Emerging Climate Champions Award

Overview

_Note: Applicants must register before being able to submit an application. Noted in the cycle as pre-proposal before full proposal._

Emerging Climate Champions Award

About the Award

Today’s young people will bear the burden of the adverse impacts of climate change, yet little funding goes to youth-led solutions. Global annual funding for climate change work represents less than 2% of total philanthropic giving, or about $16 billion. Support for youth-led climate initiatives is even more limited, with just $14.2 million in annual grants. Informed by feedback from young climate leaders around the world, the Emerging Climate Champions Award directly takes into account youth perspectives, as well as cultural and localized contexts for climate work.

This open call seeks to shine a spotlight on climate organizations with youth leadership (ages 15-35). The Award invites applications from organizations with at least two years of operation that are community-led, and that have demonstrated experience, strong potential, and measurable results in advancing durable climate solutions in the communities they serve. Organizations from all around the world are encouraged to apply, including those from historically under-resourced and/or under-represented communities, such as Indigenous-led organizations, women-led organizations, grassroots organizations, and others.

The Award encourages more of us to rethink the role of young people in addressing the various climate challenges faced by communities around the world.

The Award welcomes organizations working across a full spectrum of climate issues and solutions, including but not limited to areas such as education, movement building, climate justice, science/technology, economic opportunity, community resilience, conservation, advocacy, sustainable agriculture, disaster preparedness, and others.

Eligibility

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_

Application Details

EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
APPLICATION
About the Application
In advance of beginning an application, prospective applicants will be directed to spend time examining the
Organization Readiness Tool, the Open Call evaluation rubric, process timeline, and a PDF version of the
application (all available on the Open Call website). Through engaging with this set of resources, prospective
applicants (which may be called “Applicant Organizations” or an “Applicant Organization”) will develop a
clear and understanding of how strong of a fit they would be for the Open Call based on the capacity needed
to participate, as well as their likelihood of success. Those that elect to apply will then begin the application
process.
Below, the application is divided into two sections:
Section A: Registration details the registration requirements that must be completed by an organization
before beginning an application. All potential applicants will first be directed to the Organization Readiness
Tool to verify their eligibility, and may then register for the Open Call by answering a few short administrative
information questions.
Section B: Application details the application requirements that must be completed by a registrant. All
submissions will undergo a robust Administrative Review to verify their eligibility. Applicant organizations
determined to be valid by the Administrative Review process will advance to the Participatory Review stage,
at which point valid applicants will review and evaluate each other’s applications using the Open Call
evaluation rubric. The top evaluated applicants from Participatory Review will advance to the Evaluation
Panel Review stage. During Evaluation Panel Review, these top applicants will be reviewed by at least four
Evaluation Panel Reviewers who will use the same evaluation rubric to assess each entry. Read more about
the timeline here.
Language Accessibility
Applications must be submitted in English. We understand that using English as the sole language for the
Open Call may pose a challenge for those for whom English is not a first language. However, we made this
decision to ensure consistency and minimize the risk of translation errors or misinterpretations in the
application and evaluation process. We encourage everyone to apply regardless of their language
background, and to that end, we have built several language accessibility provisions into this Open Call. We
encourage you to utilize the translation resources below to support your application:
● The Open Call website provides a list of several free translation services here.
● For those for whom Spanish, French, or Bahasa Indonesia is a preferred and/or primary language, you
can access translations of Open Call materials here.
Please note that we also provide language interpretation in at least Spanish and French for all applicant and
evaluator webinars as standard practice.
While your application must be submitted in English and online in the Submittable platform, the translated
forms and translation resources are intended to support the development of your application.
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD APPLICATION
Section A: Registration
❑ Acceptance of Rules. By checking this box, you and the Applicant Organization are accepting the
Rules for this Open Call and consenting to the use of your and the Applicant Organization’s data, as
described in the application and in the Rules. You are also representing that you have the authority to
act on behalf of the Applicant Organization. Please take time to read and understand your rights and
obligations before proceeding. The Rules include all of the Open Call Rules and other stipulations
governing your participation in this Open Call that are described within this website. By registering to
participate in this Open Call, you are providing your consent regarding use of your and the Applicant
Organization’s data through an affirmative act, establishing a freely given, specific, informed, and
unambiguous indication of your agreement for us to process any personal data relating to you or to
the Applicant Organization’s participation in the Open Call and related charitable activities. Should
you have any questions regarding use of your or the Applicant Organization’s data, please email
climatechampions@submittable.com during the course of the Open Call, or, if after the Open Call, the
contact listed in the respective policy for the Open Call Sponsor, Lever for Change or Submittable.
