Young people in Athens can receive grants of up to €4,000 to turn ideas for a greener city into projects through the third cycle of the Youth Climate Action Fund, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
For the 2026–2027 cycle, youth groups can apply for grants ranging from €1,000 to €4,000, with the Athens municipality making more than €40,000 available in total for initiatives addressing climate, sustainability and the city’s resilience.
Applications are open through ycaf.cityofathens.gr, with a deadline of October 15.
Mayor calls for young people to take active role
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said young people should have an active role in shaping the city’s future rather than simply observing changes.
“Young people in Athens prove that when we give them space, trust and the right tools, they do not just talk,” Doukas said.
He cited projects carried out by young people in previous YCAF cycles, including green rooftops at schools, neighborhood initiatives, projects addressing the city’s heat burden, material reuse and efforts to reduce food waste.
“For three years, through the Youth Climate Action Fund, the Municipality of Athens has been providing practical support for their creativity and active participation,” Doukas said.
“This year, we are making more than €40,000 available, with grants of €1,000 to €4,000 per group, to implement initiatives that can make the city greener and more resilient. We want young people to be protagonists, not simply spectators of the changes in Athens,” he said.
Who can apply
The YCAF provides grants to groups, organizations and other eligible entities to create innovative and collaborative projects that promote local sustainability and climate action.
Proposals must align with the Athens Climate Action Plan 2024, which promotes climate neutrality by 2030. They must also encourage collective climate action, actively involve people ages 15 to 24 and be implemented within the boundaries of the Municipality of Athens.
Eligible applicants include youth groups with more than three members whose members live, work or study in Athens and are ages 15 to 24.
Groups must have a legal entity with a bank account in the group’s name. Youth groups without their own legal entity can partner with an eligible legal entity that will serve as the grant recipient and manage the funds.
Youth organizations and other organizations that serve young people and offer programs tailored to their needs can also participate if they are based or operate within the Municipality of Athens.
Information session on September 29
An information session for prospective applicants will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Representatives of groups that carried out projects during previous YCAF cycles will speak about their experiences. The session is intended to give prospective applicants a clearer understanding of the types and scale of projects that can receive funding.
Participants will also have an opportunity to discuss their ideas and ask questions.
The session will cover:
- The types of projects the program can fund
- How proposals connect with the city’s climate priorities
- What a complete application should include
- How to develop a realistic budget
- The main evaluation criteria
- Eligible expenses and key implementation requirements
People interested in attending the session or receiving more information about the program and application process can contact ycafathens@gmail.com.
Selected groups will be notified electronically through the email addresses provided in their applications. The groups chosen to receive grants will be notified by December 7.
The program is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and implemented in collaboration with the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, C40 Cities and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
