your personal information, including any sensitive personal information you wish to provide to us (eg information about your health if you request assistance, or about your political opinions or religious beliefs or affiliations or philosophical beliefs);
3. ownership (jointly and/or licensed as appropriate) and use of additional information you provide for the program (eg your background experience, interests in climate action and proposals or outcome for the intended program activities);
4. ownership (jointly and/or licensed as appropriate) and use of any intellectual property created by you as part of the program;
5. release and/or publication of information received from you, de-identified where appropriate (for example financial acquittals to a grant funder will not usually include your name);
6. release of your personal information outside of Australia in accordance with Western Australian privacy requirements;
7. collecting, storing, using and release of and/or publication of images of you as part of the program (including photos and moving images), including publication to social media platforms; and
8. future contact with you about other City functions and activities, including future climate-action events and grant opportunities.

If you do not provide the required information, the City will not be able to accept your enquiry and any application, and may not be able to assist you with City services.

Your information, including personal information of yourself and others referred to in your correspondence and applications, will be disclosed to City representatives who are authorised to review information on behalf of the City including to recommend or make decisions regarding your enquiry or your grant application or payments.  Your information, including personal information in any support documents and other background details, may also be released to government agencies or third parties as required by law.

By continuing with your enquires or application:

• you must have the consent of all other persons to whom you refer in your application (their consent to include their details and have their personal information collected by the City for these arrangements); and
• you consent (or your parents or legal guardian on your behalf consents) to the City’s use of your personal information for these local government, grant application and related arrangements,

including as set out in any future terms and conditions and agreements for a grant award from the City with a not-for-profit organisation, for future reporting and financial acquittal and for release of information to government agencies or City contracted service providers as required by law.

Additional information is available on the City’s website at Privacy and Personal Information Statement | City of Perth and you may also contact the City’s Privacy Officer at [email protected] or telephone (+618) 9461 3333 for any queries you have about how the City collects, manages and discloses your personal information, or to request access to, and correction of, your personal information.