Should you or the Applicant Organization not provide the personal or other data we request, or
should you or the Applicant Organization request to limit the use of such data, we may be unable to
consider the Applicant Organization’s application or award the Application Organization an award
through this Open Call.
Following consent, the participant is directed to complete the second step of Registration.
Welcome to the Emerging Climate Champions Award Open Call. By expressing your interest, you agree to
receive periodic news and updates regarding key deadlines, informational webinars, further funding
opportunities, and other program-related messages. Before completing registration, please take time to read
the following information:
• Review the Organization Readiness Tool so that you can better understand if your organization will be
competitive in the application process based on the Open Call eligibility criteria and your team’s capacity.
• Read the Rules and other related content on this website that stipulate your rights and obligations as a
registrant.
• Review the Application, Timeline, and Evaluation Process to understand what and when tasks are
required of registrants.
• Should your organization advance to the next stages of the Open Call, your registration will be shared with
other applicants as a part of Participatory Review and, if you advance further, with Evaluation Panel
Reviewers as a part of Evaluation Panel Review.
NOTE: Responses to these questions must be in English.
In order to submit an application to the Emerging Climate Champions Award Open Call, you must complete
this registration form no later than Friday, August 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Only registered
organizations may apply.
All fields are required unless otherwise noted.
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
A. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
In this section, please provide information about the Applicant Organization. Before answering, use the
Organization Readiness Tool to understand your organization’s ability to be competitive based on the Open
Call eligibility criteria as well as your team’s capacity. This section will be viewed by Participatory and
Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call. Individuals’ email addresses and phone numbers will not
be shared with Participatory or Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call. The deadline to complete
registration is Friday, August 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time.
Youth-Led Status
Description: Per the Open Call Rules, ‘Youth’ for this Open Call is defined as ages 15-35 as of the Open Call
registration deadline of August 15, 2025. A ‘Youth-Led’ organization is defined as an organization that meets
two of the following three conditions: (1) has a youth executive leader between the ages of 15-35, (2) has a
majority youth leadership staff, (3) has a majority youth Board of Directors. Please note that applicants that
advance to the Evaluation Panel Review stage of the Open Call will be asked to provide supporting
documentation to evidence their youth-led status, upon which further consideration for Awardee selection is
contingent.
Does your organization have a youth executive leader?
● Yes
● No
Does your organization have a majority youth leadership staff?
● Yes
● No
Does your organization have a majority youth Board of Directors?
● Yes
● No
Please share further information about the youth leadership infrastructure of your organization in the text box
below.
[TEXT BOX: 250 words]
Organization Legal Status
What is the legal status of the Applicant Organization?
o An entity based in the United States and/or U.S. Territories that has received a tax determination
letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that it is exempt from federal income tax as an
organization described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) and a publicly
supported organization described under section 509(a)(1) or (2) of the IRC, and which tax
determination letter is in effect.
o A nonprofit organization for a fiscally sponsored project, provided that the nonprofit organization is
an entity based in the United States and/or US Territories and has received an IRS determination
letter that it is exempt from federal income tax as an organization described under section 501(c)(3) of
the IRC and a publicly supported organization described under section 509(a)(1) or (2) of the IRC and
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
which tax determination letter is in effect (or meets the equivalency standards for entities organized
under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction); fiscal sponsors must exercise discretion and control over the
awarded funds.
o An entity based in the United States and/or U.S. Territories that has received a tax
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that it is exempt from federal
income tax as an organization described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
(“IRC”) and is also classified as a Type I or Type II supporting organization described under
section 509(a)(3) of the IRC, and which tax determination letter is in effect.
o A U.S. tribal government treated as a State pursuant to IRS Section 7871.
o An entity organized under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction which has received a tax
determination letter from the IRS or has been determined to be the equivalent of a section
501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) or (2). (Note: Applicants are not required to have an equivalency
determination in order to apply).
o Affiliates of national organizations as long as the affiliate is a separate 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1)
or (2) entity (or foreign equivalent) and has its own board of directors; legal liability rests with
the local organization; affiliate’s tax-exempt status was not granted under a group exemption;
affiliate makes decisions regarding overall mission, priorities, and strategies of organization
and for day-to-day operations; and affiliate does not “fund” general activities of national
organization.
o An entity that is recognized under the law of the applicable jurisdiction as a non-governmental
organization, a charitable organization, a not-for-profit organization, or similar-type entity
that is not a for-profit organization or government agency (except for U.S. tribal governments
treated as a State pursuant to IRC Section 7871) and that is engaged in charitable activities
within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the IRC.
Institution Affiliation
Is the Applicant Organization a specific department or program housed within a larger organization? (Note:
universities are not eligible to apply)
o Yes
o No
Applicant Organization Legal Name
Provide the legal name of the Applicant Organization that may assume responsibility for providing the
direction, control, and supervision for the work.
[TEXT BOX: 15 words]
Fiscal Sponsor Organization Legal Name [ONLY populate this required question for applicants who
select that they are a fiscally sponsored project in ‘organization legal status.]
Provide the legal name of the Fiscal Sponsor Organization that may assume responsibility for receiving and
taking accountability for any awarded funds.
[TEXT BOX: 15 words]
Applicant Organization Location
Is your Applicant Organization based in the United States or U.S. Territories?
o Yes, our organization is based in the United States or U.S. Territories.
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
o No, our organization is not based in the United States or U.S. Territories.
[FOR APPLICANTS THAT ARE U.S.-BASED]
Applicant Organization Address:
In the space above, please provide your Applicant Organization’s physical mailing address.
Country [MENU: STANDARDIZED LIST OF OPTIONS]
Does the Applicant Organization exist within a Tribal Territory? [Yes or No]
State [MENU: STANDARDIZED LIST OF OPTIONS]
Street address [TEXT BOX: 10 words maximum]
Address line 2 (optional) [TEXT BOX: 10 words maximum]
City [TEXT BOX: 5 words maximum]
Zip / Postal Code [TEXT BOX: 5 words maximum]
[FOR APPLICANTS THAT ARE NOT U.S.-BASED] Applicant Organization Address:
Please provide your Applicant Organization’s physical mailing address.
Country [MENU: STANDARDIZED LIST OF OPTIONS]
Street address [TEXT BOX: 10 words maximum]
Address line 2 (optional) [TEXT BOX: 10 words maximum]
City [TEXT BOX: 5 words maximum]
Zip / Postal Code [TEXT BOX: 5 words maximum]
Applicant Organization Identification Number
The Applicant Organization must be incorporated in an appropriate jurisdiction. Typically, an identifying
number is provided upon incorporation or for tax filings. Select the Country and Identification Type of number
that the Applicant Organization has been provided.
o United States: Employer Identification Number (EIN)
o Australia: Australia Business Number (ABN)
o Brazil: CNPJ (for companies)
o Canada: Revenue Agency Business/Registration Number
o India: FCRA Registration Number
o Netherlands: KVK Number
o South Africa: Nonprofit Organization Number
o United Kingdom: Charity Number
o United Kingdom: Company Number
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
o OTHER. Enter name of country: [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Year of Formation
Please enter the year (YYYY) in which the Applicant Organization was formed, noting that the Rules require
applicants have at least two years of operation as of the open call registration deadline (August 15, 2025).
[DATE ENTRY: 4 characters]
[If Organization Legal Status is an entity organized or recognized under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction
(Option 5 or 7 is selected in response to Organization Legal Status)]
Equivalency Determination
Has the Applicant Organization previously been determined to be the equivalent of a 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1)
for which equivalency determination (ED) has not expired and would be in effect or could extend through the
date of award?
o Yes, the Applicant Organization has received an ED Certificate that is valid through July 2026.
o The Applicant Organization has previously received an ED Certificate, however it has since expired or
will be expired by July 2026.
o No, the Applicant Organization does not have an ED Certificate and will require an equivalency
determination.
Applicant Organization Website or Social Media Page
What is the URL of the website or social media page of choice for the Applicant Organization? If the Applicant
Organization does not have a website or social media page, insert “Not Applicable.”
[TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Note on Application Contacts
All correspondence related to the Open Call, including deadline reminders and status updates, will be sent
through the Submittable platform by the Emerging Climate Champions Award Team. This correspondence will
be directed to the Submitter whose account is associated with the application. For this reason, it is
recommended that the desired Primary Contact creates a Submittable account and completes the application
from this account. This will ensure that they receive all relevant correspondence and updates. Fiscally sponsored
projects: please ensure that you provide contact information for at least one contact at the fiscal sponsor
organization.
Primary contact name
Enter the name of the Applicant Organization’s primary point of contact who will answer any questions and
has working knowledge of the information provided in this form. In the event that your organization is
selected for an award, this person will be contacted to coordinate disbursement details.
If the primary or secondary contacts change at any point during the Open Call, please immediately notify the
Emerging Climate Champions Award team at climatechampions@submittable.com with the updated contact
information to ensure receipt of time-sensitive information. If updated contact information is not provided,
the Applicant’s submission may be disqualified.
First Name [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Last Name [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
Primary contact title [TEXT BOX: 10 words]
Primary contact phone [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Primary contact email [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Secondary contact name
Provide the name of a secondary contact. This person should also be someone who can answer any questions
and has working knowledge of the information provided in this form.
First Name [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Last Name [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Secondary contact title [TEXT BOX: 10 words]
Secondary contact phone [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Secondary contact email [TEXT BOX: 5 words]
The registration and application are required to be submitted in English. Will you be unable to complete
the registration and application in English? [REQUIRED; SELECT ONE]
● Yes
● No
Applications must be submitted in English. We understand that using English as the sole language for the Open
Call may pose a challenge for those for whom English is not a first language. However, we made this decision to
ensure consistency and minimize the risk of translation errors or misinterpretations in the application and
evaluation process. We encourage everyone to apply regardless of their language background, and to that end,
we have built several language accessibility provisions into this Open Call. We encourage you to utilize the
translation resources below to support your application:
● The Open Call website provides a list of several free translation services here.
● For those for whom Spanish, French, or Bahasa Indonesia is a preferred and/or primary language, you
can access translations of Open Call materials here.
Please also note that we provide as standard practice language interpretation in at least French and Spanish as
well as ASL interpretation for all applicant and evaluator webinars.
While your application must be submitted in English and online in the Submittable platform, the translated forms
and translation resources are intended to support the development of your application.
If yes, please insert which language and what kind of support you might require (e.g., written
translation, live/spoken translation, etc.) [TEXT BOX: 150 words]
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
B. LEVER FOR CHANGE STANDARD QUESTIONS
Questions in this section are standard across all Lever for Change initiatives. These questions help Lever for
Change learn more about prospective applicants and will inform outreach efforts in future initiatives. This
section will not be viewed by Participatory or Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call.
How did you hear about the Emerging Climate Champions Award? You may select more than one.
❑ Email or other direct outreach from Lever for Change
❑ Email or other direct outreach from the Enlight Foundation or The Patchwork Collective
❑ Email or other direct outreach from other source. Please describe: [TEXT BOX: 10 words]
❑ Informed by a friend or colleague
❑ Article, blog post, or other news source. Please describe: [TEXT BOX: 10 words]
❑ Social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn). Please describe: [TEXT BOX: 10 words]
❑ Partner organization. Please describe: [TEXT BOX: 10 words]
❑ Event. Please describe: [TEXT BOX: 10 words]
❑ Other. Please describe: [TEXT BOX: 10 words]
Consent for Future Communications
I consent to receiving email communications from Lever for Change, including updates on future challenges,
news, and opportunities.
❑ Yes
❑ No

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Section B: Application
The following sections have been strategically sequenced to create a narrative flow for the reviewers.
Thank you for participating in the Emerging Climate Champions Award.
Lever for Change recommends reading all requirements for this application before you begin. We encourage
you to review the Evaluation Rubric that will be used to assess all valid applications.
Language Support: Please note that applications must be submitted in English. We understand that using
English as the sole language for the Open Call may pose a challenge for those for whom English is not a first
language. However, we made this decision to ensure consistency and minimize the risk of translation errors or
misinterpretations in the application and evaluation process. We encourage everyone to apply regardless of
their language background, and to that end, we have built several language accessibility provisions into this
Open Call. We encourage you to utilize the translation resources below to support your application:
● The Open Call website provides a list of several free translation services here.
● For those for whom Spanish, French, or Bahasa Indonesia is a preferred and/or primary language, you
can access translations of Open Call materials here.
While your application must be submitted in English and online in the Submittable platform, the translated
forms and translation resources are intended to support the development of your application.
Kindly take note that if your project progresses through different stages of the Open Call, it will be evaluated
by no less than four Participatory Reviewers, four Evaluation Panel reviewers, as well as Emerging Climate
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
Champions Award stakeholders, and administrators. Your application may be shared online and with other
evaluators. To get a better idea of what information may be displayed, you can visit the Bold Solutions
Network and view previous initiatives.
You must submit your application no later than Monday, September 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern
Time.
A. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
In this section, please provide administrative information about the Applicant Organization. Before
answering, use the Organization Readiness Tool to understand your ability to be competitive. This section
will not be viewed by Participatory and Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call.
Annual Operating Budget
What is the annual operating budget in United States Dollars (USD) of the Applicant Organization? The
following categories are standard across Lever for Change initiatives.
o Less than $1 Million
o $1.0 to 5.0 Million
o $5.1 to 10 Million
o $10.1 to 25 Million
o $25.1 to 50 Million
o $50.1 to 100 Million
o $100.1 to 250 Million
o $250.1 to 500 Million
o $500.1 to 750 Million
o $750.1 Million to $1 Billion
o $1 Billion +
[RADIO BUTTONS]
Number of Employees
How many full-time employees does the Applicant Organization employ? The following categories are
standard across Lever for Change initiatives.
o Fewer than 10 Full-time Employees
o 10 to 25 Full-time Employees
o 26 to 50 Full-time Employees
o 51 to 100 Full-time Employees
o 101 to 300 Full-time Employees
o 301 to 500 Full-time Employees
o 501 to 1,000 Full-time Employees
o 1,000+ Full-time Employees
[RADIO BUTTONS]
B. SUBJECT AREA, PRIORITY POPULATIONS, AND LOCATION OF WORK
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
Should your organization advance to further stages of the Open Call, you may be eligible for inclusion in Lever
for Change’s Bold Solutions Network. Lever for Change will use primary subject area, locations of current
work, populations served, and keywords to tag your organization in the Bold Solutions Network, making it
possible for other funders to identify organizations they might find interesting to support. This section will be
viewed by Participatory and Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call.
Primary Subject Area
Select the primary subject area of your organization’s work. The following subject area categories are
standard across Lever for Change initiatives. Please note that climate is the subject area focus of the Emerging
Climate Champions Award. The Award welcomes organizations working across a full spectrum of climate
issues and solutions, including but not limited to areas such as education, movement building, climate
justice, science/technology, economic opportunity, community resilience, conservation, advocacy,
sustainable agriculture, disaster preparedness, and others.
Secondary Subject Area
Optional. Select a secondary subject area of your organization’s work. The following subject area categories
are standard across Lever for Change initiatives.
Key Words and Phrases
Provide a list of up to 5 key words or phrases that can best be used to describe your organization’s work [e.g.,
education, advocacy, training, movement building]. Choose key words that capture the essence of your
organization and its mission. The key words should be different from the selected “primary subject area.”
[TEXT BOX: 5 words]
Location of Current Work
In which community (or communities) does your organization currently work? Select up to five locations that
apply. If your work is global, national, or regional, please select locations that best represent your
organization’s work.
Location of Current Work 1 Country: [COUNTRY DROPDOWN MENU]
[IF UNITED STATES IS SELECTED] Location of Current Work 1 State: [STATE DROPDOWN MENU]
[Applicants to provide the above information for up to five current locations of work]
Populations Served
The purpose of this question is to understand the profile of the populations your organization serves. Select
the population(s) that are the primary beneficiaries of your organization’s work. You must select at least one
population, and you are welcome to provide up to three.
POPULATION #1: SELECT FROM LIST OF OPTIONS
POPULATION #2: SELECT FROM LIST OF OPTIONS
POPULATION #3: SELECT FROM LIST OF OPTIONS
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
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C. YOUR WORK
This section provides the opportunity for you to more fully explain your organization’s work and approach.
Avoid using technical terms, acronyms, or complex language that may be difficult for the general public to
comprehend. This section will be viewed by Participatory and Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open
Call.
Description of Work (35 words)
Provide a short description of your organization’s work in one sentence using language that can be
easily understood by non-experts and avoiding jargon and acronyms. The information in this section
is likely to be made publicly available in a variety of online settings.
For example: “The Earth Project will work with 20 locally owned restaurants in the South side of the city
on implementing circular waste management practices, which aims to reduce food waste by 75% over
the next three years.”
[TEXT BOX: 35 words]
Executive Summary (350 words)
Write an overview of your organization’s work that answers the following questions, referencing the
Evaluation Rubric as a guide for key areas to highlight:
● What climate issue(s) is the focus of your organization’s work? How has your organization
meaningfully contributed to addressing this climate issue(s), and what outcomes has it achieved?
● Describe your community, your organization’s relationship to it, and how your organization engages
with the community in its work, formally or informally.
● Where is your organization headed? How are your organization and staff equipped to reach this
vision? Describe your plan for continued work.
Your Executive Summary should be a stand-alone statement of your organization’s work – it will be used to
introduce readers (including Participatory and Evaluation Panel Reviewers, potential donors, and the public)
to your work. It should not require any other context to clearly explain your work, your success, and your
vision for the future. Please use language that can be easily understood by non-experts and avoid jargon,
acronyms, and use of the first-person where possible.
[TEXT BOX: 350 words]
Issue Landscape (250 words)
How does your organization’s work fit into the broader ecosystem of efforts to address climate issues
and add value to other organizations working on your issue or in your community or field? Describe
the role that your organization plays in this larger landscape.
[TEXT BOX: 250 WORDS]
D. PROJECTED IMPACT OF WORK & RESOURCES
This section provides the opportunity for you to discuss your organization’s current experience and impact to
date, your approach to measuring your work, and your aspirations for the next few years. For the questions
that follow, we acknowledge the relevance of specific cultural and geographic contexts for your work; we
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
encourage you to speak to those localized contexts as part of your responses. Further, we welcome both
qualitative and quantitative examples and evidence to support your responses. This section will be viewed
by Participatory and Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call.
Contributions (350 words)
What is your organization’s experience with the climate issue(s) within the context(s) of your work? You may
speak to lived experience, subject matter expertise, professional background, current/existing programs and
projects, etc.
[TEXT BOX: 350 words]
Use of Award (350 words)
How do you plan to use the $1 million multiyear gift if selected as an Awardee? How would the gift help you
continue your organization’s current work as well as support your potential impact in the future?
[TEXT BOX: 350 words]
Assessment of Results (500 words)
Provide an overview of your organization’s strategy and impact that answers the following questions.
● What is your theory of change (i.e., what is your organization’s strategy to achieve success, as you
define it)?
● What does success look like for your organization, and how do you measure it, relative to the cultural
and geographic context(s) in which you work?
● Provide examples of clear results that are important to your organization. Please note that results can
include outputs (e.g., activities), longer-term outcomes (e.g., programs), and qualitative and/or
quantitative supporting evidence.
[TEXT BOX: 500 words]
Vision for the Future (350 words)
What is your organization’s long-term vision? How do your team’s skills, capacity, knowledge, and/or lived
experience support it?
Please note: For more information on the number and size of awards, please refer to the FAQs.
[TEXT BOX: 350 WORDS]
Community Impact (500 words)
Provide an overview of your organization’s relationship with the communities it serves that answers the
following questions. Include examples of how you have engaged the community you serve in decision-making
and/or shaping priorities for your organization.
● Who does your work aim to serve, and how do you include them in your approach?
● What role does community play in your organization’s work?
● How does your organization increase access, power, or knowledge for a community, issue, or group
that is under-resourced?
[TEXT BOX: 500 WORDS]
Other Considerations (350 words)
This is your final opportunity to raise any other considerations. Here, you may emphasize or expand upon a
previous point or provide new information, as necessary.
[TEXT BOX: 350 words]
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E. YOUR TEAM
Previously, you provided a brief overview of your organization. Now we kindly ask you to focus on the
experience and management of your team. This section will be viewed by Participatory and Evaluation
Panel Reviewers of the Open Call.
Why Your Team (350 words)
Describe your organization’s leadership and staff. Explain the key role that your people have played in your
organization’s success. Emphasize the skills, capacity, knowledge, lived experience, and/or partnerships your
team possesses to ensure its continued success.
[TEXT BOX: 350 words]
Biographies of Key Staff
For each of the top three staff members responsible for the success of your organization, please provide a
name (First/Last), the staff member’s title, and a brief biographical statement of up to 100 words. The
biographical statement should include a description of the staff member’s responsibilities and emphasize
those credentials and experiences which are most relevant to their work at your organization.
Key Staff #1:
FIRST NAME: 5 word limit
LAST NAME: 5 word limit
TITLE: 10 word limit
BIOGRAPHY: 100 word limit
KEY STAFF #2:
FIRST NAME: 5 word limit
LAST NAME: 5 word limit
TITLE: 10 word limit
BIOGRAPHY: 100 word limit
KEY STAFF #3
FIRST NAME: 5 word limit
LAST NAME: 5 word limit
TITLE: 10 word limit
BIOGRAPHY: 100 word limit
F. VIDEO PRESENTATION
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
You are required to submit a video that captures your organization’s work and contribution to addressing a
climate issue. The video is an opportunity to showcase your passion and to pitch your story in a succinct
format. We want you to share your vision with the evaluators in a way that is different from the written
proposal format. This does not need to be a professionally produced video; a video shot on a smartphone
is acceptable.
In order to complete this part of your application, your team will upload a short digital film using YouTube.
This will be viewed by Participatory and Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call.
Your video may be extracted from your submission and made available to the public and other donors. Appeal
to a broad audience. Video submissions should follow these guidelines or else it will render the registration
ineligible:
● A length of no more than 90 seconds.
● Your video must be in English or subtitled in English, if in another language.
● Your video must be captioned. See instructions on how to caption YouTube videos here. See
instructions for how to translate your video here.
● Your video should not contain any images of individuals who have not given their permission to be
part of the submission and should not contain images of children (under age 18) without express
written parental consent.
● Your video should be listed as Public or Unlisted – do not set it to Private, as it will then be
unviewable.
● Your video should not include any copyrighted material (including, but not limited to, music) for
which you do not have a license.
● Please review YouTube’s Terms of Service located here and any other applicable terms on YouTube’s
website before making and submitting your video.
Here are general suggestions for delivering a high-quality video pitch:
● Introduce yourself and your organization.
● Describe the impact your organization has had on the climate issue(s) you seek to address.
● Explain how your organization’s specific approach to addressing the climate issue(s) engages the
communities in which you work and that you serve.
● Explain what is unique about your approach and how it fits into the ecosystem working on the same
issues.
● Describe your vision for the future.
Examples of videos from past Open Calls can be found here. Additional technical guidance on creating and
captioning videos can be found on our Video Supports page.
Paste the full YouTube URL in the box below.
[YOUTUBE URL BOX]
G. ADDITIONAL DUE DILIGENCE
The following information is required for due diligence purposes. This section will not be shared with
Participatory or Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call. Should you advance to further stages of
the Open Call, the information provided in this section will be reviewed by Lever for Change as part of
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
due diligence considerations. NOTE: Documents in this section can be submitted in a language(s) other than
English, if necessary.
Governance Structure
Please provide any documents illustrating the governance structure of the Applicant Organization (e.g., Trust
Deed, Constitution, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Bylaws, Statutes, Charter, etc.). You must
upload a single PDF no larger than 10MB in size.
Proof of Registration
Please provide proof of the Applicant Organization’s formation and registration under the law of the
applicable jurisdiction and its tax-exempt status (e.g., Tax Determination Letter, Certificate of Incorporation,
Articles of Incorporation, Trust Deed, Certificate of Registration, etc.).
Fiscally sponsored projects: please provide proof of registration for the fiscal sponsor organization.
[ALL APPLICANTS - U.S.-BASED AND INTERNATIONAL]
Financial Statements
A minimum of two (2) latest and full years of financial statements for your organization as of the open call
registration deadline (August 15, 2025). At minimum, these statements should show your organization’s
income, expenditure, and assets/liabilities. These statements are not required to be audited.
You must upload your financial statements as a single PDF file that does not exceed 10MB. To combine
files, Adobe offers an easy solution with step-by-step instructions here: Merge PDF files.
If submitting financial statements in a language other than English, indicate the language(s) below or please
enter “Not Applicable.”
[TEXT BOX: 5 words]
[FOR APPLICANTS THAT ARE U.S.-BASED]
Form 990
Please attach the Applicant Organization’s latest Form 990 as a PDF.
Fiscally sponsored projects: please provide the fiscal sponsor organization’s most recent Form 990.
[FOR ALL APPLICANTS - U.S.-BASED AND INTERNATIONAL - THAT include a fiscally sponsored
project]
Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement (in English)
Please provide proof of the relationship between the fiscal sponsor and fiscally sponsored project in
the form of a fiscal sponsorship agreement. NOTE: For giftmaking purposes, Fiscal Sponsorship
Agreements must be submitted in English.
[FOR ALL APPLICANTS - U.S.-BASED AND INTERNATIONAL - THAT include a fiscally sponsored
project]
Financial Statements of Fiscal Sponsor
For Fiscal Sponsors: A minimum of two (2) latest and full years of the fiscal sponsor organization’s financial
statements as of the open call registration deadline (August 15, 2025). At minimum, these statements should
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
show your organization’s income, expenditure, and assets/liabilities. These statements are not required to be
audited.
You must upload your financial statements as a single PDF file that does not exceed 10MB. To combine
files, Adobe offers an easy solution with step-by-step instructions here: Merge PDF files.
If submitting financial records in a language other than English, indicate the language(s) below or please enter
“Not Applicable.”
[TEXT BOX: 5 words]
You must upload a single PDF file that does not exceed 10MB.
Current/Previous Funders
Please provide the following information for at least two and up to four of the top funders of your organization
over the last two (2) years. For each funder, provide the legal name of the entity responsible for funding your
organization. Provide the period of funding (in months to date) for the funding. Last, provide the amount of
funding within the prescribed period.
NOTE: This section will not be shared with Participatory or Evaluation Panel Reviewers of the Open Call,
thus, this information does not affect the Awardee selection process.
FUNDER #1 NAME: 10 word limit
FIRST YEAR OF FUNDING: mm-yyyy
LAST YEAR OF FUNDING: mm-yyyy
AMOUNT OF FUNDING: Numbers only up to 20 characters
Organizational Circumstance
Are any of the following true of the Applicant Organization, either currently or in the last two (2) years?
Please Note: While none of the following circumstances are likely to be disqualifying, further review may
be undertaken should your organization advance to future phases of this Open Call.
☐ Applicant Organization has an interim leadership team in place or is undergoing a leadership
transition.
☐ Applicant Organization is a defendant in a lawsuit, either pending or in process, where charges may
include claims of discrimination, sexual misconduct, or fraud.
☐ Substantial negative information about Applicant Organization has appeared repeatedly in
print, broadcast, and/or on social media.
☐ None of the above.
[CHECKBOXES: SELECT ALL THAT APPLY]
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EMERGING CLIMATE CHAMPIONS AWARD
Application – June 2025
[IF ONE OF THE ABOVE BOXES BESIDES “NONE OF THE ABOVE” ARE CHECKED:]
Organizational Circumstance Detail
Please feel free to use the text box above to provide any additional information regarding your
response to the Organizational Circumstance question.
H. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED
If your team is invited to participate in any future phases of this Open Call, you may be required to provide
additional information (refer to the Rules and Timeline), including but not limited to:
● Additional information about your organization, including the organizational circumstances described
in the above question.
● Existing policies, if any, addressing conflicts of interest, whistleblower, internal controls, anti-money
laundering, intellectual property, human subjects research, code of conduct, ethics, gifts, and any
similar policies governing the organization.
● Documentation required to establish Equivalency Determination or Expenditure Responsibility, as
relevant.
● Documentation to evidence the youth-led infrastructure of your organization (see ‘Youth’ age
requirements and youth ‘Leadership’ requirements defined in the Rules)
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